Republican nominee for governor
John James
Winner of the August 4 Republican gubernatorial primary.
Convention concluded
Saturday, August 22 | Mount Pleasant
2026 Michigan Republican Nominating Convention
With 2,252 delegates credentialed, Michigan Republicans concluded their August 22 convention in Mount Pleasant, approved Jay DeBoyer for lieutenant governor by voice vote and presented the party's statewide nominees as the convention wrapped up.
Date
LocationMount Pleasant
Credentialed2,252 delegates
Top-ticket voteVoice vote
Convention desk
The latest convention status
EventConcluded | August 22
Lieutenant governorJay DeBoyer nominated
Convention actionStatewide ticket completed
Credentialed delegates2,252
DeBoyer voteApproved by voice vote
Rules and resolutionsFinal record pending
Independent reporting by Michigan Republican Primary. Same-day status updated August 22, 2026, at 7:10 p.m. EDT.
The top of the Republican ticket
From primary victory to a completed statewide ticket
John James won the Republican primary for governor. On August 22, delegates formally nominated state Rep. Jay DeBoyer for lieutenant governor, completing the Republican gubernatorial ticket.
Primary night | August 4
A nominee emerges.Republican primary voters chose John James for governor. The convention's role is to complete the statewide ticket.
Republican nominee for lieutenant governor
Jay DeBoyer
Nominated by convention delegates on August 22.
The completed ticket.John James for governor. Jay DeBoyer for lieutenant governor. With 2,252 credentialed delegates, the convention approved DeBoyer by voice vote.
- John James won the August 4 Republican primary for governor.
- James selected state Rep. Jay DeBoyer for lieutenant governor.
- Convention delegates nominated DeBoyer on August 22, completing the Republican gubernatorial ticket.
Completed Republican ticket: John James for governor and Jay DeBoyer for lieutenant governor. The convention approved DeBoyer by voice vote with 2,252 credentialed delegates; MIGOP and James described the result as unanimous.
Republican voters select John James.
The rules establish a 5:00 p.m. filing point for the initial lieutenant-governor selection.
With 2,252 delegates credentialed, the convention approves DeBoyer by voice vote.
The completed Republican ticket advances to voters statewide.
The direct answer
What the convention completed
Michigan Republicans met at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort on August 22 and completed the party's statewide ticket. With 2,252 credentialed delegates, the convention approved state Rep. Jay DeBoyer for lieutenant governor by voice vote.
Republican primary voters selected John James as the party's candidate for governor. The convention did not renominate governor; it considered lieutenant governor and the offices Michigan election law assigns to the fall party convention.
The legal framework is explicit: Article V, Section 21 of the Michigan Constitution and MCL 168.72 cover the statewide executive nominations; MCL 168.282 and MCL 168.282a cover the university and State Board of Education nominations; and MCL 168.392 covers Michigan Supreme Court nominations.
The March 28 endorsement convention established the party's preferred slate for attorney general, secretary of state, Supreme Court and the statewide education boards. The August convention finalized the full ticket without a substitution or successful challenge. Read why endorsement and nomination are separate steps.
March 28: endorsement
Delegates selected the party's preferred slate early, giving those candidates time to campaign before the statutory nominating convention.
August 22: nomination
Delegates completed the nomination stage and finalized the full statewide slate for the November general election.
November 3 statewide ballot
The Republican statewide ticket for November 3
Republican primary voters selected John James for governor and Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate on August 4. On August 22, convention delegates nominated Jay DeBoyer for lieutenant governor and completed the party's nominees for attorney general, secretary of state, Michigan Supreme Court, the State Board of Education and Michigan's three university governing boards.
Ticket completed August 22
Primary winners and convention nominees now form the Republican statewide ticket for November.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
James: primary winner August 4 | DeBoyer: nominated August 22
John JamesU.S. Senate
Primary nominee | Selected August 4
Mike RogersAttorney General
One nomination | Nominated August 22
Doug LloydSecretary of State
One nomination | Nominated August 22
Anthony ForliniMichigan Supreme Court
Two nominations | Nominated August 22
Michael Warren
Casandra Morse-BillsState Board of Education
Two nominations | Nominated August 22
Bree Moeggenberg
Terence CollinsUniversity of Michigan Regents
Two nominations | Nominated August 22
Lena Epstein
Michael SchostakMSU Board of Trustees
Two nominations | Nominated August 22
Roger Victory
Julie MadayWayne State Governors
Two nominations | Nominated August 22
Christa Murphy
Andy Anuzis
Review August 4 primary results
Read convention-nominee profiles
Primary results and the March endorsement record remain available on their dedicated pages.
Public record
Statements from the convention
This convention record brings together direct party and campaign statements with remarks reported from Mount Pleasant. Direct sources and news coverage are identified separately.
Official party statementsMichigan Republican Party
MIGOP announced that the convention was underway in Mount Pleasant, then said delegates unanimously nominated Jay DeBoyer and described Republicans as united around a families-first ticket.
Convention-underway update · Nomination statement · Post-nomination video
Republican nominee for governorJohn James
James said Republicans unanimously nominated DeBoyer and called him the right partner for the campaign. In reported convention remarks, James emphasized party unity, opposition to socialism and concern about anti-American and antisemitic rhetoric.
