DETROIT — Rep. John James clinched the Republican nomination for Michigan governor Tuesday, teeing up a tough general election contest against Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
James, a two-time Senate candidate who has repped parts of suburban Detroit since 2023, overcame a primary challenge from businessman Perry Johnson, who made a longshot bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
James led 50% to 36% with about a fourth of the votes counted when the Associated Press called the race at 10:24 p.m. EDT.
Backed by President Trump, James was considered the front-runner throughout the campaign and solidified his status with former state AG Mike Cox, former state House Speaker Tom Leonard, and Michigan Senate GOP Leader Aric Nesbitt all dropping out and endorsing him.
“A West Point Graduate, Combat Pilot, Brave Iraq War Veteran, Successful Businessman and Job Creator, and now, as a Highly Respected U.S. Congressman, John has proven he has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results,” Trump said on Truth Social Monday.
Johnson, who previously ran for Michigan governor in 2022, had disparaged James as a “DEI candidate” and accused the congressman of invoking the “race card.”
The brash businessman also peddled rumors that James was engaged in an extramarital affair that the lawmaker’s campaign strongly denied.
Before running for Congress, James unsuccessfully vied for Senate in 2018 and 2020, coming within 1.7 percentage points of unseating Democratic incumbent Gary Peters (D-Mich.) in the latter race.
James was lagging Benson by 7.3 percentage points in the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate.
Benson has served as Michigan secretary of state since 2019 and cruised to victory in her primary against Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson: 85-16% with less than a fifth of the vote tallied.
Republicans have not won the Michigan governorship since Rick Snyder was elected to a second term in 2014.
