John James, a Republican who ran two unsuccessful bids for the U.S. Senate in Michigan in 2018 and 2020, announced Monday he will run for the House in the state’s newly drawn 10th Congressional District.
James, a businessman and Iraq War veteran, will seek the seat in a newly competitive district in an area that former President Donald Trump won narrowly over President Joe Biden in 2020.
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In a video announcing his candidacy posted on Twitter, James said, “Michigan deserves a leader who’s lived in the real world, who understands national security, who understands how to provide economic opportunity,” touting his automotive logistics business and his military service.
I fought on the battlefield for American lives and in business for good-paying jobs that fuel livelihoods. I will continue to fight for the hardworking families in Michigan’s 10th district as today I announce my run for Congress. Join me at https://t.co/L2HSYuRU7Y pic.twitter.com/PkqKpwqIWP
— John James (@JohnJamesMI) January 31, 2022
Although his previous campaigns for the Senate against incumbent Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, both Democrats, came up short, James outperformed Trump in both races. Trump endorsed his candidacy in those contests.
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James lost to Stabenow by about 7 percentage points in 2018, a year that favored Democrats. In 2020, James lost to Peters by less than 2 percentage points. James did not concede the race for several weeks after he sought to delay certification of the vote, making arguments about irregularities similar to those made by Trump without evidence of widespread fraud.
In a statement, Michigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes called James a twice-failed candidate and mocked his third run for office.
“Not surprising that John James is taking another run at elected office in Michigan,” Barnes said. “His ego out paces reality. Every one of his other campaigns were tone deaf and failed to appeal to Michiganders, we expect more of the same during this next campaign for the 10th congressional district. Losing two statewide campaigns two election cycles in a row should send a clear message to John James, Michiganders are not interested in him representing them. As much as John James loves to run, he apparently also loves to lose.”
But the race in the 10th District so far lacks a Democrat with broad name recognition, giving James a head start.
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The new district is an open race because incumbent Democratic Reps. Andy Levin and Haley Stevens, who each currently represent areas of the new seat, will each seek to represent another new district that leans Democratic.
The Detroit Free Press noted that James has had a residence in the Farmington Hills area, and he will likely consider a move to the new district.
