On October 1, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) line-item vetoed $1.47 million in grants for autism programs. Soon after, Republican Senate hopeful John James donated $10,000 to the Autism Alliance.

According to a Detroit business publication, Whitmer also vetoed a $1.25 million appropriation that funds one-fourth of the Autism Alliance of Michigan’s services. It provide services to adults and children who need help navigating medical, educational, and insurance issues.

Whitmer’s agenda has been line-item vetoing the Michigan budget to combat the Republican-held state senate.

Former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley has been a strong advocate for autism spending within the Republican Party because his daughter Reagan has autism. Calley was the first to rally around James when he discovered that James had donated $10,000 in campaign funds to the Autism Alliance.

And the first thing @JohnJamesMI did after this impressive fundraising performance was to donate $10,000 to the Autism Alliance after hearing about the Governor’s line item veto. Thank you, sir! https://t.co/CGzsstJ5cN — Brian Calley (@briancalley) October 16, 2019

Q3 fundraising numbers show James has raised $3 million over the past three months. According to the Detroit News, James out-fundraised Democratic incumbent Sen. Gary Peters.

“John when he initiated, or announced, his campaign, he said he was gonna commit to the nickel promise. That means for every $1, he donates 5 cents to a charity. John is moved by doing good for society,” said Stu Sandler, a campaign spokesperson for the James campaign.

The campaign claims the James campaign decided to donate this money to Autism Alliance independent from its state budget cuts from the governor.

“They’re a good organization and they help people. That’s independent of it,” Sandler said.