LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Republican Rep. John James announced Monday he’s running for Michigan governor in 2026, becoming the highest-profile GOP candidate in the race and leaving open one of the nation’s most competitive congressional seats.
The 43-year-old congressman, who represents a district north of Detroit, is jumping into the race to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer just months into his second term.
James previously ran twice unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate before narrowly winning his House seat in 2022 by less than 2,000 votes. He won reelection in 2024 with a more comfortable margin, defeating Democrat Carl Marlinga by nearly 6 percentage points.
James joins a GOP field that includes the state's Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt. On the Democratic side, some high-profile candidates have already announced bids, including Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an independent.
James announced his bid Monday on social media.
“It’s time to get Michigan’s government out of fantasyland and back to common sense,” James said in a statement. “President Trump and I have been in each other’s corner through thick and thin for eight years — no reason that will end now. He’s doing his part to Make America Great Again, and I’ll do mine to bring prosperity and sanity back to Michigan.”
A military veteran and the first Black Republican elected to Congress from Michigan, James has long been viewed as a rising star in both state and national GOP circles. But he’s yet to break through statewide, having lost bids for U.S. Senate in 2018 to now-retired Democrat Debbie Stabenow and in 2020 to Sen. Gary Peters, who recently announced he won’t seek reelection in 2026.
James’ run for governor opens up Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, which covers parts of northern Detroit suburbs in Oakland and Macomb counties. Republicans hold a narrow House majority heading into a midterm cycle where they also control the White House — a combination that historically favors the opposition party.
Democrats have aggressively targeted the district since James flipped it. On Monday, former prosecutor Christina Hines launched a bid to win it back. Army veteran Alex Hawkins also has already entered the race as a Democrat.
FILE - Rep. John James, R-MI., speaks during the Republican National Convention Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancy,File)
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday welcomed President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily halt most U.S. tariffs, but she did not say whether the European Union intends to press ahead with its own retaliatory measures.
“I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE,” Trump said, after recognizing the more than 75 countries that he said have been negotiating on trade and had not retaliated against his latest increases in tariffs. Countries subject to the pause will now be tariffed at 10%. The EU's rate was 20%, but it was not entirely clear how the 27-nation bloc would be impacted.
China was not included. Trump further jacked up the tax rate on Chinese imports to 125%.
Von der Leyen described the halt on reciprocal tariffs as “an important step towards stabilizing the global economy. Clear, predictable conditions are essential for trade and supply chains to function.”
Before Trump’s announcement on Wednesday, EU member countries voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods in response to his 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The EU, the largest trading partner of the U.S., described them as “unjustified and damaging.”
The tariffs are set to go into effect in stages, some on April 15 and others on May 15 and Dec. 1. The EU commission didn’t immediately provide a list of the goods. The bloc’s top trade official has shuttled between Brussels and Washington for weeks trying to head off a conflict.
But Von der Leyen gave no sign that the EU’s timetable has changed. Spokesman Olof Gill noted that the commission “will now take the necessary time to assess this latest development, in close consultation with our member states and industry, before deciding on next steps.”
Members of the EU – the world’s largest trading bloc – repeated their preference for a negotiated deal to settle trade issues, and von der Leyen underscored that commitment, “with the goal of achieving frictionless and mutually beneficial trade.”
Still, the head of the EU’s executive branch – which negotiates trade deals and disputes on behalf of the member countries – said that Europe intends to diversify its trade partnerships.
She said that the EU will continue “engaging with countries that account for 87% of global trade and share our commitment to a free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas,” and to lift barriers to commerce inside its own single market.
“Together, Europeans will emerge stronger from this crisis,” von der Leyen said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stands prior to a meeting with Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
The NYK Meteor container ship is moored at the Port of Los Angeles, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
