16 Trump-Endorsed MAGA Candidates Have Won Their Primaries

The Trump endorsement continues to be the most powerful weapon in politics.

GOP Rep. John James to face off against Democrat Jocelyn Benson in Michigan governor race

By Ryan King

DETROIT — Rep. John James clinched the Republican nomination for Michigan governor Tuesday, teeing up a tough general election contest against Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

James, a two-time Senate candidate who has repped parts of suburban Detroit since 2023, overcame a primary challenge from businessman Perry Johnson, who made a longshot bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

James led 50% to 36% with about a fourth of the votes counted when the Associated Press called the race at 10:24 p.m. EDT.

Backed by President Trump, James was considered the front-runner throughout the campaign and solidified his status with former state AG Mike Cox, former state House Speaker Tom Leonard, and Michigan Senate GOP Leader Aric Nesbitt all dropping out and endorsing him.

Elsewhere in the Mitten State, Rep. John James (R-Mich.) clinched the GOP nomination for governor, teeing up a tough general election contest against Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

James, a two-time Senate candidate who narrowly missed out on unseating Sen. Gary Peters in 2020, has repped parts of suburban Detroit since 2023 and bested businessman and former GOP presidential candidate Perry Johnson by about 15 percentage points in the Republican primary.

Benson, who has served as Michigan secretary of state since 2019, cruised to victory in her primary over Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson by a whopping 66 percentage points.

James trails Benson by 7.3 percentage points in the latest RealClearPolitics average of polls.

Michiganders have not elected a Republican to the governorship since Rick Snyder won a second term in 2014.

James was one of several Trump-backed candidates that won Tuesday night.USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Trump-backed candidates notch victories

James was one of several Trump-endorsed candidates who emerged victorious Tuesday night, further cementing the importance of the commander-in-chief’s support.

In Michigan’s 10th Congressional District – the seat being vacated by James – Army veteran Michael Bouchard cruised to victory with 72.2% of the vote after getting Trump’s stamp of approval in June.

Republicans are forecast to have a slight edge in the district, which covers Detroit suburbs in Oakland and Macomb counties, and Bouchard will benefit from a famous family name. His father Michael has served as Oakland County Sheriff since 1999 and as a state senator prior to that.

In Kansas, state Senate President Ty Masterson emerged from a field of seven GOP candidates to claim the nomination for governor with 40.5% of the vote.

Trump endorsed Masterson in May, calling it a “great honor” to support such a “fantastic candidate.”

Masterson is running to replace term-limited Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly. Like Michigan, Kansas last elected a GOP governor in 2014, when Sam Brownback edged out a re-election win.

4. Cori Bush falls short in comeback attempt

Incumbent Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) easily fended off a bitter primary challenge from former “Squad” Rep. Cori Bush, who had vowed revenge against the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) after her 2024 defeat.

Bush had hoped to ride the wave of anti-Israel sentiment that has propelled several far-left Democrats this cycle back to her old House seat.

However, she mustered only 36.9% of the vote in Missouri’s deep-blue 1st Congressional District, while Bell garnered 59.2% support.

In a wild rant after her 2024 loss, Bush declared that she had been radicalized and that AIPAC needed “to be afraid.”

“Let me say this, AIPAC, I’m coming to tear your kingdom down,” she said.

Bell received nearly $9 million in support from AIPAC and the pro-Israel group’s aligned super-PACs in 2024, but only about $3.1 million this go-around.

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