Republican John James seeks some distance from Trump in Michigan governor debate

Republican Rep. John James on Tuesday sought to put some daylight between himself and President Donald Trump as he debated his opponent in the Michigan governor’s race.

Democratic nominee Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s secretary of state, repeatedly tried to tie James to Trump during the hourlong showdown, saying he had failed to stand up to Trump and wouldn’t do so as governor, either.

James, who was boosted by Trump’s endorsement in his GOP primary campaign, pointed to the Iran war and tariff policy as issues over which he has disagreements with Trump.

“I’ve stood up to the president many times. I’ve said that I can agree with the president without worshipping him. I can disagree without attacking him, and I always put Michigan first,” James said.

James said he believed the conflict in Iran needed to end “quickly, as in yesterday,” echoing comments he made last month. James, who has voted against several resolutions in the House that sought to end the Iran war, also said he wants to “use whatever checks and balance power that we have to bring this war to a swift conclusion.”

His comments in his first debate with Benson in the key battleground state come as polls show voters nationally continuing to sour on Trump’s handling of the Iran war and the cost of living as the midterm elections draw closer.

Benson attacked James for voting against the Iran war powers resolutions while blaming high gas prices on the conflict.

“I struggle with that vote,” James said of the war powers resolutions votes. “I’m a combat veteran. I have been to war. She has not. I understand what war means, and so I voted to protect the troops and to fund them while they were in harm’s way.”

Benson pointed out that her husband served in the Army.

“Military spouses serve also, congressman,” she said.

Benson sought to link James to Trump’s tariff agenda, saying she dubs them the “John James tax,” while James said he had pushed back on the Trump administration’s tariffs against Canada.

“I’ve actually called out the administration specifically, talking with the trade ambassador and saying that we must get back to the table, stop acting like children and negotiate a reciprocal, fair and mutually beneficial arrangement to make sure that we can bring our jobs back and protect our industry,” James said.

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James, who promised in July to “back law enforcement, end sanctuary city policies” and “cooperate with federal immigration authorities to remove criminal illegal immigrants,” seemed to soften that stance Tuesday, saying he does not see a need for ICE presence in Michigan.

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“We’re going to be cooperating with federal law enforcement as well as our communities. We’re going to make sure that we’re prioritizing violent offenders, and we’re going to make sure that we enforce the law,” he said. “Frankly, I don’t believe we’re going to need ICE presence in the state of Michigan, because we are going to be enforcing the law.”

James tried to tie Benson’s record to that of term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Asked by moderator Rick Albin of NBC affiliate WOOD of Grand Rapids to point to a decision about which Whitmer did not listen to Michiganders, Benson did not cite a specific policy but said, “Where I think we need to listen to the people ... is a way to improve our Department of Health and Human Services.”

The candidates also clashed over data centers amid a growing public backlash to them, each accusing the other of profiting from them. Benson accused James of having voted for policies friendly to data centers while holding stocks in them, and James accused Benson’s family of profiting from one center’s construction. Benson denied that her family had profited from them, while James said any data center-related stocks he owns were held in broad mutual funds.

The nationally watched Michigan Senate race, in which the Democratic candidate, Abdul El-Sayed, is running against GOP former Rep. Mike Rogers, did not come up Tuesday. Republicans in particular have been eager to tie El-Sayed, a progressive, to other Democratic candidates in competitive races.

Neither candidate mentioned that race or tried to tie the other to either Senate nominee.

Democrats are looking to keep Michigan’s governorship in their party’s hands after Whitmer’s two terms in office. Trump carried the state by just over 1 percentage point in the 2024 presidential election. NBC News characterizes the race as leaning toward Democrats.

Benson and James are scheduled to debate again on Oct. 15.