James Hooper

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

James Hooper

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Personal

Birthplace

Detroit, Mich.

Religion

Christian

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Personal Facebook

James Hooper (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Michigan's 12th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

James Hooper was born in Detroit, Michigan.

Elections

2024

See also: Michigan's 12th Congressional District election, 2024

Michigan's 12th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Republican primary)

Michigan's 12th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 12

Incumbent Rashida Tlaib defeated James Hooper, Gary Walkowicz, and Brenda Sanders in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rashida Tlaib (D)	69.7	253,354
		James Hooper (R)	25.4	92,490
		Gary Walkowicz (Working Class Party)	2.6	9,401
		Brenda Sanders (G)	2.3	8,254

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 363,499
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 12

Incumbent Rashida Tlaib advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rashida Tlaib	99.9	84,138
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	108

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 84,246
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Royce Kinniebrew (D)
• Ryan Foster (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 12

James Hooper defeated Linda Sawyer in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Hooper	60.5	12,001
		Linda Sawyer	39.5	7,828

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 19,829
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Hassan Nehme (R)
• Steven Elliott (R)

Green convention

Green convention for U.S. House Michigan District 12

Brenda Sanders advanced from the Green convention for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on July 27, 2024.

		Candidate
✔		Brenda Sanders (G)

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Working Class Party convention

Working Class Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 12

Gary Walkowicz advanced from the Working Class Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on June 23, 2024.

		Candidate
✔		Gary Walkowicz (Working Class Party)

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Hooper in this election.

2022

See also: Michigan's 12th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 12

Incumbent Rashida Tlaib defeated Steven Elliott and Gary Walkowicz in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rashida Tlaib (D)	70.8	196,643
		Steven Elliott (R)	26.3	72,888
		Gary Walkowicz (Working Class Party)	2.9	8,046

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 277,577
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 12

Incumbent Rashida Tlaib defeated Janice Winfrey, Kelly Garrett, and Shanelle Jackson in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rashida Tlaib	63.8	61,635
		Janice Winfrey	22.4	21,636
		Kelly Garrett	8.6	8,334
		Shanelle Jackson	5.1	4,927

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 96,532
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Phil Cavanagh (D)
• Michelle Wooddell (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 12

Steven Elliott defeated James Hooper and Hassan Nehme in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Steven Elliott	52.9	14,431
		James Hooper	35.4	9,651
		Hassan Nehme	11.7	3,196

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 27,278
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Linda Sawyer (R)

Working Class Party convention

Working Class Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 12

Gary Walkowicz advanced from the Working Class Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on June 26, 2022.

		Candidate
✔		Gary Walkowicz (Working Class Party)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

James Hooper did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Hooper’s campaign website stated the following:

“	LIFE Life is the first among all rights— “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”. I am Pro-Life from conception to natural death. I will be a strong and unwavering voice for LIFE in the U.S. House of Representatives at this most critical time. Traditional families are the most fundamental units of ‘government’. Strong families lead to strong communities and a strong nation. Let’s work together to reduce unwanted pregnancies and focus on valuing families and children. We must lovingly change hearts and minds toward the respect and value of LIFE. 2nd Amendment I value the protection of rights. The 2nd Amendment is non-negotiable. The People are the repository of this Right. I am a strong proponent of the Un-infringeable nature of the Second Amendment. It is the essential bulwark with which all our other rights are guaranteed. The Second Amendment is the necessary prophylactic that prevents unwanted government tyranny. Education I value access to quality educational opportunities for all children in America. Therefore, I support Parental Rights in Education. Parents and guardians are the first, and, the primary teachers in every child’s life. As stated in MCL 380.10 here in Michigan— “It is the natural, fundamental right of parents and legal guardians to determine and direct the care, teaching, and education of their children.” And, “The public schools of this state serve the needs of the pupils by cooperating with the pupil’s parents and legal guardians to develop the pupil’s intellectual capabilities and vocational skills in a safe and positive environment.” Any federal education policy must secure this right nationally. I will advocate for the swift reduction and rapid elimination of the Federal Department of Education and the return to full state and local control. These dollars are best utilized with local control, not bureaucrats in D.C. Healthcare Our ‘Healthcare’ system has become ‘Sick-care’. I value True Healthcare. More focus and resources should be available for more holistic approaches and preventative medicine, including mental health. This should be done through a free market approach. I support Bodily Sovereignty—No person should be forced to undergo any medical treatment or procedure to travel, to work, or to engage in commerce. No person should be required to carry ‘papers’ or a vaccination passport. Forced medical procedures and vaccine passports are antithetical to liberty and un-American. Abdication of our bodily sovereignty to bureaucrats and tyrants CANNOT be acceptable or expected to end well. Pro-Business I value free and fair commerce. Business goes where it is welcome and stays where in is appreciated. Let’s get government out of the way by reducing overburdensome regulations and bureaucracy. We must foster an environment that promotes American jobs for American workers building America products. Let’s return America to authentic prosperity. Taxes Taxes on American families and businesses are obscene. Decades of unchecked government excesses have hurt American families and stifled American potential in innovation and in production in business. I value accountability and fiscal responsibility in taxation policy. We need taxation policy that focuses on keeping MORE of your hard-earned dollars in your pocket and LESS going to waste in Washington D.C. Border/Immigration I value National Sovereignty and National Security. Our Borders—A nation that does not have control of its borders has abrogated its sovereignty. It is dangerously unacceptable to have unchecked illegal immigration which disguises drug trafficking, human and child trafficking, and terrorists crossing an abandoned border. This is a National Security issue more important than current wars in Europe. Our Armed Forces—The purpose of our military is to kill the enemy and destroy their capacity to harm us should the need arise. The men & women of our Armed Forces guarantee the American way of life in the global environment filled with despots, terrorists, and enemies of our nation. As such we should never settle for a military less than the world’s best, with the best trained and equipped branches. Our Armed Forces should never serve as a social justice or ‘wokeness’ project.	”
—James Hooper’s campaign website (2024)

2022

James Hooper completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hooper's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Liberty Minded Conservative Republican.

I am a Blue-Collar Republican who grew up on the Eastside of Detroit. I worked for many years in Eastern Market starting at night while still in high school. Later I shifted into the building trades where I worked for many years.

I have served overseas in the mission field with Samaritan’s Purse in Liberia, West Africa leading a team of Liberian nationals and international mission teams rebuilding The African Bible College University (ABCU), and then later with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) helping to bring a Franklin Graham Festival to Liberia. Still later I managed a Water Sanitation, Hygiene (WATSAN) program for Samaritan’s Purse in a remote Liberian border area near Cote d'Ivoire. After returning from the mission field, I served as my mother’s primary, then full time caregiver as she battled and eventually passed from Alzheimer’s.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• The First Principle & Purpose of Representative Government is to Secure and Protect the Rights of the Governed. Historically our elected representatives, like the current incumbent Rashida Tlaib, have been doing an abysmal job protecting our rights. Since the onset of Covid their failures in this purpose have been increasing at an alarming pace. Our liberties have been under attack. The politicians who aren’t actively attacking our liberties, are failing in preventing these attacks! THIS MUST STOP.
• We will unbridle American Energy once again. We will unleash American Exceptionalism once again. We will create an environment that fosters positive job growth, and business growth in our district and in America once again.
• As a Nation, and, as a People, we have both unmatched and yet unrealized potential. There is HOPE & OPPORTUNITY for America & the next generation of Americans of every color, creed, and socio-economic status.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

In the continued reduction and eventual elimination of the Federal Department of Education and the return to full state & local control.

Reducing the tax burden on American families.

American Energy Independence.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Declaration of Independence

Constitution of the United States of America
The Bill of Rights

Animal Farm- George Orwell
Fahrenheit 451- Ray Bradbury

To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity. Compassion. Patriotism-Love of America

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I really like to help people.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Secure the Rights of the Governed

What legacy would you like to leave?

Restore the Republic

Uphold the Constitution

Unleash American Exceptionalism once again...

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Stock boy at a local pharmacy; age 15.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

It is the People's House

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

1) We need to have HOPE. Far too many Americans feel hopeless.
2) The National Debt is a Levithan that must be conquered.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes

What are your thoughts on term limits?

We currently have 'Term Limits'. It's called voting. If your Representatives are not securing your rights--VOTE THEM OUT.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Not on Values, but perhaps on Methods

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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James Hooper campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House Michigan District 12	Lost general	$13,451	$7,082
2022	U.S. House Michigan District 12	Lost primary	$4,862	$2,215
Grand total			$18,314	$9,297
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also

2024 Elections

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Government

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External links

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Candidate

U.S. House Michigan District 12

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Footnotes

[show]

Michigan's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Gary Peters (D)

Elissa Slotkin (D)

Representatives

District 1

Jack Bergman (R)

District 2

John Moolenaar (R)

District 3

Hillary Scholten (D)

District 4

Bill Huizenga (R)

District 5

Tim Walberg (R)

District 6

Debbie Dingell (D)

District 7

Tom Barrett (R)

District 8

Kristen Rivet (D)

District 9

Lisa McClain (R)

District 10

John James (R)

District 11

Haley Stevens (D)

District 12

Rashida Tlaib (D)

District 13

Shri Thanedar (D)

Democratic Party (8)

Republican Party (7)