New reporting from the Daily Beast and newly surfaced audio reveal where John James really stands on abortion after he publicly backtracked on his previous position that the issue was settled in Michigan.
At a July 29 campaign event, James denied he had ever called abortion a settled issue and pledged to “do everything” to get “the most conservative, most pro-life bill passed through the House and Senate as possible.”
The exchange came after a voter challenged James over his shifting abortion positions.
James’ latest reversal adds to a years-long pattern of shifting positions on abortion.
James’ anti-abortion record includes:
- Calling himself “100% pro-life” and comparing abortion to “genocide” while opposing nearly all abortion exceptions.
- Later reversing course to support exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother.
- Telling voters in 2024 that abortion was a “decided” issue in Michigan because voters had already approved Proposal 3.
- Now denying he ever said abortion was settled and promising to pursue “the most conservative, most pro-life bill” possible if elected governor.
“John James has spent years changing his position on abortion depending on the office he’s running for and the audience he’s in front of,” said Tiffiany Vaughn a spokesperson at American Bridge 21st Century. “Michigan voters deserve to know which John James would show up as governor: the candidate who said abortion was already decided by voters, or the candidate now promising to pass the most conservative anti-abortion legislation possible.”
James’ latest comments directly contradict his previous efforts to characterize abortion as settled law in Michigan following voters’ overwhelming approval of Proposal 3, which enshrined reproductive freedom in the state constitution.
Get more information on John James’ record on Research-Books.com.
Published: Jul 31, 2026