Rep. John James (R-MI) blasted Rev. Al Sharpton on Thursday for claiming Michigan has no Black representation for the first time in decades.
James said Sharpton was trying to erase him because he doesn’t fit the reverend’s “bigoted” narrative. He challenged Sharpton to a debate on how Democratic policies have affected Black families and communities.
“Al, are you that blind? I’m here and I exist whether you like it or not. I went to war for the right to think for myself. You are not going to erase me because I don’t fit your bigoted idea of what a black man is or has a right to be,” James said in a video posted to X.
“I’m a West Point grad, Ranger qualified Apache pilot, combat veteran and businessman. I have one wife, two master’s degrees, three kids and I am the black congressman from Michigan. And yes, I am a Republican, not because the party’s perfect, but because it’s the platform that most aligns with the economic and moral values that my grandmama taught me.”
He added: “But unlike some people, politics has not become my religion, though. Michigan is my mission field, and service is my calling. My loyalty is to God, my country and my family. In 2024, more young black men gave President Trump a serious look for jobs, paycheck, safety and respect. Your blindness, Reverend, is part of the reason we can’t have nice things, but we can change that.”
Watch the clip below:
Hey @TheRevAl & MSDNC — THE Black Congressman from Michigan here 👋🏾. I’ve got a message and an invite: come to Detroit for a debate.
Let’s talk about how Democrat control has failed families in Detroit neighborhoods for the past six decades and how conservative principles can… pic.twitter.com/C7A24HePLX
— John James (@JohnJamesMI) October 2, 2025
James, who announced his gubernatorial candidacy in April, is leading the Republican primary race with 55% support, according to a poll exclusively obtained by The Daily Caller.
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