On Thursday, Republican Gubernatorial nominee John James named 63rd District State Representative Jay DeBoyer as his Lieutenant Governor selection.

Jay DeBoyer is a second-term state representative from St. Clair County. Before being elected to the legislature in 2022, he served as St. Clair County Clerk and Clay Township Supervisor.

John James said on his selection, “I am choosing Jay DeBoyer as my running mate because he has run a business, served in local government, and overseen elections. He knows how to work with both parties in the Legislature to get things done. Jay embodies the West Point Honor Code principles I expect in my administration: restoring integrity, competence, and trust in state government.”

DeBoyer has spent his most recent term as the Chair of the House Oversight Committee. Under Speaker Matt Hall, the oversight committee has become one of the powerful gavels in Lansing. Jay DeBoyer also serves as Associate Pro Tempore of the Michigan House of Representatives.

As Chair of Oversight, DeBoyer has earned the ire of Democrat Gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson. Over several meetings, the committee has investigated her role as Michigan’s Secretary of State. DeBoyer has held meetings on election training transparency, her role on the Southern Poverty Law Center board, and other misgivings during her time as Secretary of State.

In 2025, the committee ordered Jocelyn Benson to testify on the severe technical errors regarding the state’s campaign finance database. 

Jay DeBoyer’s nomination will go before the Michigan Republican Party State Convention on August 22nd. Michigan Republican Party delegates will have to confirm his selection; however, no nominated Lieutenant Governor candidate has been voted down before the body in Michigan’s history.

Once Jay Deboyer is confirmed, the St. Clair and Macomb County Republican Parties will have to select his replacement to run in his safe Republican state house seat for the November 5th general election.