Most of the midterm oxygen in Michigan is being sucked up by the diminutive Abdul El-Sayed and his best buddy, Hasan Piker, but the state's Senate seat is hardly the only critical race coming up in November.
Michigan's governorship is up for grabs as well, with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson squaring off against Rep. John James, a former Army Ranger and Apache pilot who served multiple tours in Iraq.
Most polls have the race as very tight, within the margin of error, but with James as a slight underdog. As we mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 today, however, James has just hit Benson with a devastating ad, calling her out for the bedfellows she keeps in the Michigan Democrat Party. Watch:
Jocelyn Benson stands with a radical left that says America deserved 9/11. I stand with you, and I say NEVER FORGET. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/8hqzxgMyQc
— John James (@JohnJamesMI) September 10, 2026
"Extremism isn't on our doorstep; it's in the house."
But the killer image in the ad is Benson embracing El-Sayed, who stands with Piker and his America-hating declarations, including that the United States deserved 9/11.
Take the gloves off and body her, John!
— MIProgressiveCommunist Watch (@progcommwatchmi) September 10, 2026
.@JocelynBenson stands with those who say America deserved 9-11. Shameful. https://t.co/XGOIwrE9nz
— Tori Sachs (@Tori_Sachs) September 10, 2026
We know James' message was over the target because anonymous trolls have been hate-replying to him all night and into this morning.
But we REALLY know the ad hit home because of how Benson replied with feigned outrage.
How dare you, Congressman. My husband enlisted in the Army and put his life on the line for our country after losing his friend, Todd Ouida, in the towers on 9/11. This is a despicable lie to the people of Michigan about what that day means to me and my family, the sacrifices… https://t.co/SAb27nFADD
— Jocelyn Benson (@JocelynBenson) September 10, 2026
... sacrifices made, and the devastating impact of that attack on our country. I have never, and would never, campaign with anyone who says something so reprehensible.
If you have any decency, you will immediately take down this false ad. The veterans and families who lost loved ones on 9/11 deserve better than your lies and self-serving political opportunism. Shame on you.
How dare he! Shame on him!
She seems mad. She would never!
Except, of course, she did and she does.
Does this look like “never, ever campaigning” with someone? https://t.co/4CHOXBZDhP pic.twitter.com/VXPFe8MJIj
— Anna Hoffman (@shoesonplease) September 10, 2026
Oops.
This you? pic.twitter.com/n26AM0Druo
— Tori Sachs (@Tori_Sachs) September 10, 2026
It sure looks like her to us.
This is you, too pic.twitter.com/xRL1vBRZUl
— Tori Sachs (@Tori_Sachs) September 10, 2026
Darn those pesky photo ops, coming back to bite her for showing Michiganders who her friends are.
What’s false? You are literally standing with Abdul’s arm around you. He won’t condemn Hasan Piker or his disgusting 9/11 statement. Abdul embraces Hasan, you embrace Abdul - you embrace Hasan. Never Forget isn’t just about what your family did then - Never Forget means forever. https://t.co/W1dnToEkrE
— Tudor Dixon (@TudorDixon) September 10, 2026
Benson can't point out the lie because there is no lie.
She wants to cozy up to the DSA and the most radical extremists that have taken over the Democrat Party, while pretending she is a patriot because of her husband.
Yeah, no.
Jocelyn, if you truly think campaigning with people who think “America deserved 9/11” is “reprehensible” why haven’t you endorsed Mike Rogers? https://t.co/kAYNjetKqD
— Aric Nesbitt (@aricnesbitt) September 10, 2026
She's probably afraid of El-Sayed and Piker.
Most women who get too close to Islamic extremists wind up living in fear (or worse).
Jocelyn Benson: “I have never, and would never, campaign with anyone who says something so reprehensible.” https://t.co/6G7zQrNWZ5 pic.twitter.com/qR3x2RpZUe
— Senate Leadership Fund (@Senate_Fund) September 10, 2026
James himself hit back at Benson and her phony pearl-clutching last night.
HARD.
Spare me your fake outrage. There’s nothing real about you.
— John James (@JohnJamesMI) September 10, 2026
Prove me wrong:
Disavow Hasan Piker.
Disavow the DSA.
Disavow the terrorist sympathizers who chant death to America and death to Israel right now.
Disavow those who would burn the flag that I wore into combat to… https://t.co/nyuYN2IVGk
... defend your right to LIE about my record.
Extremism will not be tolerated in Michigan when I’m Governor. Leaders who both refuse to call it out and who have funded the KKK are utterly unfit to serve the people the state of Michigan.
You haven’t and you won’t so where’s the lie?
You don’t get to abet extremism, run on someone else’s service and then cry foul when you get called out for your cowardice and gaslighting for the first time in your life.
Stop hiding behind your computer screen (while in Kentucky) and accept the October 7th debate in Detroit with Chuck Stokes on @wxyzdetroit.
Resign.
Ka-freaking-BOOM!
This is the way.
This is the way to hit back at cowardly Democrats who embrace extremist figures like El-Sayed, Piker, and Rashida Tlaib and then try to lie to voters that they love America.
— Dr. Matthew Brock (@DrMatthewBrock) September 11, 2026
We apologize for the NSFW language in that GIF, but ... our sentiments exactly.
You need to go all out against Communism and Islam, CALL A SPADE A SPADE!. Kid gloves isn't a good strategy!
— Zod's Dad (@F6F5Hellcat) September 11, 2026
That's exactly what James is doing.
Excellent retort. .@JocelynBenson is a criminal and everyone knows it. Her days of posturing and feigning credibility are over.
— Cleopatra (@prettytoes) September 11, 2026
We the People of Michigan Dare Jocelyn to accept the Debate! 🦅❤️🇺🇸✍🏻
— Nanette (@Babyducks70) September 11, 2026
And that debate should happen now, not in October, after Benson is able to deceive people into casting a ballot for her in early voting, like Jay Jones did in Virginia.
🔥🔥🔥🔥
— "Doc" Hypnosis 🧠 | BowTied Brain-Hacking (@BowTiedTrance) September 10, 2026
Ladies and Gentleman, we have a gubernatorial candidate ...
LFG. https://t.co/Y44Ut77urW
If this is John James for the next 2 months this race is going to get a lot closer. https://t.co/ok8Uo5tMR7
— Nick De Leeuw (@REALNickDeLeeuw) September 11, 2026
More of this‼️ https://t.co/Ts79PLXEBP
— DeShawn Wilkins (@bishopdwilkins) September 11, 2026
We are sure we'll see more of it from James, and hopefully other Republican candidates in the midterms will follow his lead.
THIS IS THE ENERGY I WANT TO SEE!
— Chris Long - Mr. Reality (@chrislong_mi) September 11, 2026
GET HER JAMES! TAKE HER DOWN! https://t.co/ukVA9jv81R
🛑Michigan Voters‼️Get out and Vote for John James. Jocelyn Bensen has torn down Michigan, and she really needs to be voted out so her toxicity can gone - that would mean that Michigan can heal and prosper!!! https://t.co/oiFCbh43FF
— KMWasik - Constitutionalist (@KMW_SaveAmerica) September 10, 2026
It's not John James who made Jocelyn Benson cuddle up to an extremist like El-Sayed. She did that all on her own.
It's his job to remind voters that she did and with whom she stands.
As we commemorate today the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil and remember those who were lost, he's off to a pretty good start.
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Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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