Black Republican Challenges Debbie Stabenow!

Republican candidate John James will face Democratic senator Debbie Stabenow.

The blue wave is a coming.

The Michigan race for the U.S. Senate got a whole lot interesting.

Donald J. Trump backed candidate John James won the primary and will be the nominee who will compete against Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

James is a Black Republican and he is hoping to chip off votes from a base that normally avoids voting for his kind.

Fox News reports that James, 37, defeated Sandy Pensler in the GOP primary Tuesday. The Michigan businessman and political newcomer and Pensler exchanged barbs over business records, conservative credentials and the president.

Trump endorsed James last week. James also boasted support from white extremist rocker Kid Rock and Rob O'Neill, the retired Navy SEAL who killed Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.

Early in the primary campaign, Pensler, who loaned his campaign $5 million, had a financial advantage over James, who gave only $50,000 to his campaign. James ultimately raised $3.9 million by the end of June, with an additional $1.3 million in cash by August.

James is Michigan’s first black GOP nominee for a major statewide office in more than three decades, but he says he wants to be judged based on his character.

James graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2004, according to his campaign website bio, and became a Ranger-qualified aviation officer. He served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he earned a Combat Action Badge and two Air Medals while logging more than 700 hours leading two Apache platoons.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) is not taking anything for granted.

He returned to Michigan in 2012 and currently serves as president of the family business, James Group International. James has taken the company from $35 million to $137 million in revenue, the site states, and has created 100 jobs in Michigan and elsewhere. He is married with two young children.

James will compete against incumbent Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow in November, who had no primary challenger. Stabenow is seeking a fourth Senate term and has easily fended off past challengers.

Thank you Michigan! I am humbled and honored to be your nominee for U.S. Senate. #LetsFly to victory in November! https://t.co/qdMljcBbFP #TeamJohnJames #MISen pic.twitter.com/fnlO4Ywpb6

— John James (@JohnJamesMI) August 8, 2018

🚨LIKE & RETWEET🚨 CO-PILOTS: We are so close, but in order to win we MUST get out and vote and we have to get others out to vote. This election is too important and we have worked too hard > https://t.co/F9dBJ53eAL < 🇺🇸 #LetsFlyMI #TeamJohnJames #MISen #TrumpEndorsed #VoteAug7 pic.twitter.com/1HXQtxgNln

— John James (@JohnJamesMI) August 7, 2018

Stabenow was elected to the Senate in 2000, and is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senate Energy, Finance and Budget Committees. According to her website, she authored a bipartisan Farm Bill that is strengthening Michigan agriculture and making unprecedented investments in protecting the Great Lakes.

James and his family.

Though seen as an uphill battle, Republicans are optimistic that James could potentially turn the blue Senate seat red, after Trump’s victory in Michigan in the 2016 race.

"Washington has enough career politicians," James said in a news release after his victory. "We need people who have experience getting results. You aren't going to get results from a 43-year career politician. Debbie Stabenow better get ready for the fight of her political life."

If elected, James could be fourth member of the U.S. Senate. The only Black Republican who is currently serving in the Senate is Tim Scott of South Carolina. The two only Black Democrats serving in the Senate are Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey.