In a significant demonstration of former President Donald Trump's influence within Republican primary contests, his endorsed candidate, Representative John James, secured the GOP nomination for governor in Michigan. James, who had previously run twice for the U.S. Senate in the pivotal Great Lakes state and received Trump's backing in late June, prevailed over multimillionaire businessman Perry Johnson in Tuesday's primary election.
Michigan Gubernatorial Contest Takes Shape
James, a distinguished West Point alumnus and Army Ranger with multiple combat tours as an Apache helicopter pilot during the Iraq War, is now set to compete in an anticipated high-stakes and costly general election. He will challenge two-term Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, in the race to succeed term-limited Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
A Contentious Primary Battle
The Republican primary contest between James and Johnson, who has previously sought both gubernatorial and presidential nominations, became notably contentious. Johnson, who is White, reportedly characterized James, a prominent Black Republican in Congress, as a "DEI candidate" and, during a recent debate, suggested James was "playing the race card." In response, James described Johnson's campaign as "desperate." Johnson significantly outspent James in the primary, investing millions of his personal wealth into his bid.
While James and Johnson were the last contenders standing, the nomination race initially featured other Republican hopefuls, including former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and state Senate Republican leader Aric Nesbitt. Both Cox and Nesbitt ultimately suspended their gubernatorial campaigns, though their names still appeared on the primary ballot.
The former president offered a direct boost to James's campaign last month, appearing alongside the congressman at a rally held in Michigan.
Trump's Endorsement Record Across GOP Primaries
Across Republican primaries throughout the spring and summer, the significant influence of the former president's endorsements has been evident. His preferred candidates successfully unseated incumbents he had opposed in key contests in Indiana, Kentucky, Texas, and during the Louisiana primary.
However, the former president's unbroken string of endorsements in statewide and congressional Republican primaries faced a notable interruption in early June. His late-hour support for Republican Representative Randy Feenstra of Iowa, in the race to succeed outgoing Governor Kim Reynolds, proved insufficient to secure a victory for the three-term congressman. Feenstra was narrowly defeated by Zach Lahn, a businessman, farmer, and former political strategist. Lahn had garnered support from the political factions of MAHA, which stands for the Make America Healthy Again movement, associated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Turning Point USA, the influential conservative organization co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
Despite the Iowa outcome, candidates endorsed by the former president achieved success in other significant primary runoff elections in June. They triumphed in two out of three major races in Georgia and Alabama, with the single defeat occurring against billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, who reportedly spent over $100 million of his personal funds on his campaign.
The following week, in upstate New York, first-time candidate Anthony Constantino, a businessman and former boxer backed by Trump, overcame Robert Smullen, a retired Marine Corps colonel and New York assemblyman who had the state party's endorsement, in the contest to fill the seat of the retiring Republican Representative Elise Stefanik.
In South Carolina's Republican gubernatorial runoff, the former president found himself in a unique position where he was guaranteed a victory. This was due to his prior endorsement of Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and a subsequent, last-minute endorsement of State Attorney General Alan Wilson, who ultimately secured a landslide win in the late June contest.
The former president also celebrated a victory in Louisiana, where Senator Bill Cassidy, who had voted to convict Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial, was unseated in his bid for renomination. Representative Julia Letlow, supported by Trump, ultimately won that runoff election's nomination.
Furthermore, last month, Representative Andy Biggs, a former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus and a Trump-endorsed candidate, won Arizona's gubernatorial primary by a significant margin.
