2026 Michigan gubernatorial election

2026 Michigan gubernatorial election

The 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Michigan. The primary elections will take place on August 4, 2026. Incumbent Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term. This will be one of five Democratic-held governorships up for election in 2026 in a state won by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Incumbent Democratic secretary of state Jocelyn Benson and Republican U.S. representative John James are the frontrunners for their respective nominations. Independent Mike Duggan's bid for governor is expected to make the race more competitive after Democrats' wide margins in the (/wiki/2018Michiganelections) and 2022 Michigan elections.

Background

2026 Michigan gubernatorial election

Michigan is a purple state in the heart of the Great Lakes and Rust Belt which consistently elected Democrats for president since (/wiki/1992UnitedStatespresidentialelectioninMichigan) until Republican nominee Donald Trump narrowly flipped the state in (/wiki/2016UnitedStatespresidentialelectioninMichigan). In (/wiki/2020UnitedStatespresidentialelectioninMichigan), Democratic nominee Joe Biden won Michigan by 2.78%. In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump won Michigan by 1.42% which was attributed to President Biden's unpopularity and rightward shifts in working-class and Arab American voters.

Since the 2018 Michigan elections, Democrats occupied all statewide offices in Michigan. Since (/wiki/2022MichiganSenateelection), Democrats held the narrow majority in the State Senate while Republicans held a narrow majority in the Michigan House of Representatives since (/wiki/2024MichiganHouseofRepresentativeselection). According to the Morning Consult, which measures the popularity of governors across the country, Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer has a net +21 approval rating in Michigan.

In (/wiki/2018Michigangubernatorialelection), Gretchen Whitmer and her running mate Garlin Gilchrist won by 9.56%. In (/wiki/2022Michigangubernatorialelection), Whitmer and Gilchrist won by 10.53%.

Democratic primary

Declared

• Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State (2019–present) • Kevin Hogan, biochemist and Green nominee for governor in (/wiki/2022Michigangubernatorialelection) • Marni Sawicki, former mayor of Cape Coral, Florida (2013–2017) • Chris Swanson, Genesee County Sheriff (2020–present)

Withdrawn

• Garlin Gilchrist, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (2019–present) (running for Michigan Secretary of State)

Declined

• Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation (2021–2025), former mayor of South Bend, Indiana (2012–2020), and candidate for president in (/wiki/2020UnitedStatespresidentialelection) • Dan Kildee, former U.S. representative from Michigan's 8th congressional district (2013–2025) • Mallory McMorrow, state senator from the 8th district (2019–present) (running for U.S. Senate) • Gary Peters, U.S. senator (2015–present)

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate	Raised	Spent	Cash on hand
Jocelyn Benson (D)	$5,744,202	$2,189,133	$3,555,069
Garlin Gilchrist (D)	$1,303,043	$1,040,279	$262,764
Marni Sawicki (D)	$15,930	$14,605	$1,325
Chris Swanson (D)	$1,448,651	$1,178,225	$270,425
Source: Michigan Secretary of State

Polling

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Jocelyn Benson	Garlin Gilchrist	Chris Swanson	Undecided	Margin
	January 12, 2026	Gilchrist withdraws from the race to run for Michigan Secretary of State
270toWin	October 23-November 21, 2025	January 1, 2026	53.0%	13.5%	5.5%	28.0%	Benson +39.5%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jocelyn Benson	Garlin Gilchrist	Chris Swanson	Undecided
	January 12, 2026	Gilchrist withdraws from the race to run for Michigan Secretary of State
Mitchell Research	November 18–21, 2025	261 (LV)	± 6.1%	48%	12%	5%	35%
Rosetta Stone Communications (R)	October 23–25, 2025	287 (LV)	± 5.8%	58%	15%	6%	21%
Impact Research (D)	September 30 – October 6, 2025	453 (LV)	± 4.6%	56%	17%	5%	22%
Glengariff Group	May 5−8, 2025	600 (RV)	± 4.0%	59%	7%	8%	26%
65%	10%	5%	20%
Mitchell Research	March 13, 2025	303 (LV)	± 5.6%	46%	13%	11%	30%

