John James to Face Jocelyn Benson in Race for Michigan’s Next Governor

Rep. John James (R-Mich.) and Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will square off in November to determine who will be Michigan’s next governor after each won their respective primaries on Tuesday.

Polling indicates the eventual matchup in November will be close. Benson or James will replace Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who is term-limited after having served since 2019.

The latest polling had Benson leading James in the general election, although that lead is shrinking. Mitchell Research has Benson leading James 46–44 percent with polling conducted July 28–29. The Cook Political Report rates the race for governor in Michigan as a “toss up, Lean D.”

Casey Wooster, who lives in Chelsea and is retired after working at Eastern Michigan University, voted for Benson in part because of Benson’s views on education. The U.S. News & World Report has the state ranked 46th overall in its education rankings. Both of Benson’s parents were public school teachers who worked in special education.

“She comes from a family of educators,” Wooster said. “I think that’s important. I really feel strongly about the education aspect.”

She said she liked Benson’s campaign pledge to increase the starting salary of new teachers in Michigan to $60,000.

Wooster said she is afraid that low teacher salaries are hurting public education in Michigan. According to the National Education Association, the average starting teacher salary in Michigan was $43,093 in 2024, with an average salary of $71,023.

Wooster also said she liked that Benson served as the dean of the Wayne State University Law School.

“Years ago, I would have never have declared myself a Democrat or a Republican,” she said. “I would have researched each candidate and then made my decision. Today, anyone who is in the Republican Party, it’s out the window for me. It’s such a sad situation we are at.”

If James beats Benson, he will become the state’s first black governor.

“It’s a cool point of history,” said Pontiac’s Christina Barr, who is black and voted for James. “But it is not why I am supporting John.”

Barr said that James was the best Republican candidate to win in November. James beat Perry Johnson, a Michigan businessman who spent $30 million on his campaign.

“I believe that between John James and Perry Johnson, John James is the only one who could possibly beat Benson,” Barr said. “I don’t believe moderates and independents will break for a 78-year-old man spending $30 million to buy an election over our 48-year-old Secretary of State.”

Benson was elected as secretary of state in 2018 when she beat Republican Mary Treder Lang and was reelected in 2022 with a victory over Republican Kristina Karamo.

James lost to Democrat Debbie Stabenow in the 2018 U.S. Senate race and lost the 2020 U.S. Senate race to Democrat Gary Peters, before beating Democrat Carl Marlinga in 2022 and again in 2024 to win his U.S. House seat.

“James is a better campaigner than when he ran for Senate, and he’s really listening to voters and seeking advice,” Barr said.

James describes himself as a proud ally of President Donald Trump; the president endorsed James in June.

James said his priorities would be the economy, immigration and border security, and supporting the military. He also said repealing the state’s 2023 Clean Energy and Jobs Act, designed to transition the state’s electricity grid to carbon-free sources by 2040, would be his “first priority” if elected.