John James Wins Michigan GOP Governor Primary, Names Jay DeBoyer as Running Mate

U.S. Rep. John James won the Republican gubernatorial primary in Michigan on Aug. 4, 2026, defeating self-funded businessman Perry Johnson by roughly 15 percentage points, according to Bridge Michigan, with James receiving about 50% of the vote per WOOD TV8. James had campaigned with President Trump, who endorsed him, in the days before the primary. On Aug. 13, 2026, James announced he had selected state Rep. Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, a 56-year-old former county clerk, as his running mate for lieutenant governor, as reported by The Michigan Daily, The Detroit News, Upper Michigan's Source, and WOOD TV8. James will face Democratic nominee Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election. As of mid-August, Benson had not yet named a running mate; WOOD TV8 reported her deadline to do so is Aug. 25, while The Michigan Daily and Upper Michigan's Source noted she was still weighing her options as of Aug. 13-14. The Detroit News reported that Republican delegates are expected to formally approve the DeBoyer pick at a state convention on Aug. 22, and that DeBoyer will need to give up his state House re-election bid to run for lieutenant governor. Bridge Michigan noted that it has been about 35 years since the same party held the Michigan governor's office for more than two terms. The exact date Benson will announce her running mate remains unconfirmed, with reporting only establishing an Aug. 25 deadline. Separately, in Michigan's eighth congressional district Republican primary held the same day, Thomas Smith won the nomination despite having withdrawn from the race the previous month, defeating both his own endorsed candidate, Al Lemmo, and Trump-endorsed candidate Amir Hassan, according to The Guardian; this result is not corroborated by a second independent source in the supplied reporting and remains unresolved as a standalone claim.