U.S. Rep. John James to skip Michigan GOP governor debates

Craig Mauger, The Detroit News on Oct 29, 2025

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DETROIT — U.S. Rep John James, viewed by some as the front-runner in the race for the GOP nomination to be Michigan's next governor, won't participate Wednesday night in the primary campaign's first debate, organized by the state Republican Party.

James spokeswoman Hannah Osantowske issued a statement about four hours before doors were scheduled to open for the event in Sparta, contending that polling and fundraising numbers indicated the congressman from Shelby Township was "the favorite to become Michigan's next governor."

"John will consider a primary debate once the field is set and will be speaking directly to Michiganders in the meantime," Osantowske said.

On Monday, James, a second-term U.S. House member who previously ran for the U.S. Senate twice, reported raising about $1.38 million from July 21 through Oct. 20, more than any other candidate for governor did from donors — not including personal loans — over that time period.

The field of GOP candidates likely won't be set until after the April 21 filing deadline. The Michigan Republican Party has two more gubernatorial debates scheduled in November.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, the GOP primary debate in Sparta is scheduled to begin, with the other six other candidates in the primary race expected to be in attendance.

Tickets to the event cost $50 each, with the money going to benefit the Michigan Republican Party. The party's chairman, Jim Runestad, said tickets were sold out as of Wednesday afternoon.

Michigan's current governor, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, can't run for reelection next year because of term limits.

In addition to James, former Attorney General Mike Cox, former U.S. House candidate Anthony Hudson of Grand Blanc Township, former state House Speaker Tom Leonard of DeWitt, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt of Porter Township, and Pastor Ralph Rebandt of Oakland County are seeking the Republican nomination.

Cox criticized James this week for not planning to attend the debate, contending James was campaigning like Democratic former President Joe Biden "from his basement."

"Leadership is about showing up, and John James only shows up for himself," Cox wrote on social media.

In September, James also didn't participate in a panel discussion that the other top Republican candidates for governor all took part in during a GOP conference on Mackinac Island.

On Wednesday, the James campaign released its first ad of the primary campaign for governor. The commercial was called "Lock."

“Why do we lock our doors at night? Because we hate the people on the outside? No. Because we love the people on the inside,” James says in the ad. “We also need to lock our borders to protect us from drugs and terrorists.”

The new ad will run online and in digital formats, Osantowske said.

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