Automatically clear non-violent, low-level, or first-time COVID citations ... Refund or cancel fines for individuals and small businesses that acted in good faith but were caught in the web of unclear or unfair rules.
He pledges relief through clearing citations and canceling or refunding fines.
The campaign's CLEAR Initiative lists Phase 2 relief including: "Automatically clear non-violent, low-level, or first-time COVID citations" and "Refund or cancel fines" for good-faith individuals and small businesses.
This is the direct campaign promise. It describes proposed relief, but the page itself presents it as a gubernatorial plan rather than an action already completed.
The same CLEAR Initiative says Phase 1 would establish an independent commission to audit COVID-era enforcement actions and Phase 3 would create a legislative package, including a restitution fund and emergency-power limits.
The campaign material frames the citation-clearing and fine-refund promise as a future policy program requiring executive and legislative implementation, not as a delivered result as of July 3, 2026.
Michigan's constitution states that executive power is vested in the governor, state executive officers are elected for four-year terms, and elective state officers' terms begin at noon on January 1 after the election.
The relevant office for implementing this promise is Michigan governor. Because the 2026 gubernatorial term would not begin until January 1, 2027, James had no gubernatorial term in which to deliver the promise by July 3, 2026.
James's official House biography identifies him as the Representative for Michigan's 10th Congressional District.
As of the relevant date, James was serving in federal office, not as Michigan governor. This supports treating the gubernatorial CLEAR Initiative as not yet deliverable rather than fulfilled.
The State of Michigan governor's website is headed "Governor Gretchen Whitmer" and describes the current Executive Office of the Governor and its state orders, directives, and services.
Michigan's sitting governor was Gretchen Whitmer, not John James, during the July 3, 2026 assessment period. No evidence shows James had executive authority to clear citations or refund fines by then.
AP reported that Republican Rep. John James announced he was running for Michigan governor in the 2026 election, entering the race to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
This corroborates that the promise belongs to a pending 2026 gubernatorial campaign. As of July 3, 2026, the election and possible gubernatorial term were still prospective, so fulfillment remained unresolved.