Lieutenant-governor nomineeJay DeBoyer
After his nomination, DeBoyer promised not to back down and said conservatism was back. He described the Republican agenda as focused on public safety, education, infrastructure and rightsizing government, and separately called for tighter oversight of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Convention remarks · Post-convention remarks · MEDC comments
Attorney-general nomineeDoug Lloyd
Lloyd said the convention was complete and the field was set. He pledged to restore law and order, integrity, accountability and transparency, while telling delegates that law should be enforced fairly and government should answer to voters.
Secretary-of-state nomineeAnthony Forlini
Forlini thanked Michigan Republicans for the nomination and said the statewide ticket would work together to win. He promised shorter lines, better service, secure and transparent elections and an office that serves people rather than bureaucracy or partisan politics.
Michigan Republican Party chairmanJim Runestad
In a signed post-convention email, Runestad said Republicans left Mount Pleasant united behind John James, Jay DeBoyer and the full statewide slate. He framed the November election as a choice between “common sense” and “crazy.”
In remarks reported from the convention, Runestad said Michigan candidates should stay focused on Michigan, citing reading performance, road conditions and the economy. He also said Republicans must gain the state Senate and governorship while maintaining their House majority.
MIGOP convention recap email, August 22, 7:01 p.m. EDT · Reported remarks
Republican nominee for U.S. SenateMike Rogers
MIGOP highlighted Rogers' convention appearance as a Michigan-first appeal and a rebuttal to Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed's portrayal of the country. The party said Rogers was building a coalition of working Michiganders for November.
In a convention speech published by his campaign, Rogers emphasized his law-enforcement background and framed the Senate campaign around education, manufacturing, public safety, opportunity and keeping families in Michigan.
Official MIGOP convention video · Rogers campaign statement and speech · Independent convention coverage
Michigan House speakerMatt Hall
Hall outlined policies a Republican governing majority could pursue, including cost relief, property-tax reductions, restrictions on gender-transition surgery for minors and restoration of third-grade reading-retention requirements.
State representativeRon Robinson
Robinson told delegates that freedom was on the ballot and warned, “Do not California our Michigan.”
MSU trustee nomineesRoger Victory and Julie Maday
Victory called the convention excellent and said the campaign was officially moving to November, urging support for himself, Maday and the statewide ticket. Maday said criticism of the top ticket overlooked the women running throughout the full Republican ballot.
MIGOP's 2026 volunteer honoreesTwenty-six honorees from Michigan's 13 congressional districts
- CD 1Jeffrey StrausserLaura Tarsa
- CD 2Nikolai ZerkleKristie Walls
- CD 3Steve BettenHolly DeBoer
- CD 4Ronald ReistererRachel Bosscher-Atwood
- CD 5Todd GillmanKelly Weaver
- CD 6Bill GordonPauline Montie
- CD 7Norris HardemanStacey Morris
- CD 8David MayApril Snyder
- CD 9David HoffmanSheryl Miles
- CD 10Richard ShafferShelley Brown
- CD 11Joe BrandisRagina Wilk
- CD 12Noah WojcikWendy Webster-Jackson
- CD 13Phillip WagnerOlga Merametdjian
According to MIGOP's August 22 convention recap email, the party recognized one male and one female volunteer from each congressional district; the names above appear in that order. The party said House Speaker Matt Hall accepted the District 2 male award for Nikolai Zerkle, who was serving overseas in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Statement cutoff: August 22, 2026, 7:10 p.m. EDT. This record covers convention-specific statements located publicly or supplied directly by an identified source by that time. It does not establish that no additional statement was issued through private groups or accounts not publicly indexed.
Convention process, in plain language
How the DeBoyer nomination was completed
Michigan rules give the Republican nominee for governor the first opportunity to choose a running mate. The August convention supplied the delegate vote needed to complete that nomination.
James selected DeBoyer
John James announced state Rep. Jay DeBoyer as his running mate on August 13 and submitted the selection under the convention schedule.
The rules required delegate approval
The selection needed an affirmative majority of the credentialed convention vote to become the Republican lieutenant-governor nominee.
Delegates acted on August 22
With 2,252 delegates credentialed, the convention approved DeBoyer by voice vote. MIGOP and James described the result as unanimous.
The statewide ticket took the stage
Republicans presented their statewide nominees together as the nominating convention wrapped up and the party moved into the general-election campaign.
2,200Delegates apportioned through the rules' formula using statewide Republican vote measures from 2022 and 2024.
2,252Delegates credentialed for the August 22 convention.
Voice voteThe convention approved James' lieutenant-governor pick, Jay DeBoyer.
The 2026 convention cycle
How the ticket reached August 22
The Republican statewide ticket moved through separate endorsement, primary, selection and nomination stages. With the convention complete, the party's nominees now move into the general-election campaign.
Delegates select the preferred slate for attorney general, secretary of state, Supreme Court and statewide education boards.
Republican primary voters nominate John James for governor.
James announces state Rep. Jay DeBoyer as his choice for lieutenant governor.
