State Watch

James leading GOP gubernatorial primary in Michigan: Survey

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by Sarah Davis - 04/29/26 10:57 PM ET

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by Sarah Davis - 04/29/26 10:57 PM ET

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U.S. Rep. John James (R-Mich.) is the leading Republican candidate in Michigan’s gubernatorial primary race, according to new polling.

Glengariff Group, Inc. published new polling data for the race on Tuesday from likely GOP primary voters in the state. James garnered 37 percent of support in the survey, followed by businessman Perry Johnson with 19.8 percent.

This is a significant jump in support for James, who was polling less than a percentage point behind Johnson in an Emerson College poll released earlier this month. Nearly 40 percent of voters said they were undecided at the time, compared to only 17.6 percent in this most recent Glengariff survey.

The two top Republican candidates are currently engaged in a legal battle after Johnson sued the U.S. lawmaker over his campaign logo.

The businessman is seeking a temporary restraining order against the congressman’s use of the phrase “John James Governor” in his promotional materials, claiming the slogan could mislead voters into believing James is the incumbent candidate.

“The use of this phrasing is widespread, repeated, and central to the campaign’s branding, indicating that it is intentional rather than inadvertent,” Johnson wrote in his complaint.

Hannah Osantowske, a spokesperson for James’s campaign, called the lawsuit a “desperate ploy” in a statement to The Detroit Free Press.

Johnson ran for Michigan governor in 2022, but he was disqualified from the race due to invalid petition signatures. He also ran for president in 2024, but he failed to meet the requirements to qualify for GOP debates.

Other Republican candidates include former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and Michigan State Sen. Aric Nesbitt, both of whom polled under 10 percent among likely GOP voters in the Glengariff poll.

The GOP candidates will face off in the state’s primary election on Aug. 4, ahead of the November election to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) at the end of 2026.

Whitmer has yet to endorse her successor in the race. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson holds nearly a 60-point lead over Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson among likely Democratic primary voters in the Glengariff poll.

Former Democratic Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is also running for governor as an independent candidate.

The Glengariff poll surveyed 500 likely Michigan GOP primary voters from April 21-24, with a margin of error of approximately 4.4 percentage points.

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