Republican Rep. John James won the GOP gubernatorial nomination in Michigan on August 5, 2026, defeating businessman Perry Johnson. James, who has previously run for the U.S. Senate, was endorsed by former President Donald Trump in June. He will compete against Democratic nominee Jocelyn Benson, the current Secretary of State, in the general election to succeed term-limited Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
In his victory speech, James emphasized party unity, stating, "The primary is over now. We come together. One team, one fight, one mission to save Michigan." The primary race was marked by tensions, with Johnson accusing James of being a "DEI candidate" and James calling Johnson "desperate."
James and Johnson were the last two candidates in a primary that initially included former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and state Senate Republican leader Aric Nesbitt, both of whom suspended their campaigns but remained on the ballot. Trump's endorsement has been influential in recent Republican primaries, although it faced a setback in Iowa earlier in June when his endorsed candidate lost.
James's victory sets the stage for a competitive general election as he aims to secure the governorship for the Republican Party in Michigan.