by
John James
Polls so far show GOP Congressman John James leading in the Republican race for Michigan governor in 2026.
So, James has taken a gamble by deciding to skip a series of three GOP gubernatorial debates scheduled in the coming weeks. The first was held Wednesday at the Apple Valley Events Center in Sparta, in the Grand Rapids area.
The Detroit News reports that his absence Wednesday did not go unnoticed by his opponents, who took shots at him.
The News reports:
In reaction, the gubernatorial campaign of Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt of Porter Township posted a "missing" person sign, with James' picture on it, outside the Grand Rapids-area events center where the Wednesday debate took place. And in Republican former Attorney General Mike Cox's opening statement, he accused James of abandoning the people in the crowd and abandoning GOP President Donald Trump by deciding not to run for re-election to his House seat in suburban Detroit.
"We don’t grow Michigan by electing people who don’t show up to work," Cox of Livonia said.
Cox’s comment was in reference to President Donald Trump publicly expressing disappointment that James was not running for re-election to Congress to help ensure the seat remains Republican.
According to The News, a spokesperson for James issued a statement before the event:
"John will consider a primary debate once the field is set and will be speaking directly to Michiganders in the meantime."