Republican primary

Declared

• Mike Cox, former Michigan Attorney General (2003–2011) and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2010Michigangubernatorialelection) • Joyce Gipson, advocate • John James, U.S. representative from Michigan's 10th congressional district (2023–present) and nominee for U.S. Senate in (/wiki/2018UnitedStatesSenateelectioninMichigan) and (/wiki/2020UnitedStatesSenateelectioninMichigan) • Perry Johnson, businessman, disqualified candidate for governor in (/wiki/2022Michigangubernatorialelection), and candidate for president in (/wiki/2024RepublicanPartypresidentialprimaries) • Tom Leonard, former speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives (2017–2019) from the 93rd district (2013–2019), nominee for attorney general in (/wiki/2018MichiganAttorneyGeneralelection) and candidate in (/wiki/2022MichiganAttorneyGeneralelection) • Aric Nesbitt, Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate (2023–present) from the 20th district (2019–present) • William Null, construction manager • Ralph Rebandt, pastor and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2022Michigangubernatorialelection) • Evan Space, entrepreneur and former member of the National Guard

Withdrawn

• Anthony Hudson, truck driver and candidate for Michigan's 8th congressional district in (/wiki/2024UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinMichigan#District8) (switched to libertarian convention) • Karla Wagner, political organizer (running as an Independent)

Declined

• Tudor Dixon, conservative media personality and nominee for governor in (/wiki/2022Michigangubernatorialelection) • Kevin Rinke, former car dealer and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2022Michigangubernatorialelection)

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate	Raised	Spent	Cash on hand
Mike Cox (R)	$5,113,295	$975,981	$4,137,314
Anthony Hudson (R)	$13,682	$12,480	$1,202
John James (R)	$4,489,826	$2,041,111	$2,448,715
Tom Leonard (R)	$937,024	$227,730	$709,293
Aric Nesbitt (R)	$3,058,523	$848,394	$2,210,129
Ralph Rebandt (R)	$972,197	$166,825	$805,372
Karla Wagner (R)	$4,092	$2,671	$1,421
Source: Michigan Secretary of State

Polling

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Mike Cox	John James	Perry Johnson	Tom Leonard	Aric Nesbitt	Undecided	Margin
Race to the WH	through March 26, 2026	April 1, 2026	6.5%	22.9%	17.1%	2.2%	4.6%	46.7%	James +5.8%

<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Mike Cox</th><th>John James</th><th>Perry Johnson</th><th>Tom Leonard</th><th>Aric Nesbitt</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1892 Polling (R)</td><td>March 25–26, 2026</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>6%</td><td>26%</td><td>21%</td><td>1%</td><td>4%</td><td>1%</td><td>42%</td></tr><tr><td>JMC Analytics</td><td>March 21–23, 2026</td><td>450 (LV)</td><td>± 4.6%</td><td>6%</td><td>23%</td><td>20%</td><td>3%</td><td>5%</td><td>–</td><td>43%</td></tr><tr><td>1892 Polling (R)</td><td>February 2026</td><td>– (V)</td><td>–</td><td>5%</td><td>44%</td><td>4%</td><td>2%</td><td>4%</td><td>0%</td><td>35%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>January 26, 2026</td><td>Johnson enters the race</td></tr><tr><td>Mitchell Research</td><td>November 18–21, 2025</td><td>255 (LV)</td><td>± 6.1%</td><td>11%</td><td>48%</td><td>–</td><td>5%</td><td>2%</td><td>1%</td><td>33%</td></tr><tr><td>Rosetta Stone Communications (R)</td><td>October 23–25, 2025</td><td>252 (LV)</td><td>± 6.2%</td><td>13%</td><td>44%</td><td>4%</td><td>3%</td><td>6%</td><td>5%</td><td>25%</td></tr><tr><td>Plymouth Union Public (R)</td><td>October 8−9, 2025</td><td>200 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>7%</td><td>41%</td><td>–</td><td><5%</td><td><5%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Target Insyght</td><td>March 3–6, 2025</td><td>336 (V)</td><td>± 5.7%</td><td>5%</td><td>57%</td><td>1%</td><td>–</td><td>13%</td><td>–</td><td>23%</td></tr><tr><td>National Research (R)</td><td>February 17–19, 2025</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>10%</td><td>38%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>17%</td><td>8%</td><td>27%</td></tr><tr><td>OnMessage Inc.(R)</td><td>January 17–19, 2025</td><td>1,000 (LV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>4%</td><td>46%</td><td>–</td><td>1%</td><td>6%</td><td>9%</td><td>35%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Libertarian convention

