John James

Polls so far show GOP Congressman John James leading in the Republican race for Michigan governor in 2026.

So, James has taken a gamble by deciding to skip a series of three GOP gubernatorial debates scheduled in the coming weeks. The first was held Wednesday at the Apple Valley Events Center in Sparta, in the Grand Rapids area.

The Detroit News reports that his absence Wednesday did not go unnoticed by his opponents, who took shots at him.

The News reports:

In reaction, the gubernatorial campaign of Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt of Porter Township posted a "missing" person sign, with James' picture on it, outside the Grand Rapids-area events center where the Wednesday debate took place. And in Republican former Attorney General Mike Cox's opening statement, he accu

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