Mike Cox

John James has won the Republican nomination for Michigan governor, as projected by the Associated Press. He is a two-term congressman from Michigan's 10th District who received an endorsement from President Donald Trump, leading to Mike Cox's withdrawal from the race. James will face either Jocelyn Benson or Chris Swanson in the general election.

The 2026 Michigan primary election on Aug. 4 will include races for governor, U.S. Senate, and multiple U.S. House seats. Key gubernatorial candidates are Jocelyn Benson and Chris Swanson (Democratic) and John James, Perry Johnson, and Mike Cox (Republican). For U.S. Senate, Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed (Democratic) and Mike Rogers (Republican) are among the candidates. Several districts have multiple candidates for U.S. House seats.

Michigan’s gubernatorial candidates share priorities on literacy and college/career readiness but diverge on approaches like school choice versus equitable funding. Candidates include Jocelyn Benson, Chris Swanson, John James, Perry Johnson, and former Attorney General Mike Cox, who withdrew after Trump endorsed James.

Michigan voters who cast absentee ballots in the August primary can cancel (spoil) their ballots if their candidate dropped out, such as Mallory McMorrow and Mike Cox. Voters must request a replacement ballot by July 24 if already submitted, or surrender the ballot in person if unsubmitted.

Mike Cox dropped out of the GOP gubernatorial primary, leaving John James and Perry Johnson as the remaining candidates. Cox cited President Donald Trump's endorsement of James as a key factor in his decision to exit the race.

Mike Cox dropped out of the Michigan governor race and endorsed John James. He was the sole candidate in the Republican gubernatorial field to have previously won a statewide election.

Mike Cox announced the end of his Michigan governor campaign after Donald Trump endorsed John James, stating internal polling showed James had become uncatchable in the Republican primary. Cox pledged support to James and other Republican candidates, reflecting on his campaign and gratitude to supporters.

Mike Cox, former Michigan Attorney General, dropped out of the governor's race after President Donald Trump endorsed Congressman John James. Cox stated Trump's endorsement shifted the Republican primary race, making it difficult for him to compete, and he will support James and other candidates in November.

Mike Cox has sued Jocelyn Benson over a FOIA request seeking records related to her past involvement with the Southern Poverty Law Center. The lawsuit alleges her office failed to provide the requested records despite a $5,000 deposit and over 11 weeks since the request was submitted. Benson's campaign dismissed the lawsuit as a politically motivated attack.

Violent crime in Detroit and Michigan has declined significantly, with 165 homicides in 2025—the fewest since the mid-1960s—alongside drops in non-fatal shootings, carjackings, and robberies. Five Michigan governor candidates agree on the importance of public safety but propose differing strategies to sustain the trend, including stricter enforcement, criminal justice reforms, and restoring trust in law enforcement.

Michigan's next governor must address challenges in retaining young people despite recent population growth. Five major candidates agree on creating opportunities for young residents but propose differing strategies, including tax cuts, business growth initiatives, and education improvements.

The Aspen Acres Fire burned 280 acres of Mike Cox's Cox Family Ranch in Pueblo County, destroying grazing land and leaving his 24 cattle without pasture. Cox rescued his herd as the fire approached but now faces a potential forced sale due to insufficient hay and a $40,000 cost to feed them for a year.

Michigan governor candidates present differing plans to address rising living costs. Republican candidates Mike Cox, Perry Johnson, and John James propose eliminating or phasing out the state income tax, citing savings of up to $3,000 annually for households, while emphasizing methods like cutting corporate subsidies, auditing government spending, and gradual implementation. The United for ALICE report highlights the financial strain on families, noting the need for over $114,000 annually for basic expenses.

Michigan is allocating a record $22.9 billion for K-12 education in the next school year, but students rank 44th in fourth-grade reading and 34th in fourth-grade math. Democratic candidates Jocelyn Benson and Chris Swanson advocate for increased school funding with equitable models, while Republican candidates John James, Mike Cox, and Perry Johnson emphasize accountability, literacy instruction, and parental options. Benson proposes a weighted funding model without raising taxes on middle-class families, and Cox suggests assigning school grades and requiring reading proficiency for third-grade advancement.

