James elected to Congress by ‘razor thin margin’ over Marlinga

METRO DETROIT — The third time was apparently the charm for John James.  

The Republican business owner from Farmington Hills defeated Democrat Carl Marlinga, a former Macomb County prosecutor and Circuit Court judge, by less than 0.5% of the votes cast in the race to win a seat representing the 10th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Across Macomb and Oakland counties, James received 159,203 votes (48.80%), while Marlinga received 157,602 (48.31%).

According to the unofficial results of the Nov. 8 general election, Marlinga lost in Macomb County by just 586 votes. Uncertified totals showed Marlinga lost by 1,015 in Oakland County.

“Throughout this race people have shared their hardships and today they have spoken,” James said in a statement. “They have chosen experienced leadership. Help is on the way.”

James went on to say he was humbled and grateful for the support and trust from the residents who voted for him. The 41-year-old business owner and U.S. Army veteran serves as president of the James Group International and CEO of Renaissance Global Local, a supply chain management and logistics services company based in Detroit.

He received his bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Military Academy and separate master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and Pennsylvania State University. He has lived in Farmington Hills — which falls in the state’s 14th congressional district — for 20 years.

James previously told C&G Newspapers that his top goals if elected included tackling rising prices, promoting clean water and quality education and repatriating manufacturing.

While James hasn’t previously held an elected office, he unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate twice: in 2018, and again in 2020.

Marlinga, 75, of Sterling Heights, retired from his position as a judge in the Macomb County Circuit Court earlier this year to pursue the Democratic Party’s nomination in the 10th District of the U.S. House of Representatives. He retired from his position as a judge with several months left in his six-year term. He previously served as the Macomb County prosecuting attorney from 1985 until 2004.

Marlinga’s website states he has been a lifelong resident of Michigan’s 10th congressional district.

He previously lost a bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002.

“This was an exciting and exhausting campaign that was decided by a razor thin margin of less than half of one percent,” Marlinga said in an email. “I am grateful for all the support I received. As Americans, we must gather together to congratulate John James and wish him well as our Representative in Congress.”

James will serve a two-year term. U.S. representatives earn a salary of $174,000 per year.

Also running for the seat were Working Class Party candidate Andrea Kirby, who received 5,905 votes (1.81%), and Libertarian Mike Saliba, who received 3,524 (1.08%).