Perry Johnson

A federal judge has denied gubernatorial hopeful Perry Johnson’s request to put his name on the Republican primary ballot.

The state Supreme Court upheld lower courts that said the candidates failed to gather enough valid petition signatures — much of that due to what appears to be fraud by paid petition circulators.

Perry Johnson is the first Republican hopeful for governor to call on a court to put him on the August statewide primary ballot.

The Michigan Democratic Party is challenging signatures for three Republican candidates for governor.