DETROIT — John James emerges with confidence from a charter high school in the northwest side of the city that used to be an elementary school. It is a stride any parents would hope to see in their son or daughter when they graduate from this school, founded by Jalen Rose, former NBA player and member of the University of Michigan’s legendary “Fab Five” squad.

Outside the leafy campus of Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, parents wait for their children to emerge as a handful of students play on the clay basketball court. James, a member of the school’s board, has just finished a board meeting to discuss his decision to run for the Michigan Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

He’s no Kid Rock, and that is a good thing for the Republican Party.

James is a young, accomplished, determined, devout black man, the kind of new conservative that the Grand Old Party needs in order to shake up next year’s midterm election cycle.

He is at once full of energy, grace, command and passion. When this young man tells you he is running on conviction, everything about him tells you he is not a poser. He says: “I am called to a life of service. I want to serve my country and my community and my state. When I would come back from Iraq on leave during the great recession, the economic and societal devastation I saw here in my own state floored me.”

He is one of a handful of Republicans who are running to take on Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow. His primary rival is former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bob Young. And Rep. Fred Upton, who represents the Kalamazoo and environs, is considering as well.