LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Republican Ralph Rebandt will not appear on the primary ballot after the Michigan Supreme Court sided with the Board of State Canvassers and ruled that he did not have enough valid petition signatures.

On May 21, the board determined that Rebandt had not met the required 15,000-signature threshold based on a sample of 750 signatures. He needed 618 of them to be valid, but reviewers found only 533 valid signatures.

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The retired pastor, who also ran for governor in 2022, challenged the sampling process and his disqualification. Rebandt issued a statement saying, “A grassroots campaign got kept off the ballot by a process built to protect insiders. We’re disappointed, not done — and we’ll have more to say soon.”

Four GOP candidates now remain on the Aug. 4 primary ballot for governor: former Attorney General Mike Cox, U.S. Rep. John James, businessman Perry Johnson, and state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt.

The Democratic candidates are Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.