John James is making what he calls a return to “common-sense” right and wrong a focal point of his campaign to be Michigan’s next governor — assembling more than 30 parents, school board members, elected officials and parental-rights advocates in a coalition launched this week that backs his “Parents’ Bill of Rights” agenda.
In what is not just a midterm election in a purple state, but a high-stakes election that will determine its trajectory for the next decade, parental rights have emerged as an enduring issue in Michigan — and valuable campaign fodder, especially in the Republican primary.
How Republican voters see their gubernatorial candidates handle this issue could hold major sway over GOP primary voters — and will be a critical piece of the battle against education interests that many Republicans argue have dominated policy under Democratic leadership in the general election.
“This is a start,” says James, a Republican congressman from Shelby Township and the GOP race’s early frontrunner. “This is a promise to Michigan’s parents that I see them, that I care about them and frankly, I understand them. I’m a parent of three little boys.”
James’ Bill of Rights is based on three principles that strengthen parents’ roles and responsibilities in health and education: kids cannot consent; parents have a right to know; and it’s not okay for adults to engage with other people’s minor children about their personal medical or sexual matters at school without parental permission.
The coalition is largely made up of parental-rights activists and school board members aligned with that movement, including Rochester Community Schools Board of Education Trustee Carol Beth Litkouhi, who has unsuccessfully sued for greater curriculum transparency and been censured by the board for speaking publicly against county-wide school tax increases.
James argues that, as Michigan continues to grapple with the fallout from abuse by disgraced former MSU physician Larry Nassar, stronger parental authority measures are overdue.
“The solutions we need are not political in nature,” James says. “We need, frankly, a government that respects the rights of parents and will protect the innocence of children.”
But politically, the move does signal a broader strategy.
Rather than simply campaigning on education reform, James is attempting to organize parental-rights voters into a formal coalition — something that can function not just as a policy platform but as an early grassroots network heading into the primary.
Other Republican candidates have emphasized curriculum battles or school performance, but James’ approach centers on building a defined parental-rights movement around those issues.
Former House Speaker Tom Leonard, a Republican candidate for governor, assembled an “education coalition” in October that tapped Republican State Board of Education Member Nikki Snyder to focus on the issues — and took the position that any school official who contributes to transitioning the gender of a minor child without parental consent should go to prison.
Former Attorney General Mike Cox and Republican Senate Leader Aric Nesbitt, GOP candidates for governor, have also made reforming Michigan’s education system a big part of their campaigns.
Though James’ agenda is broader than education, much of the tension over parental rights stems from schools, school boards and related issues. Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, was elected in 2022 chiefly because of fights over parental rights in the state.
With Michigan’s persistently lagging education scores under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — and the Trump administration’s call to return education power to the states — the issue is ripe with Republican voters.
James says that although much of his parental-rights-first agenda would require or benefit from legislative support, the framework includes what he considers largely non-negotiables.
“I would like to…stand up and essentially say no state-level statute overrides the fundamental liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.”
Whether that message resonates beyond the GOP primary — and with Michigan’s broader electorate — may determine how far the parental-rights movement can carry candidates in 2026.
kbuss@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Buss: John James launches parents’ coalition in 2026 governor’s bid
Reporting by Kaitlyn Buss, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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