Article courtesy of MIRS for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter
President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is supporting U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) for the Republican nomination for governor, a move that led fellow candidate Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton), stuck in the single digits in polling, to suspend his campaign and back James.
Posting on his Truth Social account, Trump said it was a “great honor” to endorse James, who he referred to as “America First.”
“John has proven he has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the incredible people of his wonderful State, and our Nation,” Trump wrote.
The move comes nearly a year after Trump told James that he wasn’t sure about the decision to run for governor because it was leaving the politically competitive 10th Congressional District open during what is expected to be a difficult election cycle.
Trump apparently likes what he sees in MI-10 candidate Michael Bouchard, too, because the U.S. Army Veteran and Bronze Star recipient also got a glowing endorsement from the President, which read similarly to the James endorsement post.
Meanwhile, Nesbitt wrote on X that his campaign has been about winning in November and that a divided primary would only end up helping Democrats.
“It’s time to unite. I’m asking every one of you who supported this campaign to stand with me behind John James, roll up our sleeves and deliver a Republican victory in November,” the post stated.
“When Trisha and I decided to enter this race nearly eighteen months ago, we knew the path to victory would be neither certain nor easy. But we were driven by a deep love for Michigan and an unshakable faith in its people and its future,” Nesbitt wrote. “We ran to deliver a ‘Make It In Michigan’ agenda for the farmers, families, autoworkers, seniors and small business owners who have kept this state strong despite years of failed Democratic policies in Lansing.”
In response, Michigan Democratic Party Curtis Hertel questioned if alleged candidate Joyce Gipson was also getting behind James since both she and Nesbitt were polling at 3%, according to one poll.
Moments before backing James, Trump endorsed Bouchard for Congress in the 10th District to replace James in the seat he’s vacating. Using essentially the same script as other endorsed candidates, Trump endorsed Amir Hassan in the 8th Congressional District.
Northern Michigan radio commentator “Trucker” Randy Bishop said it’s “unfortunate” that the president chose to weigh in on the Republican gubernatorial primary. He said James is a “two-time statewide loser” who has not endeared himself to the political base.
He said James put off many grassroots conservatives when he announced his campaign for governor shortly after winning re-election in the 10th Congressional District without a set heir-apparent in mind, arguably making the seat politically vulnerable to the Democrats.
“Now he’s opened up that 10th District and that could jeopardize the majority in the House,” said Bishop, who added that he is supporting Perry Johnson for governor.
Bishop also said Johnson, and even Mike Cox, have more thought-out policy positions than James.
“John James will lose to Benson in November, and it will be the end of his political career,” Bishop said. “He’s going to lose to Benson.”
Johnson went to X, noting that candidates aren’t always successful following an endorsement from Trump. He then, of course, took the moment to share his campaign anthem.
Former Republican House Speaker Tom Leonard dropped out of the race earlier this year, citing a negative political climate. He congratulated James on X, adding that it’s clear he’ll be the Republican nominee.
Nesbitt dropping out of the race shouldn’t have been a surprise to Republican Dennis Lennox, who said after the endorsement and prior to Nesbitt’s announcement:
“The question is whether the other candidates consolidate behind one anti-James candidate.”
As far as Secretary of State and Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner, Jocelyn Benson, her campaign manager Nikki Goldschein said in a statement that the endorsement is more proof for voters that James will put “his own extreme agenda ahead of what’s right for Michigan.”
“While families are struggling with the rising cost of everything – groceries, gas, prescription drugs – James has spent the last year focused on one thing: winning Donald Trump’s approval,” Goldschein said. “That comes as no surprise. These two failed D.C. politicians have worked in lockstep to make life more expensive for Michigan families.
“Meanwhile, Benson is focused on real solutions, traveling the state, listening to stories about what keeps people up at night, and rolling out an affordability plan.”
“That’s the choice in this race: more political games and loyalty to Donald Trump, or leadership focused on the people of Michigan,” Goldschein said.
Cox Isn’t Going Anywhere
Meanwhile, Mike Cox said he is really sure he will not be joining the Senate minority leader on the sidelines.
“I’m going all the way down to the finish line. It’s unequivocal, and you can quote me on that,” the former GOP attorney general affirmed in an interview with MIRS Monday night.
With more than 500 campaign appearances under his belt so far and a Lincoln Corsair, (“the cheapest car I could lease”) underneath his posterior, Cox is still all in and treated the president’s endorsement of John James as an “Oh well, it’s just another day in the campaign … I’ve got momentum,” which may or may not be damped by the president’s move.
“John James has been in Washington. The president doesn’t know me. I get it,” but he takes solace in the losses Trump has endured in Iowa, Georgia and other states where the presidential seal of approval did not carry the day for the Trump-endorsed candidate. The president’s team is quick to point out that he has prevailed in many other states.
In talking to Cox, you get the sense that he has just begun to fight.
“I didn’t send jobs to China,” he began on the question of James’s alleged outsourcing when in the private sector.
Cox is also critical of a subsidiary of the James family business that got over a $2 million MEDC tax-exempt status, but that was revoked when the promised 108 jobs were not created. The Detroit News reported the money saved did not have to be repaid to the state.
He figures once the voters start to hear these stories and others that may be out there, that could trump the Trump endorsement with the MAGA voting block in Michigan.
So as James begins his day at a prayer event on the west side of the state with his brand-new endorsement on full display, Cox will jump in the Corsair and head to another town hall session in Mt. Pleasant as he eyes the finish line.
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