EXCLUSIVE: ‘Only Republican Who Can Perform’: John James Is Determined To Flip Governorship Red During Midterms

Republican Michigan Rep. John James believes that President Donald Trump's future agenda fate in the mid-cycle can go through the battlefield.

James, a veteran of the Iraq War and a voice ally of President Donald Trump, announced the governor's 2026 run to the success of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who was term-limited on April 7th. The two-term lawmaker claimed he was the best candidate for Red over the governor and in an interview with Michigan that he was the best candidate to advance America's first interview. (Related: Trump celebrates his first 100 days in his second term at a Michigan rally)

“We have an incredible opportunity to bring President Trump's agenda to the state,” James, a former Army helicopter pilot, told DCNF. “It's very important. If you can't win, that's not the problem. Winning is important. And you have to start winning again in Michigan.”

“We can't play little balls anymore. We can't become co-ill conservatives,” the lawmaker added. “We have to be bold. Without a strong top of tickets, we will lose seats in Michigan that put President Trump's agenda at stake.”

The need for a strong Republican candidate at the top of the swing state midterm vote was at the pinnacle of James' mind during the interview process. He argued that the party nominated a “weak” Republican candidate to face Whitmer in 2018 and 2022, and that the failed candidate dragged the candidates in GOP House.

“If we have a weak ticket top, we'll lose. [House] Michigan seats,” James told DCNF.

Nonpartisan cuisine political report Fee Racing in five Michigan districts, including competitive James seating during the 2026 cycle.

James believes he is the man of work and tells the DCNF that he is a proven fighter who can withstand democratic attacks, and will strengthen Republican tickets to win the downward candidate and lead him to expand the majority of Republican homes.

“I'm the only Republican who can see me playing at the top of my ticket and keep a conservative state capitol, as well as flipping the state senator, holding two important seats, and turning two more,” James added.

The lawmakers and governor candidates were Michigan Republican Senate candidates during the 2018 and 2020 election cycle, losing to Democrat incumbents in both cases. In 2020, he left Michigan Sen. Gary Peters and came within two percentage points after running more than one point ahead of state Trump.

The Democratic candidate has not won the election to take over the resigned Democratic governor in Michigan since 1960. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, former lifelong Democrat running As independence, democratic votes can be split.

Trump is also paying special attention to the battlefield states that he won slightly in 2024. The president celebrated the first 100 days of his second term in the James area of ​​Macomb County, Michigan on Tuesday. He announced a new fighter jet mission at Selfridge Air National Guard base and praised James' work on the issue.

“I will never forget my friend and Michigan are my friends,” Trump said during the announcement.

James spoke to DCNF shortly after giving him a speech on the floor of the house where he cried out. effort To eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency, California allows it to direct the mandate of a de facto electric vehicle (EV) issued in the last week of the Biden administration. Rescising former President Joe Biden's de facto EV orders was Trump's number one priority during the campaign trajectory.

James, who has been supported by Trump in several previous races, said he is honoured to gain the president's support again.

This interview has been compiled for length and clarity.

You are on the House Energy and Commerce Committee that deals with issues that are very important to your district in Michigan and throughout the state. Why is this the governor your next step?

I love my condition. I was born and raised in Michigan, where my mother and dad moved out of Jim Crow South. We came to Michigan for the opportunity. They came for a better life. But now, unless something changes, it appears that their grandchildren must leave for the opposite reason. They will have to leave for a better opportunity. They will have to leave for their lives. And that is unacceptable. Michigan's 10 million people are worth better.

I will focus on a prosperity agenda centered around academic excellence, economic mobility and public safety. These are so important to me, so important to the people of Michigan, I am excited to use my military experience, my business experience and my relationship with President Trump, his administration and colleagues here in Congress.

You are a longtime supporter of President Trump. He calls you a friend. Please tell us about your relationship with the President. Have you spoken with him about your governor's bid?

I've been called a “tramper” because I was on the horn of the president and he's been mine since 2018. We support each other in every race, and recently I supported him in July 2023 in his recent presidential election.

