U.S. Representative John James is projected to have won the Michigan Republican gubernatorial primary held on Tuesday, August 5, 2026, according to CBS News. As of 10:47 p.m., unofficial results showed James leading with 155,109 votes compared to businessman Perry Johnson's 111,942.

James, who announced his gubernatorial run in April 2025, has previously run for U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020 against incumbents Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, and defeated Democrat Carl Marlinga in the 2022 and 2024 elections. He credited his business experience with bringing quality and efficiency to the auto industry and pledged to run state government with efficiency, accountability, and a results-driven mindset.

Perry Johnson, who announced his candidacy in January 2026, is a businessman with a career in the American auto industry. Johnson advocated for eliminating the state income tax, estimating that a typical family would save about $4,747 annually.

James will face Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who won the Democratic primary race, in the upcoming general election. James emphasized the importance of a strong top-of-ticket candidate for Republican success across races and highlighted the need for resilience against extreme weather in all seasons.

Notable Quotes

  • "But we all know that having a strong top of ticket is the greatest indicator that we'll have success for Republicans up and down the ticket," said James.
  • "My business experience brought quality and efficiency to help save the auto industry. We can deliver better services at lower cost by running state government with efficiency, accountability, and a results-driven mindset," James added.
  • "We absolutely need to make sure that we are resilient for extreme weather, and making sure that we're doing that in all seasons," he stated.
  • "When you've been there, and you've been in that kind of environment, you have an entirely different perspective," James remarked.

Background

James has been a prominent Republican figure in Michigan politics, endorsed by former President Trump in this gubernatorial race. Johnson's campaign focused on economic reforms including tax cuts. Benson, the Democratic nominee, previously served as Michigan Secretary of State.

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