LANSING, MI. U.S. Rep. John James (R-Mich.), the Republican nominee for governor, is framing the November race in Michigan as a defining moment for the country. He described the state's upcoming elections as "ground zero for this republic" in an interview on CBS News's "Face the Nation."
"We need to make sure that we stop socialism and that we save the state of Michigan, because if we don't do it here, it's going to go to the rest of the country," James told the show's host Margaret Brennan.
The comments come as the governor's race heats up with incumbent Gretchen Whitmer facing term limits and a wide field of candidates. James is the leading figure in the GOP primary and has positioned himself as the standard bearer against progressive challengers.
James also took aim at the state's Democratic field. He suggested that some Michigan Democratic candidates are "campaigning with extremists who say that America deserved 9/11." His remarks appeared to reference comments made in 2019 by Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who had previously appeared with Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on the campaign trail.
El-Sayed recently said he had "no plans" to campaign with Piker, aligning with several Democratic lawmakers who have criticized the streamer over his statements. Piker has since said he could have phrased his 2019 remarks better.
The tension reflects a broader intra-party split over the influence of democratic socialist and progressive insurgent candidates who have won a string of Democratic primaries. El-Sayed, who has said he is not a socialist, has advocated for progressive policies including the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Medicare for All.
For James, the message is straightforward. He wants voters to treat Michigan's ballot as a referendum on where the state's political direction is headed, and he is pressing the issue ahead of the November general election.