Michigan Republican Party

John James selected Jay DeBoyer to be his running mate for the general election. Political observers view this choice as strategically wise, noting that DeBoyer can highlight failures of Democratic leadership and provides valuable legislative experience. Additionally, DeBoyer is known for focusing on government excess and lack of transparency.

President Donald Trump endorsed John James in Michigan's GOP gubernatorial race, leaving James, Perry Johnson, and Mike Cox as the remaining candidates. Trump's endorsement followed the suspension of Aric Nesbitt's campaign and is seen as a significant boost for James ahead of the August primary.

State Sen. Jim Runestad, Michigan Republican Party Chair, proposed a one-year moratorium on data center projects to assess their impacts, including environmental and rate hike concerns. The bills, co-sponsored with Sen. Ruth Johnson, aim to gather data before implementing regulations, mirroring similar legislation in the House as the state sees a surge in AI data centers.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, faces Republican attacks over her past work with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which was indicted by the DOJ for allegedly paying extremist groups like the KKK. Benson's campaign defends her record, emphasizing her civil rights advocacy, while GOP officials demand transparency about her knowledge of SPLC's activities during her tenure.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, faces Republican scrutiny over her past volunteer and board roles at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which was federally indicted for allegedly funneling money to extremist groups like the KKK. Benson's campaign defends her civil rights work while dismissing GOP attacks as politically motivated.