John Edward James, an Iraq War Veteran and Tea Party conservative Republican, is currently a member of Congress from Michigan’s 10th Congressional District. James was born in Southfield, Michigan, on June 8, 1981, to John A. James, former CEO of the family business James Group International, a supply chain management company, in Starkville, Mississippi. However, John Edward James was reared in the Palmer Woods neighborhood of Detroit. has a brother, Lorron James.
At 17 in 1999, James graduated from Brother Rice High School, a Roman Catholic all boy’s school in Detroit and accepted an appointment to attend the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Law and Systems (Industrial) Engineering. in 2004.
Two years later, in 2006, he began his military service in the Army as a Ranger-qualified aviation officer. He was in charge of two Apache attack helicopter platoons in combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2007-2009. In 2012, James was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of captain. Post military service, James earned a Master’s Degree in Supply Chair Management from Pennsylvania State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. He then joined James Group International with his father as director of operations. He shortly afterwards took over as president of James Group International and CEO of its subsidiary, Renaissance Global Logistics. With his arrival, James grew the company from $35 million to $137 million in revenue and added more than 100 employees in Michigan and Mississippi.
In 2012, John and Elizabeth James were married. They are the parents of three sons. James received a Master of Science degree in supply chain management from Pennsylvania State University in 2014 and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan in 2015.
John Edward James entered politics at the age of 37 in 2018 winning 55% of the vote in the Republican primary after challenging Sand Pensler, a financial advisor with a better funded campaign. His victory came in part because he won the endorsement of President Donald Trump. James then challenged challenged incumbent Michigan Democratic U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. He was critical of NAFTA and supported President Trump’s attempts to renegotiate trade deals. He was also more conservative than Stabenow on social issues such as abortion and marijuana decriminalization. Although James lost to Stabenow in the general election, he was considered a rising star in MAGA politics. In 2019 President Donald Trump met with James as he considered the former Senatorial candidate for the post of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Ultimately the White House chose U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Kelly Craft, for the position.
The following year, in 2020, James competed with Democrat Gary Charles Peters Sr. for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District seat but was again defeated. In the 2022 general election for Michigan District 10 seat, James narrowly defeated Democrat Carl Marlinga, a former judge, and won his first election. In this very close race he defeated his opponent 48.8% of the vote to 48.3%. James assumed office in January 2023 and was appointed to committee assignment in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives in the 118th Congress. He serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
