Republican and Iraqi War veteran John James announced Monday that he will join Michigan’s 2026 gubernatorial race, becoming the third Republican to enter the field.
Democrat Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has roughly two years left in office, leaving an open window for both political parties to compete for her seat. In a post on X, James said his decision came “after deep reflection, prayer, and conversations with my wife and children.”
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“Our state has suffered long enough. Michigan is strong. Our people are strong. But we are being held back by a lack of strong, competent leadership—leadership with real-world experience in the areas Michiganders need most,” James wrote.
“For the past seven years, Michigan has been dominated by radical, out-of-touch policies that have hurt our families, our communities, and our economy,” James added. “We’ve lost over 300,000 manufacturing jobs since NAFTA—nearly a third of our industrial base. That’s unacceptable.”
In November 2022, James narrowly won Michigan’s 10th District against Democrat Carl Marlinga, securing 49% of the vote to Marlinga’s 48%. The win allowed Michigan’s GOP to hold six seats, with Democrats ahead by just one, having previously held an 8-6 advantage.
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“It’s time to get Michigan’s government out of fantasyland and back to common sense. President Trump and I have been in each other’s corner through thick and thin for eight years—no reason that will end now,” James said. “He’s doing his part to Make America Great Again, and I’ll do mine to bring prosperity and sanity back to Michigan.”
Five other candidates since January have announced their bids for the governor’s office, including Republicans Anthony Hudson and State Sen. Aric Nesbitt, according to the Lansing State Journal. Others include Democrat Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, who will be running as a Democrat, and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who will be running as an independent, according to the outlet.
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