• Michigan Republicans finalized their 2026 ticket on Saturday during the party’s nominating convention in Mount Pleasant
  • Delegates tapped state Rep. Jay DeBoyer as lieutenant governor running mate to John James
  • While calls of unity abounded, few mentioned President Donald Trump 

MOUNT PLEASANT — The Michigan Republican Party made it official Saturday, formally nominating state Rep. Jay DeBoyer as lieutenant governor and railing against Democrats as too extreme.

Speaking to an estimated 1,900 Republican delegates, DeBoyer called the ticket headed by GOP governor nominee John James “the most tenaciously conservative fighting team we’ve seen in decades to take on the Democrats.”

James and others at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort defined the campaign as a fight to prevent socialism in Michigan.

“When they say death to America, you better believe them,” said James, a US representative. 

“When they say death to Israel, you better believe them. … The Star of David is a target now. The cross is next.”

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The gathering follows Republicans’ March endorsement convention that selected Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini as the party’s secretary of state candidate and Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd as their nominee for attorney general.

Democrats are up next, meeting Aug. 29 to finalize Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, as lieutenant governor running mate to Jocelyn Benson, who is campaigning to move from secretary of state to governor.

Rounding out the top of the Democratic ticket are Secretary of State candidate Garlin Gilchrist, the current lieutenant governor, and attorney general candidate Eli Savit, who is Washtenaw County prosecutor.

Here are takeaways from the Republican convention, which was big on not only pleas for unity but also calls to ban gender reassignment surgery for minors, mandate “citizen-only voting” and defend gun rights.

Takeaway #1: The party of sanity?

One big theme: Republicans are “holding the line against Democratic insanity.”

That was a quote from a video played to a crowd that included photos of Democratic candidates such as state Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, and Democratic Socialist candidate Chris Gilmer-Hill, who unseated state Rep. Helena Scott, D-Detroit, in the Aug. 4 primary. 

“We have freedom on the ballot,” said state Rep. Ron Robinson, R-Utica. 

“Do not California our Michigan.” 

James told the crowd the election is a chance “to defeat socialism and hold this state together.” He and others targeted progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for Senate against former US Rep. Mike Rogers.

“Moderate Democrats understand the threat of communism and socialism, and they are looking at Mike Rogers very hard and they will come in his direction, I guarantee it,” DeBoyer told reporters following the convention.

Neither James nor Rogers took questions from reporters  following the convention.

Takeaway #2: Running from Trump? 

One name that wasn’t mentioned often: President Donald Trump, whose approval rating is the lowest rating of his presidency.

Speaking with reporters before the convention, Michigan Republican Party Chair Jim Runestad said approval ratings “come and go” but that Michigan candidates “need to be focused, as they should, on Michigan.”

Runestad listed Michigan’s poor reading scores, road conditions and so-so economy as points of concern, adding that candidates “should be focused on all of these horrific statistics going on in the state.”

“President Trump is doing his own thing on the national level,” Runestad said Friday on WKAR’s “Off the Record.” 

Asked about Trump, both Lloyd and Forlini — the Republican candidates for attorney general and secretary of state — sidestepped the question, saying they are focused on the state.

“I’ll take anybody’s endorsement,” Forlini said. “You guys want to endorse me?” 

Takeaway #3: Broader goals

As part of the call for unity, Republicans hope to flip the Democratic-led Senate and maintain the House. The last time Republicans had a so-called “trifecta” was under former Gov. Rick Snyder from 2011 to 2018.

“We have simply got to pick up the other chamber and the governor this cycle,” Runestad told delegates.

Should a Republican trifecta emerge, Republican House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, said a number of policies could be enacted including:

  • Lowering costs by cracking down on price gouging
  • Banning gender transition surgery for minors
  • Cutting property taxes
  • Reinstating a law repealed by Democrats that required third graders to pass a reading test to advance to fourth grade

DeBoyer told reporters the Republican agenda is “common sense and simple,” prioritizing law enforcement and public safety, education, infrastructure and “rightsizing government.”

Takeaway #4: Widening their appeal

Republicans have caught some flak because the top of their ticket lacks a woman for the first time since 1978.

Michigan State University Board of Trustees candidate Julie Maday said such criticism misses the mark.

“Anybody who tells you this party does not put women forward is not reading the whole ballot,” Maday said, pointing to candidates including Bree Moggenberg and Cassandra Morris Bills, who are running for the state Board of Education and state Supreme Court, respectively.

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