John James secured the Republican nomination for Michigan governor on Tuesday, defeating businessman Perry Johnson after weathering a late barrage of personal attacks in the final stretch of the primary.
James, a congressman who previously came up short in consecutive U.S. Senate races in 2018 and 2020, has yet to win a statewide election.
He will now try to change that record in November, when he faces Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in a race that could determine whether he avoids going 0-for-3 statewide.
‘John James for whatever reason always chooses to run statewide at the worst possible times,’ Ryan Brune, a nonpartisan elections analyst, wrote on X. ‘Literally only runs statewide in Democratic leaning environments.’
James entered the closing phase of the primary with a significant boost from President Donald Trump, who gave him his ‘complete and total endorsement’ and described him as an ‘America First Congressman’ who would ‘fight tirelessly’ for Michigan and ‘not let you down.’
But the race took a sharper turn in its final weeks, as Johnson sought to disrupt James’ momentum with increasingly personal attacks.
As the Daily Mail first reported in its DC Insider newsletter, a rumor involving two members of Congress allegedly being ‘unfaithful’ moved from political whisper networks into public view.
Johnson, who was far behind in polling, amplified unverified claims about James’ relationship with Democratic Representative Hillary Scholten.
James, who lost statewide Senate races in 2018 and 2020, finally broke through with his first statewide victory after years of trying to win a statewide contest
Perry Johnson poured nearly $30 million of his own fortune into the race.
James campaigned on cutting taxes, backing Michigan’s auto industry, expanding school choice, cracking down on illegal immigration and crime and rolling back regulations
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He posted that ‘Republicans should be concerned about John James’s relationship with Scholten’ and shared claims suggesting something more.
A website circulated by Michigan political operatives showed a photo of James and Scholten with the headline ‘John James has been unfaithful… to conservatives.’
The site was believed to be linked to Johnson, who did not respond to a request for comment. James’ allies pushed back behind the scenes, while Scholten called it a ‘false’ attack against ‘a single mom in Congress,’ adding, ‘Knock it off and move on boys.’
The attacks failed to slow James, who now moves on to the general election after finally winning statewide on his third try.
James built a traditional campaign operation, raising more than $10 million from donors, while Johnson attempted to buy the nomination by pouring nearly $30 million of his own fortune into the race.
The victory capped a years-long rise for the 45-year-old West Point graduate, Iraq War veteran and businessman who has become one of the Republican Party’s most prominent figures in Michigan.
James campaigned on cutting taxes, backing Michigan’s auto industry, expanding school choice, cracking down on illegal immigration and crime and rolling back regulations.
He won a US House seat in 2022 and quickly emerged as one of Trump’s closest allies in the state’s congressional delegation.
James assembled a broad coalition of endorsers that included some of the state’s most influential conservative voices, law enforcement organizations and Republican leaders
The Police Officers Association of Michigan and Fraternal Order of Police of Michigan backed his bid. While figures including State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, former Attorney General Mike Cox and former House Speaker Tom Leonard rallied behind his campaign.
Conservative personalities including Kid Rock and Ted Nugent also voiced support as James built momentum heading into the primary.
James now heads into a closely watched general election against the Democratic nominee in one of the country’s most important governor’s races.
With Governor Gretchen Whitmer term-limited, the race will decide who leads a key battleground state that helped decide the last three presidential elections.
James now heads into a closely watched general election against Benson.
Benson has surged into the lead in the race for Michigan governor, according to a new poll that shows James narrowly behind and independent Mike Duggan netting a significant percentage.
The Detroit Regional Chamber poll found Benson ahead in a three-way matchup with 34 percent support among likely voters, followed by James with 29 percent and Duggan at 23 percent.
Democrats hope to keep control of the governor’s office after eight years under Whitmer, while Republicans view the open seat as one of their best pickup opportunities in November.
