Trump Endorses John James To Defeat Debbie Stabenow

MICHIGAN — President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican John James, of Farmington Hills, in the Michigan Senate Primary. On Aug. 7, Michigan voters will choose between James and Grosse Pointe businessman Sandy Pensler to go up against Sen. Debbie Stabenow in the November election.

"John James is the embodiment of the American Dream,” said Lara Trump, Senior Advisor to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. “Love of country and hard work have fueled John’s success in life, the military, and business, and have positioned him to be the best candidate to defeat Debbie Stabenow for the Senate this fall. As President Trump said in his endorsement, John James is a ‘spectacular candidate’ who will be a ‘star.’ You can count on John to work with President Trump to continue to revive our economy with cuts in taxes and regulations, support our individual liberties such as the right to bear arms, care for our veterans, and much more.”

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James is a former U.S. Army pilot and Detroit-area business owner with endorsements from influential groups such as Right to Life of Michigan and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

Pensler is the founder of the Pensler Capital Corp. private investment firm. The turnaround specialist owns and operates four manufacturing plants that he said had faced potential closure when he bought them, including a Korex Corp. facility in Wixom that produces detergent products.

According to experts, it will a tough race for any contender taking on Stabenow, a Democrat with no primary challenger as she seeks a fourth six-year term. According to the latest poll, it looks to be a deadlocked race between two Republican businessmen. If the Aug. 7 primary election were held now, John James of Farmington Hills would get 39% of the vote and Sandy Pensler of Grosse Pointe would get 38%, a poll conducted by EPIC-MRA of Lansing for the Free Press and its media partners found.

Another 23% said they were undecided, making the race a toss-up, the report said.

The Detroit Free Press poll showed James, 37, doing a little better in Metro Detroit, while Pensler, 61, is doing a little better outstate and among people who say they have already voted absentee.
Stabenow won re-election by 21 points over former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra in 2012 after winning in 2006 by 16 points over then-Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, the Detroit Free Press reported; Analysts expect her to be tough to beat again this year, especially with no high-profile Republican seeking the nomination.

Images via John James For Senate and Sandy Pensler For Senate

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