President Donald Trump's influence in Republican primaries was affirmed on Tuesday, August 5, 2026, as John James, a Trump-backed candidate, secured the GOP nomination for Michigan governor. James, a West Point graduate and Army Ranger with combat experience as an Apache helicopter pilot in the Iraq war, topped multimillionaire businessman Perry Johnson in the primary, according to the Associated Press.

The primary contest between James and Johnson, a former Republican gubernatorial and presidential candidate, was notably contentious. Johnson, who is White, labeled James, one of the few Black Republicans in Congress, a "DEI candidate" and accused him of playing the "race card" during a recent debate. James responded by calling Johnson "desperate."

James will face off in the general election against two-term Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic nominee, in the race to succeed the term-limited governor.

Trump-backed candidates have seen success in GOP primaries this year, winning two of the three top races in key runoff elections in Georgia and Alabama in June. The only setback was billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, who invested over $100 million of his own money into his campaign.

As one observer noted, "money isn't the only thing. People want someone who resonates with them, someone who has the proven leadership capability to turn the state around."

Sources