A Jackson Democrat is restarting his campaign for a state House seat, reversing a recent decision to end his candidacy after reports about past misconduct prompted prominent party leaders to pull their support.
Maurice Imhoff, 20, ended his campaign Oct. 5 after reports of actions committed as a high school student, including an allegation he threatened to carry out a school shooting and reportedly used compromising personal pictures to pressure a person.
“I’ve been suspended, arrested and convicted of things of which I am not proud,” Imhoff said in a statement released to the Free Press at the time, indicating he’d done “a lot of soul searching.”
“Who I was is not who I am today, but I find myself confronting it on this campaign. … I have decided to end my campaign.”
But Friday, he confirmed he has done a political about-face.
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“I made a commitment and want to finish what I started,” Imhoff said in the statement. “I dropped the campaign because that’s what I thought voters would want. I now believe that our community is less focused on the past and more concerned about the future.”
A Jackson County Sheriff’s Office report obtained by the Free Press through a Michigan Freedom of Information Act request indicates Inhoff spoke with police in 2016 about threatening messages posted to social media. The report states, “we did not find any plans to carry out a mass shooting” but that law enforcement found “two civil war era muskets. We deemed them not a threat. He also had a civil war era bayonet and a small curved knife.”
The document indicates charges were filed in 2017, but the disposition of that case is not immediately known.
“I would say to voters that I’m a lot like them. I’ve dealt with challenges and made mistakes that I wish I hadn’t,” Imhoff said in his statement Friday.
“I’ve learned a great deal in my youth that gives me unique perspective. I’m willing to listen to the constituents, go to Lansing and come up with solutions to their issues. I know I can make a difference. I’m asking the community to vote for me to represent them.”
Despite Imhoff’s previous pledge to end his candidacy, it was too late to pull his name from the ballot by the time he made his decision. That means his reversal also won’t have any impact on whether voters will see his name when they prepare to cast a ballot.
He faces Republican candidate Kathy Schmaltz in the race to represent the 46th House District. Before news broke of Imhoff’s past actions, political analysts expected it would be a tight contest.
The Free Press received tips earlier this week that Imhoff remained on the campaign trail. A billboard touting his candidacy appeared along a Jackson road, and photographs appeared to show people campaigning for Imhoff in the area.
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Conservatives blasted Imhoff’s decision to reenter the race. Tori Sachs, executive director of the Michigan Freedom Fund, noted the previous widespread Democratic support for Imhoff and called on these party leaders to abandon Imhoff.
“Maurice Imhoff had been endorsed by Gretchen Whitmer, Dana Nessel, and the MEA and then it was made public that he threatened to shoot up a school, leaked revenge porn of his underage girlfriend … Whitmer, Nessel, and the MEA must immediately denounce Imhoff’s deceitful and dangerous behavior and commit to stop supporting his campaign,” she said in a statement, referencing the Michigan Education Association.
The reports of Imhoff’s past actions prompted House Democrats, Whitmer and others to immediately distance themselves from Imhoff’s campaign. On Friday, a Whitmer campaign spokesperson reiterated the governor is not supporting Imhoff’s candidacy. So did a representative for the MEA.
The House Democratic political committee also cut funding to Imhoff, a potential political death blow for a newcomer.
“These allegations are disturbing and we take them with the utmost seriousness. The Michigan House Democratic Campaign will not be supporting Maurice Imhoff’s campaign for State Representative,” House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski said in a statement the day before Imhoff temporarily suspended his campaign.
A spokesman confirmed Friday that Lasinski’s stance is unchanged.
Election Day is Nov. 8, but absentee ballots are available now.
Contact Dave Boucher: [email protected] or 313-938-4591. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.
