Michigan GOP candidate for governor: ‘The president is not correct, the economy in Michigan is not booming’ 3:28

Republican Rep. John James, who is running for governor of Michigan, has publicly parted ways with President Trump over the health of the economy. Speaking with CNN's Dana Bash on Inside Politics, James said the picture the president paints does not match what his state is experiencing. "The president is not correct, the economy in Michigan is not booming," he said.

The disagreement is notable because James has been one of Trump's firmest allies. Trump has said again and again that the nation is enjoying a golden age economically. James told Bash that, in Michigan at least, that description does not fit.

James is the Republican in the race for governor against Jocelyn Benson, who holds the office of Michigan secretary of state. His comments on the economy came in an interview CNN published on Friday, October 9, 2026. Despite his record of standing by the president, James drew a line on this specific point, rejecting the golden-age characterization for his own state.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN →