John James in State of Michigan Archives
On Drugs:
Respect will of voters & legalize recreational marijuana
Q: Decriminalize or legalize?John James: No. Said would vote no on 2018 state proposal to legalize recreational marijuana but would "respect the will of the voters."
Gary Peters: Yes. Says "when it is legalized, it is regulated and it is taxed and it helps with paying for public services like public education ."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Michigan Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
On Families & Children:
Allow more flexible options for senior housing
Q: Your Medicare policy?A: Medicaid currently does not allow states and seniors to redirect nursing home dollars toward programs like stay-at-home care. The COVID crisis has shown that shared environments and shared surfaces can be harmful
for people with preexisting conditions and our seniors. Congress must pass reforms to allow seniors to have more flexible options when it comes to housing.
Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2020
On Health Care:
Fix the parts that give too many decisions to the government
I want to reform the parts of the Affordable Care Act that increase the cost of healthcare. We need to fix the parts that give too many decisions to the government and offer patients too few options. Michiganders have a right to own their own
healthcare. We need to have a market-based, patient-centered approach that must cover people with preexisting conditions. Whatever plan I support must include tort and regulatory reform in a manner that lowers cost while increasing quality of care.
Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2020
On Health Care:
Politicians stuff their pockets with drug company money
Q: Your prescription drug policy?James: I will hold drug companies accountable for their prices. I won't just deliver the tough talk.
I will deliver results for Michigan families that need prescription drugs and suffer because most D.C. politicians are more concerned with stuffing their pockets and their bank accounts with profits from drug companies.
Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2020
On Social Security:
Stop any attempt to underfund the Social Security trust fund
After a lifetime of hard work, we must protect Social Security and Medicare from career politicians who will raid today what they promised yesterday. We must stop any attempt to underfund the Social Security trust fund, and we cannot cut our senior
citizens' benefits. But beyond that, we must strengthen that safety net and make sure the next generation is not getting tangled in the messes left behind by career politicians who are more willing to look out for themselves than look out for us.
Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2020
On Technology:
Broadband access to everyone, not just big cities
James: We must also ensure broadband and internet access is available to those in rural areas.
New opportunities to work from home and new technology to virtually visit family members require high internet speed. We must expand access to everyone in Michigan--rural areas, not just big cities.
Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2020
On Crime:
Against defunding police, for community policing
James doesn't go nearly so far as to advocate for defunding the police, an idea he dismisses as "'stupid'--that's as plainly as I can put it." Instead, he argues in favor of community policing along with increased accountability for law
enforcement officials. "I'm looking forward to having the opportunity representing my state, taking those next steps not just to end police brutality," he told JI, "but also to end the elements of racism that have plagued African Americans since 1619."
Source: The Jewish Insider on 2020 Michigan Senate race
Jun 29, 2020
On Foreign Policy:
For Trump's Middle East peace proposal, two state solution
James endorsed Trump's Middle East peace proposal, describing the plan as a "solid step in the right direction." "But supporting a two-state solution is something that requires two willing partners," he added. "One of the biggest barriers that we
continue to see is that Israel continues to be a willing partner, but the Palestinian Authority fails to demonstrate a willingness for a peaceful two-state solution, and they've rejected peace proposals time after time."
Source: The Jewish Insider on 2020 Michigan Senate race
Jun 29, 2020
On War & Peace:
The Iranian regime has blood on its hands
He was against the Iran nuclear deal and believes that Trump made the right move by pulling out. "I would have opposed the Iran deal point blank," said James, who also backed Trump's decision to assassinate Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani in early
January. "The Iranian regime has blood on its hands.""Radical extremist governments like Iran's must not be allowed to become nuclear powers," James elaborates in a position paper his campaign provided.
Source: The Jewish Insider on 2020 Michigan Senate race
Jun 29, 2020
On Education:
We have failed our children, supports school choice
On school choice: "Our No. 1 economic threat, national-security threat, and civil-rights threat is the educational system in this country,"
he says. "We have failed our children for generations." He supports school choice and sits on the board of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, a public charter school in Detroit.
Source: National Review on 2020 Michigan Senate race
May 14, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Green New Deal would decimate Michigan's economy
On energy: "The Green New Deal
would absolutely decimate Michigan's economy," he says.
Source: National Review on 2020 Michigan Senate race
May 14, 2020
On Free Trade:
Fight China over soybeans now, or bullets later
James says that trade disputes have hurt his company's revenues, but he backs the president's approach. USMCA--the North American trade agreement approved by Congress in January--is "not a perfect deal, but it's much better than what we had."
He also thinks the time has come to confront China over its trade policies as well as its provocations in the South China Sea. "If we don't fight this conflict with soybeans now, we'll fight it with bullets later."
Source: National Review on 2020 Michigan Senate race
May 14, 2020
On Health Care:
Medicare for All terrible; barely paying for Medicare now
On healthcare: "Medicare for All is a terrible idea. We can barely pay for Medicare for some." He warns about how a government takeover would rattle the lives of
Michigan's union workers: "They have probably the best health care in the world, duly negotiated--and making private health care illegal would take that away."
Source: National Review on 2020 Michigan Senate race
May 14, 2020
On Principles & Values:
From slave to senate candidate in four generations
John Edward James, who turns 39 in June, is a rare political type: an African-American Republican. His great-great-grandfather was born a slave in Mississippi, and he likes to chronicle a brief family history: "In four generations, we've
gone from a slave to a sharecropper to a mason to a truck driver and now potentially to a senator. That is absolutely remarkable, not just for our family but for our country."
Source: National Review on 2020 Michigan Senate race
May 14, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Liberal violence is construed as speech
He warns about risks to free speech: "Liberal violence is construed as speech,
and conservative speech is construed as violence."
Source: National Review on 2020 Michigan Senate race
May 14, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
Liberal leftist socialist policies have failed in Michigan
On socialism: "You don't need to go to Venezuela to see where liberal leftist socialist policies have failed their people, you can just come to Michigan and see where we're failing our neighborhoods, where we're forgetting our farms,
and where we need to make sure that we have situations that we don't have policies of envy and confiscation but we have policies that increase access and opportunity for all people," said James.
Source: Fox News on 2020 Michigan Senate race
Mar 2, 2020
On Homeland Security:
Adequately fund military but work toward balanced budget
Economy: Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? Support President Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?John James: Torn between adequately funding the military & working toward a balanced budget
with less debt. On tariffs, calls Trump "a master negotiator."
Debbie Stabenow: Supports major infrastructure spending for rural and urban communities. On tariffs, supports stopping Chinese dumping of certain products.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Senate race
Nov 1, 2018
On Abortion:
De-fund Planned Parenthood; bad abortion even for rape
Q: Abortion: Mostly ban or mostly legal?John James (R): Ban, with an exception for the life of the mother--but not for rape or incest.
Debbie Stabenow (D): Legal. Says has to be a woman's choice.
Q: Let employers withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally?
John James (R): No public statement found.
Debbie Stabenow (D): No. Co-sponsored bill to protect healthcare benefits, including contraceptive coverage.
Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion healthcare?
John James (R): "Supports efforts to defund abortion providers like Planned Parenthood."
Debbie Stabenow (D): Defunding Planned Parenthood would keep countless women who rely on Medicaid from getting healthcare. They're often the only safety net alternative.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
On Civil Rights:
Employers shouldn't be able to fire someone for being gay
Q: Gay Marriage: Support gay marriage?John James (R): Unknown. But says employers shouldn't be able to fire someone for being gay.
Debbie Stabenow (D): Yes. Many votes against discrimination, even before the Supreme Court ruling.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
On Corporations:
Trump tax cuts encourage companies to do business in America
Q: Taxes: Support President Trump's tax cuts?John James (R): Yes. Says they encourage companies "to do business right here in America."
Debbie Stabenow (D): No. Don't cut taxes for the wealthy at the expense of middle-class families.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
On Drugs:
Opposes marijuana legalization for recreational use
Q: Marijuana: Support medical & recreational decriminalization? Legalization is on the ballot as Measure 1.John James (R):
Unknown view of medical marijuana use. Opposes legalization for recreational use.
Debbie Stabenow (D): Yes. "Time to decriminalize medical and recreational marijuana."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
On Education:
Supports public money for private schools
Q: Education: Give parents vouchers to send children to private schools with public money?John James (R): Yes. Let parents "use their tax dollars to send their children to the best schools."
Debbie Stabenow (D): No. Has long opposed school vouchers. Says create world-class public education.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
On Free Trade:
Let master negotiator Trump re-work trade deals
Q: Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? Support Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?John James (R): Torn between adequately funding the military & working toward a balanced budget with less
debt. On tariffs, calls Trump "a master negotiator."
Debbie Stabenow (D): Supports major infrastructure spending. On tariffs, supports stopping Chinese dumping of certain products but calls for "a more thoughtful, targeted approach."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
On Gun Control:
Second Amendment says semi-automatic weapons ok
Q: Gun Control: Support more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?John James (R): No. Second amendment rights "SHALL NOT be infringed [upon]. Enough said!"
Debbie Stabenow (D): Yes. Supports common-sense gun reform: expanded background checks, banning high-capacity magazines & bump stocks.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
On Health Care:
Remove the monstrosity of ObamaCare
Q: Healthcare: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as ObamaCare? Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion healthcare?John James (R): Repeal. Will work to "remove this monstrosity [ACA]."
Also "supports efforts to defund abortion providers like Planned Parenthood."
Debbie Stabenow (D): Supports ACA but with improvements.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
On Immigration:
We must end illegal immigration & secure the border
Q: Immigration: Support DACA, letting "Dreamers" who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?John James (R): No public statement found. But opposes path to citizenship for America's
11 million illegal immigrants. "We must end illegal immigration" & secure the border.
Debbie Stabenow (D): Yes. Voted for original 2007 DACA bill that failed to pass. Has supported more money for border funding, mixed votes on path to citizenship.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
On Jobs:
Opposes raising federal minimum wage to $15/hr
Q: Minimum Wage: Raise federal minimum wage from $7.25/hr?John James (R): Critical of increasing to $15/hr,
but unclear if he'd support a smaller increase.
Debbie Stabenow (D): Has supported raising, but no statement on current proposal to raise to $15/hr.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
On War & Peace:
Iran nuclear treaty was a fatally flawed deal
Q: Iran: Withdraw from treaty to limit Iran's nuclear capability & lift some sanctions?John James (R): Yes. It was a fatally flawed deal.
Debbie Stabenow (D): No. "Now, our allies don't know if they can trust our word."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
On Civil Rights:
Opposed laws protecting LGBTQ from employment discrimination
John James is eagerly accepting support from anti-LGBTQ extremist Mike Pence, and has previously refused to support laws protecting LGBTQ Michiganders from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.
HRC's State Director says, "In a state with 1.1. Million Equality Voters, where a strong majority of citizens support marriage equality and fundamental civil rights, James has nonetheless perplexingly chosen to align with
Mike Pence--an extremist who has made virulent anti-LGBTQ activism the cornerstone of his political career. As they campaign to push their discriminatory, anti-equality agenda,
HRC is on the ground mobilizing our hundreds of thousands of members and supporters in Michigan to reject the politics of hate and ensure that pro-equality champion Debbie Stabenow remains in office."
Source: HRC.org on 2018 Michigan Senate race
Aug 28, 2018
On Social Security:
Returning lifelong investment to seniors is moral obligation
Protecting Social Security for our seniors today and saving it for our grandchildren tomorrow are moral obligations. Hard working and honest Michiganders of all generations are owed a return on their lifelong investment into the System.
Our debt is a national security threat. We must rein in spending! I would support a balanced budget amendment and will work to cut waste and consolidate or eliminate entire departments in the federal bureaucracy.
Source: Ballotpedia.org on 2018 Michigan Senate race
Aug 25, 2018
On Jobs:
Incumbent does not do enough to create or protect jobs
[After his primary victory], James told Stabenow to get ready "for the fight of your political life.""Michigan needs a combat veteran and job creator in the U.S. Senate. I don't have a black message. I don't have a white message," said
James, who is African American and who criticized Stabenow for not doing enough to create or protect jobs. "I have a Michigan message.... Washington has enough career politicians."
