Michigan Republicans' 2026 Governor Race Heats Up With Perry Johnson's Tax Cut Proposal and John James's Attendance Record

The Michigan Republican Primary: Perry Johnson's Tax Cut vs. John James's Attendance

The Republican gubernatorial primary in Michigan is taking shape with billionaire Perry Johnson launching an aggressive campaign built on eliminating the state's personal income tax, while his rival U.S. Rep. John James faces scrutiny over his record of missing congressional votes.

Perry Johnson's Tax Cut Promise

Perry Johnson, a 78-year-old businessman from Bloomfield Hills, told a crowd of more than 100 people at Da Francesco's Ristorante & Bar in Shelby Township on Thursday that he would eliminate Michigan's personal income tax if elected governor. The 4.25% income tax generates more than $13 billion a year, which funds state government operations.

Johnson's pledge has become the focal point of his campaign, with millions in advertising spending on TV and computer screens across the state.

"I promise you that when I'm elected governor, we are going to eliminate the state income tax," Johnson said. "I am going to eliminate the state income tax without any other taxes." He added that he would improve the quality of life in Michigan.

Johnson made his fortune developing quality controls for the auto industry. In an interview, he said his background positioned him to improve state government operations while trimming billions from state finances.

"I intend to improve the quality of services," Johnson said. Asked about the viability of his plan, Johnson responded, "I might ask you, 'Why don't you go and ask the heart surgeon how he's going to operate on the heart?'"

The Feasibility Question

State experts have questioned whether Johnson's plan is feasible without massive cuts to state programs. State Rep. Alabas Farhat of Dearborn, the top House Democrat on budget matters, said Johnson's plan would only work if he was willing to cut off Medicaid health insurance for 2 million low-income residents and lay off thousands of teachers.

"I believe his proposal just as much as I believe President Donald Trump's promise for no new wars," Farhat said.

On the GOP side, Sen. Jon Bumstead of Norton Shores, the top Senate Republican on budget matters, acknowledged that cutting $13 billion would affect programs. "I think it would be a challenge," Bumstead said, adding that officials should examine how every taxpayer dollar is being spent.

The Numbers Game

Johnson's argument for why eliminating the income tax is feasible is based on the fact that the state budget has grown by about $30 billion over the last decade, from $54 billion in fiscal year 2016 to about $84 billion in fiscal year 2026.

However, about a third of that growth is because of increases in the amount of federal dollars flowing to the state. State legislators don't have discretion over how that money is used.

In addition, like Michigan residents, state government has faced the impacts of inflation, with rising construction costs and price tags. A $54.4 billion budget in July 2015 would have the same buying power as a $73.6 billion budget in July 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Last year, Robert Schneider, a state budget expert and a senior research associate for state affairs with the nonprofit Citizens Research Council, told The Detroit News it would be difficult to find $2 billion to $3 billion in waste within the budget.

Asked about Johnson's plan on Friday, Schneider said it would be a "big challenge" because the income tax dollars go to fund core programs like health care and the prison system. To achieve Johnson's plan, he would have to fundamentally restructure state government, Schneider said.

As an example, in fiscal year 2025, $8.4 billion of the $13.3 billion state general fund came from the income tax, about 63%, according to the nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency.

Johnson's Campaign Focus

Johnson's recent campaign event in Shelby Township promoted his support in Macomb County, Michigan's third-largest county, and the home of U.S. Rep. John James, one of Johnson's opponents in the Republican primary.

Stan Grot, a longtime Macomb County Republican leader and the Shelby Township clerk, introduced Johnson at the event and told The Detroit News that Johnson's plan is resonating. "They can relate to Perry," said Grot. "And Perry speaks to these people. Macomb County is Perry country."

John James's Attendance Record

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. John James from Shelby Township faces scrutiny over his record of missing congressional votes. James has led the Michigan delegation in missing roll call votes in the U.S. House, skipping 9.2% or 43 of 465 votes since his term began in January 2025.

James, a Republican from Shelby Township who is running for governor of Michigan, skipped nearly 10% of votes last year and 4.3% (73) roll call votes overall since he was first sworn into Congress in 2023. That rate is double the 2.1% median lifetime record for House members who are currently serving, according to tracking by the website GovTrack.

