FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2026
Contact: Hannah Osantowske
press@johnjamesmi.com
JOHN JAMES UNVEILS BOLD PLAN TO ELIMINATE STATE INCOME TAX AND MAKE WORK GREAT AGAIN
James: “Michigan families work too hard to pay for Lansing’s waste and fraud. When I am Governor, the mission is simple: Cut the Waste. Reward the Work. Keep What You Earn.”
Shelby Township, MI — Republican gubernatorial frontrunner John James today unveiled his plan to eliminate Michigan’s state income tax, putting more money back in the pockets of Michigan families, workers, and small businesses by cutting Lansing waste and rewarding the work that built this state.
“Michigan families are not the problem. Lansing is the problem. We have identified more than $3 billion in wasteful government spending. That money belongs to the people who earned it. My plan is simple: cut the waste, reward the work, and eliminate the income tax so Michigan families keep what they earn.”
— John James
The Plan: Cut the Waste. Reward the Work. Eliminate the Income Tax.
Cut the Waste: Michigan taxpayers have been footing the bill for a Lansing bureaucracy that has failed them at every turn. Governor Whitmer’s $670 million SOAR subsidies produced zero jobs. An $8 billion unemployment fraud scandal went uninvestigated. A $9 million contract for a botched campaign finance website produced nothing but embarrassment. That ends on day one. John James will conduct a comprehensive audit of all state government expenditures, eliminate wasteful DEI and ESG programs, and put every dollar to work for Michigan families.
Reward the Work: Michigan workers deserve to keep more of what they earn. With a 4.25% state income tax, one of the highest property tax burdens in the Midwest, and a 6% sales and corporate tax rate, Michigan is one of the most expensive states in the nation to live, work, and build a business. That is not a recipe for growth. It is a recipe for outmigration. Michigan ranks 49th in population growth. Young people and families are leaving for red states that let them keep more of their hard earned money.
Eliminate the Income Tax: John James will eliminate Michigan’s state income tax, returning billions of dollars annually to the workers, families, and small businesses that power our economy. By cutting the waste first and restructuring state spending to live within its means, Michigan can phase out the income tax without cutting essential services. The fastest growing states in America prove it works. Michigan can too.
A Record of Delivering Results
John James is not making promises. He is presenting a record. As a Congressman, he passed the One Big Beautiful Bill with President Trump, cutting taxes on tips and overtime and strengthening small businesses. He repealed the EPA’s Clean Trucks rule that would have gutted small trucking businesses. He secured the basing of F-15EX fighter jets at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, bringing hundreds of high paying jobs and a generational investment to Macomb County.
“I have signed the front and the back of checks. I know what it takes to make a payroll, grow a business, and create jobs in Michigan. I have done it. And as Governor, I will make Michigan the most competitive state in the nation to live, work, and raise a family.”
— John James
Michigan Cannot Afford More of the Same
Under eight years of Governor Whitmer, Michigan has lost more than 25,000 manufacturing and business services jobs. Unemployment in cities like Flint, Bay City, and Saginaw has climbed above 7%. Median household income in Michigan sits roughly 11% below the national median. Indiana and Ohio are growing. Michigan is falling behind.
That changes with John James as Governor.
“My parents came to Michigan because this state gave families a shot at the American Dream. I am running to make sure that promise is real again for every Michigan family. Cut the waste. Reward the work. Eliminate the income tax. Let’s fly.”
— John James
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