U.S. Senate candidate visits Marquette
Trending
MARQUETTE -- John James, a combat veteran, businessman and self-proclaimed conservative outsider, was at Big Boy Restaurant in Marquette Friday morning to discuss plans to bring his conservative values to Washington in November as he runs for the U.S. Senate as a Republican.
The candidate filing deadline was on April 24 and the primary election will be held on Aug. 7. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow is running for re-election to a fourth term.
James, who currently lives with his family in Farmington Hills, grew up in the Lower Peninsula but visited the Upper Peninsula throughout his life, often staying at a family camp near Blaney Park.
"I believe that the best person to represent the state of Michigan is somebody who has roots and ties to all over the state of Michigan," James said.
According to James, he is a pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-business conservative who has demonstrated energetic leadership, clarity of vision and a passion for service.
At 17, James decided to serve his country. After graduating from the United States Military Academy in 2004, he became a Ranger-qualified aviation officer. James served in Operation Iraqi Freedom where he earned a Combat Action Badge and two Air Medals, among other awards, while logging 753.8 flight hours in theater leading two Apache platoons.
After eight years of military service, James was honorably discharged and returned to Michigan to work in his family's business -- James Group International. James is currently the company's president and has helped lead it from $35 million to $137 million in revenue, creating 100 additional jobs in Michigan and around the country since 2012.
"As the current Chair of the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, I knew John was the right man for the job after I asked him what his greatest accomplishment has been. His response was bringing back all of his soldiers from Iraq, alive and unharmed," said state Rep. Jason Wentworth, R-Clare, in a statement.
James said he believes the best thing voters can do is elect somebody who isn't a career politician.
"I believe we have too many people in Washington like Debbie Stabenow who are legislating a future that they will not be a part of. That's not a dig on age … that's a dig on experience. We keep sending career politicians and lawyers to Washington and wonder why there's no leadership. Send somebody to Washington who has a passion for service, clarity of vision and proven leadership experiences in the toughest of environments," James said.
A member of the audience asked how James thinks the Trump Administration is doing in Washington. James said it's been "remarkably tragic and quite amazing of what our president has been able to accomplish in 18 months (while he's) being attacked globally and domestically."
"You know, pulling funding for Planned Parenthood, signing a Right-to-try bill that will help people continue to live, putting Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court, rolling back 22 harmful regulations for every one that we make, standing up to Syria for gassing their people twice in a year … I guarantee you, if the same things our president was doing came out of the former president's mouth then it would be completely interpreted differently," James said.
James explained that he will support all research to help with the opioid epidemic by helping families and taking care of veterans who may struggle with the nationwide issue. James said he will also ensure there's a balanced budget amendment.