President Trump is the most consequential political figure and greatest president of my life. He is the most powerful man in the world. He is an epic negotiator. But what's more, I love President Trump is because he's a good father. He is a good grandfather. I was around his family. Trump is a beautiful, clever wife, a billionaire with five successful children, all of whom love him. He is the epitome of success. And it's a shame that the left will make him the demon, as I think President Trump is the type of American we should emulate.

And what about the possibility of Trump's support?

President Trump knows how to choose a winner. I am sure we are in a better position to do what I have to do, lower prices, secure borders, get work back, bring world peace to support President Trump's first American agenda.

President Trump is doing everything he can to make America great again, so I am in a great position to do everything he can to make Michigan great. And I am honored to have the President's support.

This is not the first time Michigan has run into a statewide position. You are a well-known candidate. What did you learn from previous bids that were executed to offices across the state?

This is the most important thing. Don't run during a global pandemic. That's not a good idea.

This is an open seat. Also, Detroit's Democratic mayor Mike Duggan runs an independent in Michigan.

This sets it to be a very strong year for the Republicans, and it will bring me to the top of the tickets with statewide experience and has maintained over $250 million attacks over the past eight years. And perhaps even that's why my name ID state is high since the mid-80s. And my name ID in the Detroit area, which consists of 45% of the total Michigan voting population, is 95%.

While my opponent was introducing themselves to people for the first time, I was trying to explain why they didn't support President Donald Trump early or why they supported him. [Florida Republican Governor] Ron DeSantis, I could tell them what I provided for Michigan. I will be able to share my stories about how to help them and make their lives better and easier. And that's what I'm so excited about. I think Michigan is ready for change, but for now, Michigan's party of power is Democrats.

People remember what Democrats did to them during Covid. They remember what they did to their job. They remember their grandmother and grandfather. They remember the church being closed. They remember being forced vaccinated and hiding their children. They remember that the dam exploded and the central Michigan homes did not recover. They remember the Broken Promise and the Green New Deal agenda that pushed jobs and opportunities from Michigan and increased our costs to everything.

They remember these things, but now there are Republican candidates who can actually win. I'm 40 points ahead [in the primary contest].

The president appears to understand that Michigan is key to protecting his agenda during the mid-term. do you agree?

You're absolutely right, but once again, past Republicans played little balls. So we're in the current situation.

I can't play little balls anymore. We cannot become co-ill conservatives. We must be bold. Without a strong type of ticket, you'll lose your seat in Michigan, which puts President Trump's agenda at stake. The current situation is not sufficient in Michigan.

The best way to continue President Trump's agenda is to hold a seat in Michigan and currently win two additional additions. Michigan has two Democrats in the district where President Trump won. The other is D+3.

The other is [Republican Michigan Rep.] Tom Barrett's seat. They will come after him. And the other one, we're going to win.

In the appropriate situation, [Democratic Michigan Rep.] Hilary Scholten is running for the Senate. That seat may be friendly.

There is evidence in 2022 when ticket tops cost Republican seats in 2018 and 2022. In both of these races, I have proven that, given my position in Michigan, I can say that I am strong enough to carry the top of the ticket across the finish line. That means a high name, an ID, a high liker, someone willing to include the work, someone delivered, and someone who over-performs the top of the ticket every time he is tried.

What is the number one message you want readers to take away from this interview?

There is an incredible opportunity to bring President Trump's agenda to the state. That's very important. If you can't win, that doesn't matter. The question of winning. And we have to start winning again in Michigan.

Because of poor performance in previous primary elections lost in 2018. We lost [former Republican Michigan Rep.] Mike Bishop's seat as the top ticket lost 10 points. Our last mid-term, last Republican candidate [Tudor Dixon] I was blown away by 10 points.

The best chance to protect President Trump's first American agenda is to have a strong ticket top in Michigan. I'm the only Republican who can perform at the top of the ticket and not only hold a conservative state capitol, but also flip the state senator, hold two important seats, and turn two more.

If the ticket top is weak, you lose your seat in Michigan. You can't lose your seat in Michigan. Having someone else at the top of your ticket means you can't lose a seat than someone who has proven to outperform, donate, and make tickets stronger. The priority is to make sure you have the strongest top for your tickets. Because they never lost their seats, but the ticket top is strong, so they get seats.

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