Source: Detroit Free Press on 2018 Michigan Senate race
Aug 7, 2018
On War & Peace:
Army veteran who flew Apache helicopters in Iraq
In the days before the election, President Donald Trump not only endorsed James, who is an Army veteran who attended West Point and flew Apache helicopters in Iraq, but did a recorded robocall for voters on James' behalf (he also did that on behalf of
Republican gubernatorial candidate and state Attorney General Bill Schuette, who also won). James helps to run his family's warehousing and logistics business in Detroit, a position he took up after returning from the Army.
Source: Detroit Free Press on 2018 Michigan Senate race
Aug 7, 2018
On Abortion:
100% pro-life; always have been; always will be
I am 100% Pro-Life.
Always have been. Always will be.
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
On Budget & Economy:
Focus on cutting waste and getting to a balanced budget
Our debt is a national security threat. We must rein in spending
! I would support a balanced budget amendment and will work to cut waste and consolidate or eliminate entire departments in the federal bureaucracy.
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
On Education:
Every high school student should be career- or college-ready
Every child in Michigan should be career or college ready when he or she leaves high school.
Parents and local communities should be empowered to determine the best way to achieve this goal, not Washington.
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
On Environment:
Protect the national treasure of the Great Lakes
Our Great Lakes are a national treasure which also supports a robust fish and tourism industry here in Michigan.
I will champion policies and programs that not only protect environmental quality throughout the Great Lakes but will protect them from invasive species such as Asian carp.
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
On Free Trade:
Free but fair trade, to keep jobs in Michigan
Michigan is a global leader in the agriculture and automotive industries. I support free, but fair trade.
We must ensure that our trade deals and federal regulations make sense, do not put Michigan-made goods at a disadvantage and keep jobs in Michigan.
Michigan's food and agricultural industry includes over 52,000 farms, employing over 900,000 Michiganders.
To remain a global leader in agriculture we must ensure that federal regulations make sense and do not put Michigan farmers on an unequal playing field with our competitors.
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
On Gun Control:
2nd Amendment is enough said
"A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, SHALL NOT be infringed."
Enough said!
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
On Homeland Security:
Help prepare our veterans for re-entry into society
We must to do a better job preparing our service members for life outside of the military,
because re-integrating into civilian life should not be the toughest battle that we (vets) face.
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
On Immigration:
Proponent of Kate's Law; defund sanctuary cities
I understand how to secure a border because I've done it before. Sovereign nations must have secure borders and entry points. I support Kate's Law and I will support defunding 'sanctuary cities,' or as I call them, 'outlaw cities'.
[OnTheIssues note: Kate's Law requires that deported aliens who subsequently attempt to cross the border into the US are subject to fines and imprisonment].
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
On Immigration:
No nonsense view of illegal immigration--has to stop now
We are a nation of immigrants but we are also a nation of laws. We welcome legal immigrants,
but illegal immigration is a direct affront to our laws and to those who abide by them. We must end illegal immigration.
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
On Principles & Values:
Fight for the Constitution's principles, as written
Supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States means abiding by it as written.
I will fight to preserve separation of powers, fight for limited government and will approve justices who will interpret the constitution as written.
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
On Technology:
Repair of infrastructure is stepping stone to the future
Pot holes and blighted buildings have no place in Michigan's future.
I will work to ensure an infrastructure package that is more than simply repairing our legacy but building our future.
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
On Welfare & Poverty:
Eliminate poverty instead of just making it more comfortable
Dependency should not be the destiny of any American.
Michigan deserves a Senator who will work to eliminate poverty, not just make it more comfortable.
Source: 2018 Michigan Senate campaign website JohnJamesForSenate.com
Mar 2, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Trump's tax reform will aid working families & entrepreneurs
Day 93--Tax reform˙will˙bring much needed relief to working families and entrepreneurs, while also encouraging companies to do business right here in America.
I applaud President Trump and the GOP for keeping˙their˙promise˙to the American people
Source: Twitter posting on 2018 Michigan race
Dec 22, 2017
On Foreign Policy:
More military influence on the foreign policy team
James said he supports Donald Trump, praising the president for nominating Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and for stocking his foreign policy team with
military generals. "There's not enough combat veterans in government "who understand the consequences of failed policies," he said.
Source: The Detroit News on 2018 Michigan Senate race
Jul 18, 2017
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021