Delegates gather at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant.
MIGOP and the nominees announced that the party had completed its statewide ticket.
The next business day is the expected checkpoint for formal party certification records.
Scheduled program archive
The convention's published order of business
The official call listed this order. Final adopted minutes, any changes made on the floor and the exact adjournment time had not been published at the same-day cutoff.
- Call to order
- Invocation
- Pledge of Allegiance
- National Anthem
- Reading of the call to convention
- Appointment of temporary chair
- Appointment of temporary officers
- Rules Committee report
- Oath of office
- Issues Committee business
- Nomination for lieutenant governor
- Nominations for the March-endorsed slate
- Announcements
- Adjournment
Event archive
Convention venue and event record
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
Entertainment Hall
6800 Soaring Eagle Boulevard
Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858
Resort telephone: 1-888-732-4537
- Credentialing window7:30-9:30 a.m. Eastern under the published convention schedule.
- Official call10:00 a.m. Eastern in the Entertainment Hall.
- Admission recordThe party listed $25 registration for delegates, alternates and guests.
- Voting eligibilityCredentialed delegates and properly elevated alternates present at the convention.
- Media contextPage imagery may depict earlier Michigan Republican conventions and is not presented as photography from August 22 unless specifically captioned.
Analysis
What the convention showed
The outcome moved Michigan Republicans out of the endorsement and nomination phase and into the November general-election campaign. Several official details remain pending.
A completed gubernatorial ticket
John James and Jay DeBoyer now form the Republican gubernatorial ticket heading toward November 3.
A voice-vote approval for DeBoyer
With 2,252 delegates credentialed, the convention approved DeBoyer by voice vote. MIGOP and James described the result as unanimous.
2,252 credentialed delegates
The credential count puts the convention's participation above the earlier same-day estimates.
Unity and a November message
Speakers stressed opposition to socialism alongside public safety, education, government accountability, tax and cost relief, election administration and gun rights.
The statewide slate steps forward
Republicans' statewide nominees took the stage together as the convention wrapped up and attention turned to November.
House District 63
DeBoyer's statewide nomination creates a separate ballot-replacement process for the Republican nomination in House District 63. Official party action remains to be documented.
Primary sources
Official documents and convention coverage
The source record separates controlling party and state materials from candidate statements and independent reporting about the August 22 outcome.
Official PDFUpdated call to convention↗
Official PDFConvention rules↗
Official PDFConvention venue map↗
Official MIGOP pageConvention results and nominees↗
Official MIGOP pageCandidate biographies and videos↗
Convention outcome and reporting
Official party statementMIGOP announces DeBoyer nomination↗
Official party videoMike Rogers addresses the convention↗
Campaign source and full speechMike Rogers convention statement↗
Statewide ticket, leadership and convention-floor reportingMichigan Advance convention coverage↗
Convention messaging and campaign themesBridge Michigan convention coverage↗
Party unity and statewide nominationsThe Midwesterner convention coverage↗
Post-convention remarksDeBoyer discusses MEDC oversight↗
Official party updatesMIGOP news and releases↗
Verification note: The official convention record, the 2,252 credentialed-delegate count and public statements were reviewed through August 23. The statement record includes MIGOP's official convention recap email received at 7:01 p.m. EDT August 22. Party and campaign sources are presented separately from outside reporting. Adopted rules and resolutions, formal party certifications, the complete speaker record and exact adjournment time remained unresolved. The published rules file also retains drafting remnants; later official records control.
Media credits and context
The hero is a watercolor-style artistic depiction of the August 22 convention, not documentary photography. Original convention photography and primary-night video by Stephen Schumacher / Michigan Republican Primary. John James victory photography is owned by Michigan Republican Primary. Jay DeBoyer portrait courtesy of the John James campaign. Other convention images may depict earlier Michigan Republican conventions.
Questions and answers
2026 nominating convention FAQ
When and where was the 2026 Michigan Republican nominating convention?
The convention was held Saturday, August 22, 2026, in the Entertainment Hall at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, 6800 Soaring Eagle Boulevard in Mount Pleasant. The published credentialing window was 7:30-9:30 a.m., and the official call was 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
Who did Republicans nominate?
Delegates nominated Jay DeBoyer for lieutenant governor and completed a statewide slate led by Doug Lloyd for attorney general and Anthony Forlini for secretary of state. The March-endorsed candidates for Supreme Court, State Board of Education and the three university boards were nominated without a substitution or successful challenge.
How was Jay DeBoyer nominated?
With 2,252 delegates credentialed, the convention approved John James' selection of DeBoyer by voice vote. MIGOP and John James described the result as unanimous.
How many delegates were credentialed?
The convention reported 2,252 credentialed delegates.
What is the difference between endorsement and nomination?
The March 28 convention selected the party's endorsed candidates. The August 22 convention was the statutory nominating stage that formally selected candidates for the November ballot. The March slate carried forward without a substitution. Read the fuller procedural explanation.
What official information is still pending?
The unresolved record includes adopted rules and resolutions, final credentials rulings, formal party certifications, a complete speaker record and the exact adjournment time.