One notable piece of legislation that James failed to vote on this year was the House's sweeping, bipartisan package to expand manufactured and affordable housing, speed up homebuilding and broaden community banks' lending powers amid the nation's housing crisis. James also missed a vote on a bill last month that aims to isolate China from global institutions if it were to attack Taiwan. Last week, he missed Tuesday's vote on the American Water Stewardship Act, which is bipartisan legislation sponsored by Democratic U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet of Bay City to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a cleanup program that's set to expire at year's end.

Most of James' missed votes have been on fly-in days, usually Mondays or Tuesdays, when members are returning to Washington after traveling home or elsewhere for the weekend or recess.

James' team defended his record in Congress in a statement Friday, claiming the Macomb County congressman has secured over $100 million for Michigan's 10th District, including $20 million for the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, and reauthorized $41 million for research and treatment of sickle cell disease and returned more than $19 million to constituents.

"John James lives by one rule: mission first, people always. He delivers, passing nine standalone bills, more than any Michigan member outside leadership, with additional wins in larger packages," James spokeswoman Alyvia Bailey said by email. "In 2025, he was one of just two in the delegation to have his own bill signed into law by President Trump, halting harmful EV regulations and protecting Michigan's auto industry."

The Broader Context

The possibility of James missing more votes as his gubernatorial campaign intensifies this year could cause a headache for House GOP leadership operating on exceedingly slim margins due to the death of California Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa and the mid-session retirement of Georgia's Marjorie Taylor Greene. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana can lose only one House Republican on any party-line vote to advance legislation, given the current 218-214 breakdown between Democrats and Republicans.

This month, GOP lawmaker Kevin Kiley of California changed his party affiliation to independent, further reducing Johnson's majority.

"I've told everybody, and not in jest, I said, 'No adventure sports, no risk-taking, take your vitamins and stay healthy and be here.' I mean, this is what we're going to be doing all year long," Johnson told reporters in January. "This is life with a small margin."

James probably won't get in trouble with leadership as long as he shows up to the votes that they need him for to prevail, including measures that won't become law but are important show votes for the House majority, Michigan State University political scientist Matt Grossmann said.

"This isn't usually something that voters care a lot about. On the other hand, it's something that is easy for advocacy groups and the media to point out because it's an unbiased measure of your work," Grossmann said. "But I don't think it's going to be the leading attack ad against James, or anything like that."

Other U.S. House members campaigning for new jobs also missed votes. Roll Call found that one of the lawmakers with the lowest attendance rates last year was former New Jersey Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who won the race for New Jersey governor in November. Sherrill showed up for 44% of the votes she was eligible to cast in 2025, according to Roll Call.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, missed nearly a third of votes in 2025 as he kicked off a bid for governor. Texas Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt likewise missed nearly a quarter of votes last year as he ran for the U.S. Senate. Hunt's spotty attendance in the House became an attack line on the campaign trail from incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn ahead of the Texas primary on March 3.

Hunt defended his absences in part by pointing to how many votes then-U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio missed while campaigning to be vice president. "This is a moot point," Hunt said last month on Fox News. "Everybody knows that when you're running for higher office, it's important to get your face in front of the people."

James's Macomb County Support

Despite the attendance concerns, Johnson's recent campaign event in Shelby Township promoted his support in Macomb County. A banner at the event read, "Macomb County All-In For Perry Johnson for Governor."

Hannah Osantowske, the spokeswoman for the James campaign, pushed back on that idea, saying Macomb County voters "aren't fooled by a couple staged visits and a paid entourage." "This community isn't for rent, you don't parachute in and win here," she said.

Other Republican Candidates

The Michigan Republican gubernatorial primary includes other candidates including John James, Perry Johnson, Ralph Rebandt, and others. The race is expected to be competitive as multiple candidates vie for the party's nomination ahead of November's general election.

The Michigan Republican Party's endorsement convention held in Novi on March 28 selected Anthony Forlini as their secretary of state candidate and Doug Lloyd as their attorney general candidate. The convention also nominated several other candidates for key state offices including Supreme Court justices and State Board of Education members.

Looking Ahead

The Michigan Republican gubernatorial primary will continue to develop over the coming weeks and months, with Perry Johnson's tax cut proposal and John James's congressional attendance record likely to be key issues in the race.

Both candidates have strong support in their respective areas, and the primary will ultimately decide who will face the Democratic nominee in November's general election.