MI-GOV Megathread: 👵🏻 Gram died alone.

[wbrocks67]

https://twitter.com/metrotimes/status/1374813268485627909

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Just as I said for Donna Shalala...

Jesus Christ, just give it up already.

[beesley]

I wonder what word the DMT would use to describe Susan Collins with if James' campaign is considered formidable. He should run for the House, he may have a shot there.

[KaiserDave]

Please run and please lose. Therefore it will be even funnier when Republicans still are obsessed with him becoming President.

[Pink Panther]

You know, I actually feel kind of bad for him, as he made the 2018 race with Stabenow much more competitive than it should have been, and in the 2020 race with Peters, he probably ran the better and more exciting campaign, and made the race the most competitive Senate Race in 2020, but he still lost, probably due to Biden carrying Peters over the finish line. However, I don't think he's the favorite against Whitmer at the moment, since she's the popular incumbent, but who knows?

[Sir Mohamed]

LOL. MI's version of McSally?

Lean D anyways, BUT, Dems are well avised not too take Whitmer's reelection for granted. James came closer than expected last year and 2022 is very likely a less D-friendly cycle than 2020 was. Whether Trump's lack of presence on the ballot will help Dems in MI is another question that is about to be tested. As always, turnout will decide the outcome.

[DaleCooper]

I don't think James is a shoo-in for the nomination. Whitmer is vulnerable and a lot of rightwing politicians want to replace her, and Republican voters desperately want her gone too. James is a loser and I don't think his potential opponents are eager to let him say "third times the charm".

[Frenchrepublican]

Why not ? It's not like if the GOP has many other/better options anyway.

The GOP House delegation members are either unelectable statewide or can't win a primary. As for Candice Miller she has alreay anounced that she won't run.

Besides it's not like if James was a bad candidate, he is just unlucky and as 2022 should be more R friendly than 2018 or 2020 he has a real chance.

[Frenchrepublican]

Just as I said for Donna Shalala...

Jesus Christ, just give it up already.

Shalala ran 5 points behind Biden while James overperformed Trump by 2...

[SnowLabrador]

It is imperative that Whitmer win re-election. Otherwise the GOP will further suppress the vote in Michigan.

[brucejoel99]

At this point, it feels like he just wants to keep humiliating himself. Let it go, John! Live your life in peace!!

[DaleCooper]

At this point, it feels like he just wants to keep humiliating himself. Let it go, John! Live your life in peace!!

If John James had run against Stabenow in a hypothetical Clinton midterm, he probably would've won. If anything Whitmer should hope that James isn't her opponent, but I'm skeptical that he will be able to win the primary after failing twice in the Senate, regardless of whether that's a charitable way to describe his losses.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Whitmer wins

[If my soul was made of stone]

I'd say that he's fixing to be the new Harold Stassen, but Stassen actually won an election once.

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

I know it's fun to clown on him for losing twice, but I really don't think there's anything to suggest that he's a uniquely bad candidate. In fact, I still think he's probably better than most of the MI GOP. Remember that he outran Trump last year and outperformed the gubernatorial and SOS nominees in 2018 (and he presumably would have outran the AG candidate as well had Nessel not incurred the "controversies" that she did).

That being said, Whitmer's unpopularity seems to be significantly overstated on this forum. Her detractors may be particularly vocal, but polling has consistently shown that a majority of the state approves of her COVID response.

[RI]

He should really try to run for a Congressional seat to get a win under his belt.

[JoeInator]

For now if he goes against Whitmer it looks like he's headed for the anti-hat trick.

[Galeel]

Honestly he's not that bad of a candidate but I still hope he runs because it will be funny for him to get a 3rd statewide loss in 6 years (watch me have to eat my words in 2022 lol)

[President Johnson]

I agree with most of you that Whitmer is favored at this point, but some of my fellow red avatars shouldn't get overconfident here. James isn't that much of a poor candidate and he'd be running in a more favorable environment compared to 2018 and 2020, when he did reasonably well. If Whitmer can maintain a +10 approval rating, she's fine, but we don't know how that looks like in November of next year.

[Xing]

James really shouldn’t be underestimated. He could absolutely win under the right conditions, and while Whitmer isn’t a “weak incumbent”, this forum has generally been overconfident about Michigan. I remember when thinking James had a chance against Peters was “ridiculous.” Toss-Up for now.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

James really shouldn’t be underestimated. He could absolutely win under the right conditions, and while Whitmer isn’t a “weak incumbent”, this forum has generally been overconfident about Michigan. I remember when thinking James had a chance against Peters was “ridiculous.” Toss-Up for now.

Rs have lost supermajorities in MI, WI and PA state Legislature, that's the difference why James is gonna lose, since they peaked out in 2016 due to Hillary and she only lost due to Gary Johnson

[Oregon Eagle Politics]

James really shouldn’t be underestimated. He could absolutely win under the right conditions, and while Whitmer isn’t a “weak incumbent”, this forum has generally been overconfident about Michigan. I remember when thinking James had a chance against Peters was “ridiculous.” Toss-Up for now.

TBF John James only outperformed RCP by 2% in 2018 and 3% in 2020.

[Oregon Eagle Politics]

You know, I actually feel kind of bad for him, as he made the 2018 race with Stabenow much more competitive than it should have been, and in the 2020 race with Peters, he probably ran the better and more exciting campaign, and made the race the most competitive Senate Race in 2020, but he still lost, probably due to Biden carrying Peters over the finish line. However, I don't think he's the favorite against Whitmer at the moment, since she's the popular incumbent, but who knows?

Eh, the 2020 GA Regular Senate election was the closest Senate Race, and the most expensive Senate race in history.

[Oregon Eagle Politics]

Just as I said for Donna Shalala...

Jesus Christ, just give it up already.

Shalala ran 5 points behind Biden while James overperformed Trump by 2...

James and Trump both received 48%. 3rd Parties just caused Peters to do worse.

[Oregon Eagle Politics]

Danny Tarkanian and Jim Oberweis must have adopted a child.