With President Donald Trump’s support, U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, defeated Oakland County businessman Perry Johnson in Michigan’s GOP gubernatorial primary held Tuesday, Aug. 4, according to reports.
NBC News and DDHQ are among those who have called the race.
As of 12:44 a.m., James was leading with 51% of the vote while Johnson carried 35%.
The congressman secured Trump’s endorsement before absentee voting began, and the president’s decision to wade into the race prompted two of James’ previous opponents to drop out and support their former rival. In their primary runs, James and Johnson both vowed to “Make Michigan Great Again,” echoing Trump’s signature campaign slogan.
James has cast the race against the projected Democratic nominee, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, as a kind of existential fight for the state’s future. At an election night party, James stood at a podium above a sign that read, “STOP SOCIALISM. SAVE MICHIGAN,” a video of the gathering posted to social media shows.
“The primary is over, now we come together: One team, one fight, one mission to save Michigan,” James told his supporters following a divisive GOP primary race. He said that voters face a clear choice in November. “We offer common sense. They offer crazy,” he said of Democrats.
James has said he wants to phase out Michigan’s income tax, with an ultimate goal of eliminating it entirely. He also has called for repealing the state law that sets a 100% clean energy standard for Michigan by 2040. James also seeks a “Parents’ Bill of Rights” to allow parents to opt their child out of “instruction on controversial subjects.” And he proposes a “COVID Legal Enforcement Accountability & Relief” program that promises to refund individuals and businesses fined for COVID-related violations.
While he and Johnson agreed on many major policy issues, the two fought in a bitter primary that divided party activists.
Lisa Losier, 54, of Bloomfield Township, voted early to support James. “He’s just a really stand-up guy,” Losier said. She was glad to see him get Trump’s endorsement, who she also supports, and she likes James’ chances in the general election in November.
But James Dan Urbaniak, 54, of Green Oak Township, who voted for Johnson, was apprehensive when weighing whether to vote for James in the general election.
Johnson poured almost $30.8 million of his own money into his bid as of late July, a stunning sum that he spent mostly on advertising, according to campaign finance reports. He relentlessly attacked James on the campaign trail, describing him as a two-time loser who lost both of his statewide bids for the U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020.
James went on to win a competitive seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022 for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, which includes parts of Macomb and Oakland counties. The congressman has become a household name for conservatives with frequent appearances on Fox News and Newsmax.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer cannot run again due to term limits, and the race to replace her is among the nation’s most closely watched competitive open races for governor.
James is a combat veteran who served the U.S. Army during the Iraq War. He went on to lead his family’s supply chain logistics business – James Group International before seeking political office.
If elected in November, James would be Michigan’s first Black governor.
The general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Free Press Politics Editor Emily Lawler and Staff Writer Dave Boucher contributed to this report.
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: John James wins Michigan’s GOP primary for governor, per reports
Reporting by Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
