Michigan Congressman John James is taking heat from Republicans over his decision to shift his focus than 100 days into President Donald Trump’s second term to campaign for governor.
“John James lost twice statewide (2018 & 2020), barely squeaked by in MI-10 congressional race (0.5% win), and now risks handing his seat to Democrats,” 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate Garrett Soldano posted to X this week.
“His Heritage score? A weak 74%. That’s not a conservative. That’s another ladder-climbing politician desperate for a promotion. Leadership is about duty, not ambition. If you can’t win a +3 Republican seat convincingly, you’re not the answer for Michigan’s future,” he wrote. “Deeply disappointed that he would prioritize self-interest over staying in Congress and doing what’s right for our country.”
The criticism follows James’ announcement on Monday he’s ditching Congress to run for governor just months after winning re-election to represent the 10th Congressional District in November by a razor thin margin.
Soldano delved into what James’ campaign for governor could mean for Congress in a recent livestream with former Congressman Mike Rogers, who is expected to launch a bid to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Gary Peters in 2026.
“We have … people that are currently in Congress, and obviously every single seat matters, and a lot of these votes are jumping ship, a lot of these votes are new in the arena of Congress and they’re jumping ship and running for all levels of office, like governor and everything else,” Soldano told Rogers.
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“What are your thoughts on that?” he asked Rogers.
“It took us a long time to get a conservative majority in the House of Representatives,” Rogers responded. “I cannot tell you how important that is to make sure Donald Trump can get the kind of programs he can get done,” and added: ““So when people walk away and jeopardize the House, I think it’s their decision. It’s hard to run for office … so I don’t begrudge anybody who thinks it’s time to do something different. But I will tell you, I hope people think long and hard about it. The biggest impact they can have is right now, when we have a president willing to have the courage to do the things he’s doing, and we have a majority in the Senate. This is our time, so I would think long and hard before you walk away from being a part of the solution.”
Rogers continued. “I worry about it,” he said, noting there’s no guarantee Republicans will maintain control through the midterms. The GOP currently holds a 220-213 advantage in the lower chamber.
“If we only have these next two years to actually get this stuff cemented in and get done, man, don’t walk away from it,” he said. “This is the time to be there, be in the fight, to get it done.”
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Predicting “rallies and the balloons soon,” James said in a statement on Monday he’s running to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer 2026 because Michigan is “being held back by a lack of strong, competent leadership – leadership with real-world experience in the areas Michiganders need most.”
The 43-year-old former U.S. Army captain and CEO joins Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt among Republicans vying to become the state’s top executive, though with much more support. A MIRS poll last month showed James in a statistical tie with 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon.
The same poll showed Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson leading Democratic candidates for the 2026 gubernatorial primary, and dead heat between Benson and three potential Republican candidates – James, Dixon, and former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox – for the general election.
“At this time, the three top Republicans in the GOP primary are all statistically tied with Democratic front runner Jocelyn Benson,” Steve Mitchell, MRC president, said in a statement.
Dixon, who gained President Donald Trump’s endorsement in 2022, posted to X that she’s considering a run for both the U.S. Senate and governor, and “will decide soon where my experience and talents should most benefit the state.”
Cox has also said he’s exploring a bid for governor.
A breakdown of the polling shows James leads Dixon 44% to 31% in Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties, the result of $50 million in spending in the 10th Congressional District over the last two election cycles. Dixon leads James in the rest of the state with 29% to James’ 25%.
The MIRS poll suggests the Republican nominee could ultimately hinge on the 47th POTUS.
More than three-quarters (77%) of Republican primary voters told pollsters they are “very likely” (46%) or “somewhat likely” (31%) to vote for a Trump-endorsed candidate, even if it’s not who they currently support.
While both James and Dixon received Trump’s endorsement in the past, Nesbitt has not, and he endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president in 2024.