Republican Gubernatorial candidate John James received a key endorsement on Tuesday ahead of a contentious primary.

The Police Officers Association of Michigan, which represents thousands of law enforcement officers in Michigan, endorsed James as he attempts to cement his position as the frontrunner in the Republican primary.

In announcing the organization’s support, James vowed to “restore order to our streets, accountability to our justice system and pride to the profession of policing.”

“The men and women who wear the badge carry an extraordinary burden on behalf of every Michigan family, and they’ve been abandoned by politicians who chose ideology over public safety,” James said. “That ends when I’m governor.”

James is currently leading the pack in the Republican primary, though businessman Perry Johnson has surged in recent polling, followed by candidates such as former Attorney General Mike Cox.

In the Democratic Primary, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has remained the clear frontrunner and taken stances that are sometimes at odds with the law enforcement community.

During a candidate forum in February, Benson said that she would prevent ICE from being present in schools and has not clarified her stance on sanctuary cities in Michigan.

In addition to making statements hostile to law enforcement, reports have resurfaced about Benson’s work with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which was recently indicted for funneling money to hate groups.

“Jocelyn Benson regularly touted her experience as a leader of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a group that the Department of Justice says secretly funneled money to the KKK and other hate groups they were purportedly tracking,” the Michigan Republican Party said.

“What did Jocelyn know, and when did she know it?”

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