AWOL: John James Skips First Republican Gubernatorial Debate

 

By Brandon Hall

(Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

In The Shining, Jack Nicholson famously breaks through the door with an ax announcing, "here's Johnny!"

At the first Republican Gubernatorial debate Wednesday night in Sparta, the question was, "where's Johnny?"

As in Jumpin' John James, who was "AWOL," nowhere to be found---the only primary candidate who couldn't be bothered to show up.

Milk boxes highlighting James' suspicious absence were prominently featured at multiple tables. 

Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt blasted James right away, in his first answer of the evening.

“I want to thank my colleagues for actually showing up here,” Nesbitt said. “The first step of winning next year is actually showing up. … It’s unfortunate that John James decided not to show up today, and after the two times that he’s lost statewide... If we don’t figure it out, next year is [going to be] the third time.”

Former Attorney General Mike Cox agreed with Nesbitt's assessment.

“Amen Aric," Cox said. "We don’t grow Michigan by electing people who don’t show up to work, we don't win by electing people who are abandoning President Trump’s majority in the House and now abandoning all of you."

James opted to spend his time in Detroit instead of debating...

In addition to Nesbitt and Cox, truck driver Anthony Hudson, Pastor Ralph Rebandt, former Michigan Speaker Of The House Tom Leonard, and AxMiTax founder Karla Wagner were in attendance.

The debate, which was moderated by Dave Bondy, also doubled as a fundraiser for the Michigan Republican Party's 2026 campaign efforts.

Two more debates are scheduled for this year: one November 4th in Roseville, and one in Traverse City on November 20th.

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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com