Rep. John James adds his name in the race for Michigan governor

Republican Congressman John James mentioned on Monday that he’ll run for Michigan Governor in 2026.

James, who has made the announcement by way of social media, is presently in his second time period. He represents the tenth Congress District, which covers lots from Macomb County and a part of Oakland County.

The businessman of Shelby Township is the second Republican to enter the Major after State Senate Memoritear Chief Aric Nesbitt introduced his bid in January. Gretchen Whitmer, a second-term democrat, can not search re-election as a consequence of time period limits.

“It is time to get the federal government of Michigan from Fantasyland and again to widespread sense,” James wrote on Twitter. “President (Donald) Trump and I’ve been by way of thick and skinny for eight years in one another’s nook – no purpose to finish now. He does his share to make America large once more, and I’ll do mine to convey prosperity and customary sense to Michigan.”

James, 43, is a former supervisor who was as soon as a pilot of the military helicopter. His household owns James Group Worldwide, a automobile provider who does enterprise with the Large Three, particularly Normal Motors.

He mentioned that the choice to run to the governor got here after “deep reflection, prayer and conversations” along with his spouse and kids.

“For the previous seven years, Michigan has been dominated by radical, exterior coverage that has damage our households, our communities and our economic system,” James mentioned in his place. “We have now misplaced greater than 300,000 manufacturing paths since Nafta – virtually a 3rd of our industrial foundation. That’s unacceptable.”

Like many Republican legislators, James has been criticized by Democrats for not holding conferences of the city corridor to debate proposed cuts on federal packages since Donald Trump was chosen as president in 2024.

Curtis Hertel, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Celebration, mentioned in a press release on Monday that James now not even appears to stay in his dwelling district.

“John James has spent his profession failing elections all through the state and never showing for his personal district, so why would we belief him to seem for Michiganders as Governor,” Hertel mentioned. “At a time when Donald Trump is filling our economic system, Michigan wants a frontrunner who not solely fights billionaires, however will battle for everybody – John James just isn’t that man.”

Earlier than he grew to become a congress, he was twice the Republican candidate for the US Senate, in 2020 and 2018 whereas he lived in Farmington Hills. He had the approval of Trump in these races, which had been gained by democratic established operators.

In 2022 James said his candidacy within the re -signed tenth Congressional District in Michigan, a chair he gained and was re -elected in 2024. He moved to Macomb County after profitable the chair. On the finish of final yr it was reported that he purchased a home in West Michigan, which was feeding hypothesis, he was planning a run for the workplace everywhere in the state.

Democrats noticed the tenth district as an vital pick-up possibility after they virtually gained it in 2022, when Carl Marlinga narrowly misplaced to James, to Shelby Township, within the third of the nation of the nation.

James beat Marlinga for the second time in November with a extra comfy margin of 6 share factors, or about 26,000 votes. The competitors is broad open in 2026 after the announcement of James that he’ll enter Michigan’s open race for Governor.

Earlier Monday, Democrat Christina Hines, 35 a resident of Warren and former particular victims of the general public prosecutor in Wayne County introduced that she is working for the convention chair that’s now being held by James.

Democrats who run for Governor are secretary or stands Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and Sheriff Chris Swanson from Genesee County. Mayor of Detroit Mike Duggan runs as impartial.

Initially printed: April 8, 2025 at 10:52 am Edt