“John James: 0/3 on debates, 0/2 on statewide elections”
“John James’ continued absence remained a central topic, drawing criticism from every candidate…”
LANSING — John James’ floundering primary campaign is continuing to tear the Michigan Republican Party apart at the seams after he skipped his third straight debate after last night’s primary debate in Traverse City.
His absence from the campaign trail has become a “central topic,” and comes as he refuses to answer for his extreme votes to cut health care and jack up costs for Michiganders.
Signs made by Republicans in the debate hall even read “John James: 0/3 on debates, 0/2 on statewide elections.” During the first debate, milk cartons featuring James as a missing person were handed out, and during the second debate, Aric Nesbitt’s campaign paid for a video truck plastered with a missing poster of James.
James’ primary opponents each went on the attack:
- Aric Nesbitt tore into James during his opening remarks, saying that “people want to see you when you’re running for office. They want to be able to engage you.”
- Mike Cox accused James of “abandoning the Republican Party like he’s abandoning President Trump’s majority. Ultimately he’s got to show up, and I’m looking for that day.”
- Anthony Hudson called for James to “drop out” and said “John ‘Job-Jumping’ James is afraid to tackle these questions. He thinks he’s got it in the bag. You don’t have this in the bag, John.”
The vicious infighting comes after Tim Skubick reported for WLNS this week how James’ campaign for governor has “split” the Michigan Republican Party.
Prominent Republicans have come out against James running for governor—including his colleague Lisa McClain, the No. 4 House Republican, who said that James running for governor is “100% not ideal” and “stings.” State Rep. Matt Maddock, a staunch ally of Trump, previously said that Trump will not be endorsing James—and that Trump and JD Vance are “not happy with [James] right now.”
“Michigan Republicans are in complete and total disarray as John James is nowhere to be seen or heard from on the campaign trail,” said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Derrick Honeyman. “This vicious and protracted primary is only getting worse—and Republicans have a long, bumpy road until next August.”
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