John James Favored To Win Open Michigan Governor’s Contest, Polling Shows

Michigan Rep. John James is the best-positioned Republican candidate to flip Michigan’s governorship red in the 2026 contest, according to new polling.

The Plymouth Union Public (PUP) Research survey, shared with the 🏢Daily Caller News Foundation, found James leading a general election field and trouncing a crowded slate of candidates in the primary contest. In a hypothetical three-way general election contest, James received 35% support from likely general election voters, followed by a generic Democratic candidate who drew 31% of the vote and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a lifelong Democrat running as an independent, who garnered 12% support.

Former Republican Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, James’ primary opponent who has not held office since 2010, trails the generic Democrat in the three-way contest.

When testing Cox as the GOP gubernatorial candidate, the pollster found the generic Democrat the field with 31% of the vote, followed by Cox drawing 28% support and Duggan with 15% support.

James, an Army veteran and three-term lawmaker, announced his campaign in April to succeed term-limited Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. He previously came up short in prior runs for Senate in 2018 and 2020.

Early analysis from the nonpartisan Cook Political Report