John James fires up GOP base with underdog Michigan Senate bid, as polls tighten
John James, a 37-year-old Iraq War veteran and Detroit-area businessman, became the first African-American Republican to run for statewide election in Michigan in four decades when he announced he would challenge Democrat Debbie Stabenow for her seat in the U.S. Senate. And ever since James defeated financier Sandy Pensler in the state’s Republican primary back in August, he has been touted as a rising star within the GOP.