LANSING, MI (WTVB) – A new Emerson College Polling survey has revealed a statistical dead heat in the 2026 Michigan Republican gubernatorial primary, with businessman Perry Johnson and U.S. Representative John James locked in a neck-and-neck battle.
The poll shows Johnson narrowly edging out James with 21% to 20% support among likely primary voters, a significant shift in a race where James previously held a comfortable lead.
Former Attorney General Mike Cox follows in a distant third at 10%, while nearly 39% of Republican voters remain undecided as the August 4 primary approaches.
The tightening race has triggered a surge in aggressive campaign tactics and high-stakes spending, particularly from Johnson, who has already funneled over $10 million into advertising to bolster his “Quality Guru” brand. Johnson’s campaign has heavily criticized James for “hiding from voters” by skipping multiple primary debates, including one in Saginaw County where Johnson recently won a local GOP straw poll.
James has dismissed the new polling data by touting internal surveys that show him with a double-digit lead, characterizing Johnson’s surge as an attempt to “buy the race” while positioning himself as the battle-tested candidate with a proven record in combat and Congress.
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