Five candidates for Michigan governor in the 2026 race participated in interviews with Local 4, discussing priorities like education, affordability, and public safety. Current Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and not running again. The primary election is scheduled for August 4.

Ralph Rebandt, a former Republican Gubernatorial Candidate, comments on the Republican primary race between John James, Perry Johnson and Mike Cox, and announces his support for one of the candidates.

Republicans John James, Mike Cox, and Perry Johnson debated in Grand Rapids, focusing on artificial intelligence and diversity, equity, and inclusion. The debate highlighted disagreements among the candidates on these issues.

Republican gubernatorial candidates John James, Perry Johnson, and Mike Cox debated in Grand Rapids, emphasizing tax cuts, data center regulations, and education improvements. They highlighted distinct campaign strategies, with Johnson stressing independence, James focusing on Trump endorsements, and Cox citing past statewide experience.

Oakland University Political Science Professor Nicole Mathew provided her reaction to a Republican Gubernatorial Debate featuring John James, Perry Johnson, and Mike Cox. The debate focused on the gubernatorial race among the three candidates.

A live debate featuring Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidates Perry Johnson, John James, and Mike Cox is occurring in Grand Rapids.

GOP gubernatorial candidates John James, Perry Johnson, and Mike Cox engaged in personal attacks during a Fox 2 Detroit debate, focusing on electability and criticisms of each other's qualifications. They agreed on issues like tax cuts, budget reduction, and supporting President Donald Trump's agenda, but the debate was marked by bickering and accusations of deceit.

Republican gubernatorial candidates Mike Cox, John James, and Perry Johnson debated at Fox 2 studios in Detroit. The article focuses on GOP rivals criticizing John James during the debate.

Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidates Mike Cox, John James, and Perry Johnson debated topics important to Michiganders, including gas prices, during a FOX 2 studio session.

Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidates Perry Johnson, John James, and Mike Cox are participating in a live debate. The event is focused on the gubernatorial race.

The Republican Gubernatorial Debate will take place tonight, moderated by Roop Raj. The candidates include Mike Cox, John James, and Perry Johnson.

Mike Cox accused John James of hypocrisy over alleged China ties, citing 921 imports from China to James' former logistics company during his congressional tenure, including a $1.4 million shipment of Equinox wheel rims. James' campaign denied the claims, stating the company facilitates global supply chains and criticizes Cox's lack of expertise in Michigan's manufacturing sector.

A nonpartisan voter guide for Detroit's 2026 elections provides key dates, contacts, and candidate information to help voters prepare. The guide, created by BridgeDetroit in partnership with Bridge Michigan and Detroit Votes, outlines primary and general election timelines, including absentee and early voting dates, and lists statewide and countywide candidates.

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.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson stopped running an ad claiming 'President Trump did not endorse John James' after Trump officially backed James. Johnson criticized an ad from Mission Michigan promoting James as Trump's loyal candidate, but Trump's endorsement led to Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt dropping out and endorsing James. Other Republican candidates include Mike Cox, while Democrats Jocelyn Benson and Chris Swanson will compete in their primary.

President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. John James in the Michigan governor race, leading to Aric Nesbitt dropping out of the Republican primary and endorsing James. Perry Johnson and Mike Cox criticized the endorsement, while Nesbitt emphasized uniting to defeat Democrats.

President Trump endorsed John James for Michigan governor, prompting Aric Nesbitt to withdraw from the Republican primary and endorse James. Other candidates criticized the endorsement, questioning James's viability in the race.

President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. John James for Michigan governor via Truth Social. Trump's endorsement is expected to impact the race, with other candidates including Mike Cox, Perry Johnson, and Aric Nesbitt. James expressed enthusiasm for the endorsement, stating it would help 'Make Michigan Great Again.'

Six gubernatorial candidates are listed for Michigan's Aug. 4 primary ballot. The candidates include Jocelyn Benson, Mike Cox, John James, Aric Nesbitt, Perry Johnson, and Chris Swanson.