Kid Rock endorses Rep. John James in the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial race

It’s perfect – Detroit native and cultural icon Kid Rock is taking sides in the Michigan governor’s race.

The popular musician and working-class whistleblower known for his conservative political views is endorsing Republican Rep. John James in the 2026 race to succeed Gov. Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer.

The Michigan governor’s office and an open Democrat-controlled US Senate seat are top targets for the GOP to flip in the November midterm elections.

“As our next Governor of Michigan, I know you will bring many victories to our GREAT State!” Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, in a statement first shared with Fox News Digital on Sunday.

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James, who is in his second term representing a congressional district in Suburban Detroit, said in a statement, “Kid Rock is a good friend. We share our love for Detroit, the state of Michigan and the United States of America!”

“I am honored to be endorsed by this libertarian and I look forward to working with him and all other Michiganders to make Michigan great again!” added James, a West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran, and businessman who was the 2018 and 2020 Republican Senate nominee for the Great Lakes war zone.

Kid Rock’s support for James comes hours before the singer-songwriter headlines Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show” during the Super Bowl.

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Turning Point USA, co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk, is hosting its own alternative Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday. The event comes as conservative writers criticize the NFL’s choice to feature Latin music star Bad Bunny as the halftime player.

Singer Kid Rock performs during the fourth day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 18, 2024. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Kid Rock is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, supporting him in all three of his presidential campaigns. He performed his song “American Bad Ass” at the 2024 Republican National Convention with the lyrics changed to show his support for Trump.

Trump, whose dominance in the GOP remains large and whose approval in the Republican primaries is highly coveted and influential, has so far not participated in the Michigan presidential race.

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A release from James’ campaign emphasized that “John James has stood with President Trump consistently since 2018, and with each subsequent election, maintaining a clear and consistent line when others support his opponents, run against him, or remain silent.”

James’ campaign reiterated that “Kid Rock and John James share deep Detroit roots and a common vision of Michigan as a state defined by hard work, productivity, culture, and natural beauty – from the Great Lakes to the economically vibrant communities of the Midwest.”

Representative John James of Michigan, seen at the 2024 Republican National Convention, is running for governor in the 2026 battleground contest. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty)

James is the front-runner in polls in a field filled with Republicans vying for the GOP nomination in the August primary. Among the other Republicans in the race are former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, Michigan Senate Minerals Leader Aric Nesbitt, former House Speaker Mike Leonard, and businessman Perry Johnson, the 2024 Republican presidential nominee who is making his second bid for governor.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is the front-runner among the three Democratic nominees.

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Former three-term Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan of Detroit is running for governor as an independent.

The Michigan race has been rated as a toss-up by the top three nonpartisan political pollsters: The Cook Report, Internal Polling, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball.