Trump-backed Black Republican beats back smears and fights to kill haunting statewide curse

By SAMANTHA LOREN, US POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 03:32, 5 August 2026 | Updated: 03:50, 5 August 2026 John James won Michigan's Republican primary for governor Tuesday, beating businessman Perry Johnson after fending off weeks of personal attacks in the closing stretch of the race.  James, a congressman who fell short in back-to-back Senate bids in 2018 and 2020, has never won statewide office. Now he's striving to break the curse and not go 0-for-3 in a November contest against Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's secretary of state. 'John James for whatever reason always chooses to run statewide at the worst possible times,' noted Ryan Brune, a nonpartisan elections analyst on X. 'Literally only runs statewide in Democratic leaning environments.'   James' primary campaign received a major lift when President Donald Trump delivered his 'complete and total endorsement,' calling James an 'America First Congressman' who would 'fight tirelessly' for Michigan and 'not let you down.' But the final weeks of the campaign turned personal as Johnson tried to shake up the race. As the Daily Mail first reported in its DC Insider newsletter, what began as a rumor about two members of Congress being 'unfaithful' spilled into public view. Johnson, who was trailing badly in the polls, pushed unverified claims about James' relationship with Democratic Representative Hillary Scholten. James, who lost statewide Senate races in 2018 and 2020, finally broke through with his first statewide victory after years of trying to win a statewide contest Perry Johnson poured nearly $30 million of his own fortune into the race. James campaigned on cutting taxes, backing Michigan’s auto industry, expanding school choice, cracking down on illegal immigration and crime and rolling back regulations He posted that 'Republicans should be concerned about John James's relationship with Scholten' and shared claims suggesting something more. A website circulated by Michigan political operatives showed a photo of James and Scholten with the headline 'John James has been unfaithful... to conservatives.' The site was believed to be linked to Johnson, who did not respond to a request for comment. James' allies pushed back behind the scenes, while Scholten called it a 'false' attack against 'a single mom in Congress,' adding, 'Knock it off and move on boys.' The attacks failed to slow James, who now moves on to the general election after finally winning statewide on his third try. James built a traditional campaign operation, raising more than $10 million from donors, while Johnson attempted to buy the nomination by pouring nearly $30 million of his own fortune into the race. The victory capped a years-long rise for the 45-year-old West Point graduate, Iraq War veteran and businessman who has become one of the Republican Party's most prominent figures in Michigan. James campaigned on cutting taxes, backing Michigan’s auto industry, expanding school choice, cracking down on illegal immigration and crime and rolling back regulations. He won a US House seat in 2022 and quickly emerged as one of Trump's closest allies in the state's congressional delegation. James assembled a broad coalition of endorsers that included some of the state's most influential conservative voices, law enforcement organizations and Republican leaders The Police Officers Association of Michigan and Fraternal Order of Police of Michigan backed his bid. While figures including State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, former Attorney General Mike Cox and former House Speaker Tom Leonard rallied behind his campaign. Conservative personalities including Kid Rock and Ted Nugent also voiced support as James built momentum heading into the primary. James now heads into a closely watched general election against the Democratic nominee in one of the country's most important governor's races. With Governor Gretchen Whitmer term-limited, the race will decide who leads a key battleground state that helped decide the last three presidential elections. James now heads into a closely watched general election against Benson. Benson has surged into the lead in the race for Michigan governor, according to a new poll that shows James narrowly behind and independent Mike Duggan netting a significant percentage. The Detroit Regional Chamber poll found Benson ahead in a three-way matchup with 34 percent support among likely voters, followed by James with 29 percent and Duggan at 23 percent. Democrats hope to keep control of the governor's office after eight years under Whitmer, while Republicans view the open seat as one of their best pickup opportunities in November.