Capitol News

Republican gubernatorial candidate John James did not attend the recent GOP primary debate in Michigan, drawing criticism from party opponents and Democratic leaders. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel commented on James' absence, stating:

“What an embarrassing evening for John James and Michigan Republicans, as James couldn’t even bring himself to appear on stage with his Republican opponents and face questions from a conservative moderator. The entirety of James’ primary campaign has been him hiding—whether it’s hiding from his own primary opponents or hiding from questions over his vote to gut Medicaid.

“Tonight’s no-show from James is just another sign that Michigan Republicans have an incredibly weak bench of candidates—and this wide-open primary is only going to get messier and more chaotic in the months to come as each candidate stakes out the most extreme positions possible and fully embraces Donald Trump’s unpopular policies.”

James has previously missed other key events, including last month’s gubernatorial primary forum at the Mackinac Island Republican conference, where he finished fourth in a straw poll with 13.8% of the vote. In another recent straw poll for the 9th Congressional District, he received just 11.43% support.

Some party members have expressed concern about James' approach to the campaign. Lisa McClain, a senior House Republican from Michigan, described his run for governor as “100% not ideal” and said it “stings.” Kaitlyn Buss, an opinion writer for The Detroit News, criticized his decision to skip the Mackinac Island forum and cautioned against treating the governor's race as a foregone conclusion. State Representative Matt Maddock also stated that former President Donald Trump will not endorse James’ campaign for governor and noted that both Trump and Senator JD Vance are currently dissatisfied with him.

James has faced additional scrutiny regarding his avoidance of public forums where he could be questioned about past votes on Medicaid cuts, opposition to expanding Affordable Care Act subsidies, and calls for transparency on certain high-profile issues.