New ad in Michigan race for governor questions James' loyalty to Trump

Craig Mauger, The Detroit News on Jan 21, 2026

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LANSING, Mich. — A nonprofit organization that formed in December has launched an ad blitz in recent days attacking U.S. Rep. John James and possibly signaling a new candidate could be waiting in the wings to enter the race to be Michigan's next governor.

James, a two-term member of the U.S. House from Shelby Township, is viewed by many as the early front-runner in the primary campaign for the Republican nomination.

However, a nonprofit group called Michigan First Principles has begun sponsoring advertisements featuring critical comments James reportedly made about Donald Trump in 2022 and accusing James of being "totally disloyal" to the Republican president.

"John James puts himself first," the TV ad contends. "We need a leader who puts Michigan first."

So far, the nonprofit organization has reserved about $140,000 in radio and TV time in the Detroit market alone, according to one estimate from an ad-tracking service. It's also running ads on the radio in other areas of Michigan, according to disclosures submitted to the Federal Communications Commission.

Michigan First Principles was formed on Dec. 9, according to state incorporation documents.

Some of the group's ad buys were made through RuralAMFM, a Grand Rapids-based firm in which prominent Republican political consultant John Yob is a partner, according to filings with the Federal Communications Commission.

Yob ran the 2022 campaign for governor of self-funding Oakland County businessman Perry Johnson, a Republican who touted himself as a quality guru. Johnson hasn't said yet whether he will run for governor again in 2026.

Four years ago, Johnson spent about $7 million on his campaign before becoming one of five Republican candidates for Michigan governor who were disqualified from the August primary ballot because of a wave of fraudulent petition signatures. Johnson spoke at the Republican National Convention in July 2024, saying Trump has the "brain of a genius."

"I join many Republicans in agreeing with President Trump’s concerns about John James’ candidacy and therefore support the direction of the advertising, but it isn't my group and I refer questions to the people running it," Yob said in a statement provided to The Detroit News.

Yob referenced comments made by Trump in June, when the president said he was "not sure" he was "happy" about James running for governor instead of for reelection in his battleground U.S. House district in parts of Macomb and Oakland counties.

Some of the filings submitted to the Federal Communications Commission for the new anti-James ad listed the title of the new ad as "Not Happy."

In response to the ad, Hannah Osantowske, spokeswoman for James, said the congressman has led the primary race for governor in polling and fundraising.

"John James is a proven winner," Osantowske said. "President Trump likes winners and he remembers those who’ve been loyal.

"John has been honored to earn the president’s endorsement in each of his races in the past and is fully committed to earning it again."

James had a narrow lead within the margin of error against Democrat Jocelyn Benson in a Jan. 2-6 statewide poll of the governor's race commissioned by The Detroit News and WDIV-TV (Channel 4).

An Iraq War veteran who previously worked in his family's logistics business, James ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020 before winning his House seat in 2022 and 2024.

Political consultant Doug Stafford provided a statement to The News on behalf of Michigan First Principles, saying the organization was formed "to inform Michigan residents about issues of importance to the people of Michigan such as cutting income and property taxes and bringing attention to leaders who fail to put Michigan before themselves."

"Michigan First Principles is pleased to have multiple donors who agree with our efforts and will comply with all relevant disclosure laws," Stafford said of where the group's money came from.

Stafford and Yob were both described by Politico as "key players" in Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's failed 2016 presidential bid.

As the nonprofit isn't telling Michigan residents specifically how to vote, Michigan First Principles likely won't have to report to the public the identity of its donors.

W. Alan Wilk, a lawyer with the firm Dykema, filed the paperwork to incorporate Michigan First Principles in December. Wilk has worked with a laundry list of political nonprofits, including Put Progress First, a group that's been backing independent Mike Duggan's campaign for governor.

The Republican primary race for governor is already a crowded one, featuring seven candidates. The primary election will take place in August.

In addition to James, others in the GOP race include state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt of Porter Township, former Attorney General Mike Cox of Livonia and former state House Speaker Tom Leonard of DeWitt.

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