Declared

• Anthony Hudson, truck driver and Republican candidate for Michigan's 8th congressional district in (/wiki/2024UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinMichigan#District8) (switched from Republican primary)

Independents

Declared

• Mike Duggan, former mayor of Detroit (2014–2026) • Karla Wagner, political organizer (previously ran as a Republican)

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate	Raised	Spent	Cash on hand
Mike Duggan (I)	$5,021,544	$2,421,709	$2,652,097
Source: Michigan Secretary of State

General election

Predictions

<table><thead><tr><th>Source</th><th>Ranking</th><th>As of</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>The Cook Political Report</td><td>Tossup</td><td>September 11, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Inside Elections</td><td>Tossup</td><td>August 28, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Sabato's Crystal Ball</td><td>Tossup</td><td>September 4, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Race to the WH</td><td>Tossup</td><td>September 11, 2025</td></tr></tbody></table>

Polling

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Jocelyn Benson (D)	John James (R)	Mike Duggan (I)	Other/Undecided	Margin
Race to the WH	through February 23, 2026	February 23, 2026	33.2%	33.9%	23.4%	9.5%	James +0.7%
Real Clear Politics	October 23, 2025 – January 6, 2026	January 6, 2026	32.5%	36.0%	20.5%	11.0%	James +3.5%
Average	32.9%	34.5%	22.0%	10.6%	James +1.6%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jocelyn Benson (D)	John James (R)	Mike Duggan (I)	Other	Undecided
Impact Research (D)	February 9–16, 2026	800 (LV)	± 3.5%	39%	36%	20%	–	5%
Glengariff Group	January 27 – February 2, 2026	– (LV)	–	28%	29%	30%	1%	12%
45%	41%	–	–	14%
32%	–	54%	–	14%
–	30%	58%	–	12%
600 (RV)	28%	28%	30%	1%	13%
45%	40%	–	–	15%
31%	–	53%	–	16%
–	30%	57%	–	13%
Glengariff Group	January 2–6, 2026	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	32%	34%	26%	–	8%
47%	45%	–	1%	7%
Mitchell Research	November 18–21, 2025	616 (LV)	± 3.7%	31%	37%	18%	–	14%
EPIC-MRA	November 6–11, 2025	600 (RV)	± 4.0%	33%	34%	20%	–	13%
Rosetta Stone Communications (R)	October 23–25, 2025	637 (LV)	± 3.9%	34%	39%	18%	–	9%
Schoen Cooperman Research (D)	October 9−14, 2025	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	30%	29%	26%	–	15%
Glengariff Group	May 5−8, 2025	600 (RV)	± 4.0%	35%	34%	22%	–	9%
38%	33%	21%	–	8%
Mitchell Research	March 13, 2025	688 (LV)	± 3.7%	37%	34%	16%	–	13%
Target Insyght	February 3–8, 2025	600 (V)	± 4.0%	42%	30%	21%	–	7%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jocelyn Benson (D)	Mike Cox (R)	Mike Duggan (I)	Undecided
Glengariff Group	January 2–6, 2026	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	34%	28%	31%	7%
Rosetta Stone Communications (R)	October 23–25, 2025	637 (LV)	± 3.9%	37%	33%	19%	11%
Glengariff Group	May 5−8, 2025	600 (RV)	± 4.0%	35%	27%	25%	13%
39%	26%	25%	10%
Mitchell Research	March 13, 2025	688 (LV)	± 3.7%	37%	35%	16%	12%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jocelyn Benson (D)	Aric Nesbitt (R)	Mike Duggan (I)	Undecided
Glengariff Group	January 2–6, 2026	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	35%	24%	32%	9%
Glengariff Group	May 5−8, 2025	600 (RV)	± 4.0%	36%	26%	25%	13%
40%	26%	25%	9%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jocelyn Benson (D)	Tom Leonard (R)	Mike Duggan (I)	Undecided
Glengariff Group	January 2–6, 2026	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	34%	24%	33%	8%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Chris Swanson (D)	John James (R)	Mike Duggan (I)	Undecided
Glengariff Group	May 5−8, 2025	600 (RV)	± 4.0%	30%	35%	25%	10%
33%	34%	26%	7%