Here we go.

We have just 576 days until Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026, when the midterm elections will occur in the United States of America. In the state of Michigan, we will not only have statewide elections for Michigan Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General, but also a United States Senate seat is opening up because current Senator Gary Peters has decided to throw in the towel and call it a career in the upper chamber.

Time flies when you're having fun.

I don't know if I can say as predicted, but possibly as expected, current Congressman John James (who, by the way, is the only Republican Congressman I've ever had the whole time I've lived in Michigan), has decided to run for Statewide office. Yet not for the open United States Senate seat being vacated by Gary Peters, but will try for the Governor's seat, which Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited out of.

I heard some rumors a couple of weeks back about this.

Report: Michigan GOP Congressman Pondering Run for Governor in 2026, and He Has Trump's Attention

Now, almost on cue after the Dixon announcement, a story comes out that current Republican Congressman John James is going to run for governor and has caught the attention of President Trump.

Republican Congressman John James is expected to run for governor in 2026 and receive President Donald Trump's endorsement, a Republican source familiar with the situation tells Deadline Detroit.

"John James is definitely running for governor, and he's putting together a great team. He expects to get Trump's endorsement, which should clear out the field," said the source, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "People are going to run against him, but how are they going to win?"

James did not immediately respond to a request for comment via text on Wednesday.

Well, the James camp probably isn't ready to make the announcement official; there's a lot of stuff you have to do before that happens — like getting a campaign website domain and a caterer.

James has had two statewide runs for Senate in 2018 and 2020 and lost both of those, so running a statewide campaign is not new to him. So the question is, would he give up a guaranteed congressional seat if his district is not heavily Republican, yet take on another statewide race this time to stay closer to home and move to Lansing?

Now it is official:

Faith and Family.
God and Country.
Service Before Self.

Michigan First. pic.twitter.com/drYWqGSi3C

— John James (@JohnJamesMI) April 7, 2025

The reaction so far on the GOP side has been a bit mixed, which is not surprising given that James ran for the United States Senate in the state twice and barely lost both times. However, if part of what I was told a couple of weeks back is true, that Donald Trump will get involved earlier here and endorse James to shorten the primary season so that the party can unify behind his candidate.  

Being that Michigan is a blue state and Trump will never be at the top of the ticket again to get a victory. Winning statewide, time is of the essence, and forming solid momentum to win is key to that.

As I said in my article, linked above:

From my perch, I will vote for any Republican who agrees to the simple fact that they will not declare medical emergencies to shove elderly people into care facilities and nursing homes and not allow families to see them as they draw their last breath. I know that seems radical but after experiencing what Governor Gretch did in some of the things I highlighted in my article above, it's time to just cover the bases.

'Tis better to get that on the record ahead of time just to make sure you're on the same page with whoever the Republican candidate will be.

Congressman James has to have more common sense than Gretchen Whitmer, and if he becomes a nominee, that will be good enough for me.