MIRS Q&A With U.S. Rep. John James, Candidate For Gov
- Team MIRS
- Aug 21
- 4 min read
(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/20/2025) (UTICA) – Wednesday MIRS had a one-on-one interview with second-term U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), who's running for governor ahead of the 2026 elections.
James' official Congressional office provided free backpacks to young students at the Jimmy John's Field ballpark in Utica as the local Eastside Diamond Hoppers played against the Utica-based Westside Woolly Mammoths.
The backpacks came in pink, purple and blue. They were filled with folders, notebooks, apple jelly jars and boxes of brown sugar oatmeal and Kroger-brand cereal.
James answered questions about his favorite part of the 10th Congressional district, Michigan students entering school without a PreK-12 budget deal done and what his most out-of-the-box idea is.
Q: Can you talk to me a little bit about your favorite parts of the 10th Congressional district? What is your connection? What are your favorite spots?
J: "Goodness, there are too many names. This is one of them (Jimmy John's Field). I've brought my children here many, many times for the fireworks, for the hot dogs and popcorn . . . what Andy Appleby (United Shore Professional Baseball League founder) and his team have done here to revitalize the community and actually have something that people participate in and create lifelong memories, is absolutely incredible.
"The most important part of the district is actually the people. The most talented, most resilient people, I believe, on the planet . . . they comprise the economic might, the military might and, frankly, the culture – a diverse culture, people who came here for opportunities from all over the world."
Q: What more deals do you think Michigan can strike with the Trump administration, whether that be defense, economic development . . . . what are some projects you're really trying to land?
J: "The work that we've done to strengthen the Golden Dome with the hypersonic defense that we're bringing in. That's a massive opportunity we have with increasing our pro rata share of defense spending, that we're being shorted currently in Michigan, also focusing on bringing automotive jobs back.
"The automotive sector is so crucial for the state of Michigan, and making sure that we're bringing that investment. You always see good news coming out of General Motors, investing in just the south side of the district in the Orion plant, getting that back up. I truly believe that with President Trump's leadership, we'll be able to bring more manufacturing jobs back.
"And that's just the start with defense and with automotive. We have massive opportunities with energy, massive opportunities with agriculture, massive opportunities with tourism, and it's just getting started."
Q: When you think about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act…what do you think would be things in that bill that would translate or do very well on the state-scale?
J: "Well, I would say that among the things is taking care of the people who truly need help, taking care of the needy, taking care of the people who are just getting started . . . the regulatory reform that helps lower the cost of everything, because things are so expensive. It would have the most positive effect on increasing the accessibility and affordability of housing.
"It would have the most effect on creating not just jobs, but economic opportunities so people can see their way to prosperity, to generational wealth."
Q: Is there a specific item though?
J: "We are a border state, and we (Congress) increased our budget for Customs and Border Patrol, $60 billion. We just looked at the Coast Guard, I was visiting (them) at the Selfridge (military base) – increased their budget by double, and that's going to help keep our waters safe."
"We have 1,300 miles of international waters, 6,700 miles of coastline. That's vitally important . . . also, we have fentanyl that's coming across our northern border now. It's shifted from the southern border. You actually have drug cartels going on "60 Minutes" saying they're going to continue going across the largest land border in the world. With our partners in Canada, increasing that (enforcement) increases public safety in our communities, it lowers the drug prices that we have in the state of Michigan, and that needs to be furthered."
Q: So, you're thinking the state should put its own skin in the game in regard to border security, right?
J: "But even cooperation. Before you even get to the money, you also have respecting our law enforcement officers and making sure that we're focusing on the victims, right? There are people who have been victimized by criminals, and we're letting people right back on the streets.
"This is not keeping our community safe, and frankly, a focus on law and order is long overdue in the state of Michigan."
Q: What consequences do you think the state Legislature should face for not having a school aid budget done?
J: "I would say that if you fail the people, then you shouldn't keep your job. I reapply for my job every two years, and I think that if you fail to do your job you shouldn't get it.
"I served in the military, and I interviewed for my job every time bullets fly, and I got every single helicopter and every single man that was entrusted to me by the American people back home safely.
"In business, I interviewed for my job every single day. When I satisfy my customer, I keep my employees on the same health care insurance that my children are on."
Q: As a gubernatorial candidate, what would you say is your boldest out-of-the-box idea?
J: "I would say it's not going to take one person, it's going to take 10 million people and recognizing that solutions aren't going to come out of Lansing, it's going to come from family members. It's going to come from community leaders, and it's going to come from people just like you and just like people who are listening and reading, (who) truly believe that we deserve better and we can have better.
"Focusing on economic opportunity, focusing on academic excellence, focusing on public safety, healthy families and transparency in our government, we can give our people the tools that they need to survive and thrive."
