Washington — President Donald Trump on Monday made a key endorsement in Michigan’s only competitive Republican U.S. House primary of the 2026 midterms.
The second-term president endorsed Army veteran Michael Bouchard in a suburban Detroit race to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. John James, who is running for governor of Michigan and also received an endorsement from Trump.
“It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, ‘Captain’ Mike Bouchard, who is running to represent the wonderful people of Michigan’s 10th Congressional District!” Trump said in a post to Truth Social, his social media platform.
Trump’s endorsement has been an important political force in GOP primaries across the country this year, and it could help Bouchard win an increasingly bitter contest with Robert Lulgjuraj, a former Macomb County assistant prosecuting attorney from Sterling Heights.
Bouchard, Lulgjuraj and Clinton Township attorney Justin Kirk and Macomb Army veteran Steffan Demetropoulos are vying for their party’s nomination in a swing district that covers southern Macomb County, and Rochester and Rochester Hills in Oakland County.
Lulgjuraj (pronounced LOO-JER-EYE) had shown strong fundraising numbers and repeatedly cast himself as the more “MAGA, grassroots” candidate in the race, referring to Trump’s Make America Great Again political movement. He also called out Bouchard’s politically influential father for not being sufficiently supportive of the president in past elections. Ultimately, however, his campaigning was not enough to woo the Republican power broker. Lulgjuraj and an advisor affiliated with his campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Bouchard celebrated the Trump endorsement.
“Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump,” he wrote in a social media post. “I’m humbled and honored to have your endorsement. You have put our country first time and time again.
The candidate continued: “As a soldier, I took an oath to defend our freedoms. I spent 10 years fighting for this country, and I will bring that same dedication and spirit to Congress. As your next Congressman, I’ll work every day to put Michigan and AMERICA FIRST! Let’s get to work.”
Trump touted Bouchard’s military service in his social media post endorsing the 32-year-old paratrooper-turned-candidate. Bouchard is also the son of longtime Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, who once appeared at a 2019 bill signing with Trump in the Oval Office and has attended rallies for the president.
“A Third Generation Michigander, Brave U.S. Army Veteran, and Bronze Star Recipient, Mike has served his State and Nation with distinction, and will bring that same Fighting Spirit to the U.S. Congress,” Trump said of the younger Bouchard.
He continued: “As your next Congressman, Mike will fight tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our incredible Military/Veterans, Advance Election Integrity, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. “Mike Bouchard has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Michigan’s 10th Congressional District – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Democrats, meanwhile, are targeting the district as a key pickup opportunity. The party has three competitive candidates in its primary, including former Commerce Department attorney Eric Chung of Sterling Heights, former Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel and former prosecutor Christina Hines of Warren.
“Mike Bouchard Junior’s flailing campaign puppeteered by his father is going so badly he’s being bailed out by his Washington bosses,” said Katie Smith, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the party’s U.S. House campaign arm. “Michiganders know Bouchard Junior is just a continuation of the failed status quo as he’d be a rubber stamp for higher costs, cuts to health care, and reckless trade policy hurting Michigan.”
Chung also bashed the Trump endorsement.
“Here in Michigan, we know that Trump’s policies are raising prices, killing jobs, and putting American lives at risk while padding his own pockets,” he said in a press release. “We don’t need another representative who will rubber stamp this self-dealing, self-imploding agenda. We need a representative who is ready to stand up to this administration on day one and fight for working families in Macomb and Oakland County.”
Democrats similarly eyed a 10th District flip in 2024 after nearly winning it in 2022, when Carl Marlinga of Sterling Heights narrowly lost to James in the country’s third-closest race. James beat Marlinga for a second time two years later by a more comfortable margin of 6 percentage points, or about 26,000 votes.
National election analysts, including at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, Cook Political Report and Inside Elections, currently rate the race as slightly favoring Republicans.
gschwab@detroitnews.com
@GrantSchwab
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Trump backs Bouchard in Michigan’s only competitive GOP House primary
Reporting by Grant Schwab, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Grant Schwab, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
