John James Wins Michigan Republican Gubernatorial Primary

U.S. Representative John James, endorsed by former President Trump, is expected to emerge victorious in the Republican gubernatorial primary in Michigan, as reported by CBS News. By 10:47 p.m., unofficial results indicated James leading with 155,109 votes compared to businessman Perry Johnson’s 111,942.

James will compete against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who secured the Democratic primary win.

The Candidates

John James announced his candidacy for governor in April 2025. His background includes serving as an aviation officer in the U.S. Army for eight years and leading a supply chain and logistics solutions group as president.

Despite losing U.S. Senate races to incumbents Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters in 2018 and 2020, James won against Democrat Carl Marlinga in both 2022 and 2024 elections. This gubernatorial run leaves Michigan’s 10th Congressional seat open.

James expressed the importance of a strong top of the ticket and received endorsements from President Trump and Rep. Aric Nesbitt, leading to former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox exiting the primary.

Perry Johnson, an experienced businessman in the American auto industry, declared his candidacy for governor in January 2026. He previously faced disqualification in the 2022 gubernatorial race due to invalid petition signatures and was unsuccessful in securing a spot in the 2024 GOP presidential debate.

Johnson emphasized using business strategies to enhance state government efficiency and accountability while providing better services. He advocated eliminating Michigan’s state income tax, claiming it would save families around $4,747 annually. His plan includes auditing government expenditures and reforming property taxes.

Key Issues

During his congressional tenure, James concentrated on national security, energy independence, and law enforcement support. He actively addressed the issue of Canadian wildfire smoke affecting Michigan and called for Canadian authorities to mitigate wildfires’ impact.

If elected governor, James plans to focus on sustaining Michigan’s water, land, and air quality, ensuring resilience against extreme weather throughout all seasons.

Johnson, self-funding his campaign, reflects on his past experiences with financial hardship to shape his approach. He views these experiences as influential in understanding and addressing economic challenges.

Christina Zhang contributed to this report.