President Donald Trump threw his weight behind Rep. John James on Monday in Michigan’s Republican gubernatorial primary, prompting one rival to drop out and rally behind the congressman while others vowed to stay in the race to become the state’s next governor.
Trump announced his endorsement in a Truth Social post, hailing James as the candidate to lead the battleground state.
“It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Congressman, John James, who is running to become the next Governor of the Beautiful State of Michigan!” the president declared in part of a Truth Social post. “John James has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Governor of Michigan — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”
James quickly embraced the backing, describing Trump in social media posts as “The greatest President of my lifetime.”
The endorsement had an immediate impact on the GOP primary race.
Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt suspended his campaign shortly after Trump’s announcement and endorsed James, arguing Republicans need to unite ahead of the general election.
“This campaign has always been about the people of Michigan and standing with President Trump to defeat the Democrats in November. Today, I am suspending my campaign and proudly joining President Trump in endorsing John James as Michigan’s next Governor,” Nesbitt declared in social media posts. “A divided primary only helps Democrats. It’s time to unite. I’m asking every one of you who supported this campaign to stand with me behind John James, roll up our sleeves, and deliver a Republican victory in November.”
James praised Nesbitt’s decision and said the move reflected conservative unity.
“When President Trump endorsed this campaign, Aric Nesbitt did exactly what a true Michigan CONSERVATIVE should do: He united behind the President and our mission to Save Michigan from the Libs and the RINOs destroying our Republic!” James wrote in part on X.
Not everyone in the GOP field was ready to fall in line.
Businessman Perry Johnson argued Trump had been steered in the wrong direction and pointed to past Republican statewide defeats in Michigan.
“President Trump received bad advice yet again. John James is a two-time statewide loser, and Michigan has already seen this movie before: Trump-backed statewide candidates like John James, Tudor Dixon, Matt DePerno, and Kristina Karamo all came up short when it mattered most,” Johnson asserted in social media posts.
Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox also signaled he intends to press ahead with his campaign.
“Like @POTUS, I’ve won Michigan twice by building a coalition of working Michiganders who are sick of being screwed by the elites. I’m proud to have voted for President Trump in each of his last three elections, to have donated thousands of dollars to support his campaigns, and to have been hired to represent him as his election integrity lawyer in Michigan in 2024. I look forward to being President Trump’s favorite Governor when I win,” Cox wrote in a post on X.
Trump’s endorsement dramatically reshaped the GOP primary race, instantly consolidating support around James while leaving Johnson and Cox as the most prominent Republicans still challenging him for the gubernatorial nomination.
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