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Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt's Aide Works for Rival Gubernatorial Candidate, Raising Ethical Concerns

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt's legislative staffer, Jeff Wiggins, is working as a consultant for U.S. Rep. John James' gubernatorial campaign, a move described as "unethical" by Lansing political operative John Truscott. Victory Field Operations, a petition signature collection firm founded by Wiggins and chief of staff Meghan Reckling, has been paid by James' campaign for ballot access work and by Mission Michigan, James' issues-based PAC, for political strategy consulting. The situation raises questions about Wiggins' allegiance to Nesbitt's campaign and creates a clear conflict of interest, according to Truscott and other Republican operatives.

Key Takeaways:

  • Victory Field Operations, a Republican petition signature collection firm founded by Wiggins and Meghan Reckling, has been paid $40,000 by Mission Michigan for political strategy consulting, according to Michigan campaign finance reports.
  • Wiggins is working as a consultant for James' gubernatorial campaign, while also serving as press secretary and senior advisor to Nesbitt's legislative office, raising questions about his allegiance to Nesbitt's campaign.
  • The firm's founding partners, Wiggins and Reckling, are key staffers in Nesbitt's legislative office, creating a potential conflict of interest between their work with Victory Field Operations and their roles with Nesbitt's campaign.
  • John Truscott, CEO of Truscott Rossman communications firm, described the situation as "unethical" and said it was a symptom of the lack of ethics in Lansing politics, citing the prosecution of former House Speaker Rick Johnson and former House Speaker Lee Chatfield as examples of the need for greater accountability.
  • Jeff Timmer, principal of Two Rivers Public Affairs, noted that while the situation is transparently disclosed, hiring a staffer to work on a rival campaign is similar to a coach leaving one team to join another during the season, creating a conflict of interest.

Statistics:

  • Michigan campaign finance reports show that Victory Field Operations was paid $40,000 by Mission Michigan for political strategy consulting.
  • Wiggins' firm, Victory Field Operations, aims to cut out third-party signature collection vendors, which were involved in a 2022 signature fraud scandal that sank several Republican gubernatorial campaigns.
  • According to Michigan Advance, three others are seeking the GOP nomination for Michigan Governor: former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, Genesee County truck driver Anthony Hudson, former Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard, pastor Ralph Rebandt and anti-property tax advocate Karla Wagner.

Sources:

  • Michigan Advance, "Aric Nesbitt's staffer works for rival John James' gubernatorial campaign, raising questions about allegiance" (no date provided)
  • The Detroit News, "Buss: Michigan gubernatorial candidate John James lands $5 million contribution from DeVos family" (May 13, 2025)
  • Michigan Advance, "Massive signature fraud scandal upends Michigan GOP gubernatorial race" (May 24, 2022)
  • Michigan Advance, "Trump jokes that GOP won't let James seek Michigan governorship without a good replacement" (no date provided)

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