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2026 Michigan gubernatorial election

Updated: Wikipedia source

2026 Michigan gubernatorial election

The 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election will be on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Michigan. Incumbent Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer is ineligible to seek re-election to a third nonconsecutive term. Primary elections will take place on August 4, 2026. This is one of five Democratic-held governorships up for election in 2026 in a state won by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Democratic secretary of state Jocelyn Benson and Republican U . representative John James are the frontrunners for their respective nominations. Former Detroit mayor Mike Duggan initially ran as an independent, but withdrew from the race in May 2026.

Infobox

Party
Democratic

Tables

· Democratic primary › Fundraising
Candidate
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Raised
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Spent
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Cash on hand
Jocelyn Benson (D)
Jocelyn Benson (D)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Jocelyn Benson (D)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$5,744,202
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$2,189,133
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$3,555,069
Garlin Gilchrist (D)
Garlin Gilchrist (D)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Garlin Gilchrist (D)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$1,303,043
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$1,040,279
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$262,764
Marni Sawicki (D)
Marni Sawicki (D)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Marni Sawicki (D)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$15,930
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$14,605
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$1,325
Chris Swanson (D)
Chris Swanson (D)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Chris Swanson (D)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$1,448,651
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$1,178,225
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$270,425
Source: Michigan Secretary of State
Source: Michigan Secretary of State
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Source: Michigan Secretary of State
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
· Democratic primary › Polling
270toWin
270toWin
Source of poll aggregation
270toWin
Dates administered
April 16 – May 12, 2026
Dates updated
May 12, 2026
Jocelyn Benson
60 %
Chris Swanson
7 %
Kim Thomas
5 %
Undecided
28 %
Margin
Benson +53 %
Source of poll aggregation
Dates administered
Dates updated
Jocelyn Benson
Chris Swanson
Kim Thomas
Undecided
Margin
270toWin
April 16 – May 12, 2026
May 12, 2026
60 %
7 %
5 %
28 %
Benson +53 %
· Democratic primary › Polling
Mitchell Research
Mitchell Research
Poll source
Mitchell Research
Date(s) administered
May 1–7, 2026
Sample size
405 (LV)
Margin of error
± 4 %
Jocelyn Benson
62%
Garlin Gilchrist
–
Chris Swanson
8%
Other
–
Undecided
30%
Glengariff Group
Glengariff Group
Poll source
Glengariff Group
Date(s) administered
April 17–19, 2026
Sample size
500 (LV)
Margin of error
± 4 %
Jocelyn Benson
66%
Garlin Gilchrist
–
Chris Swanson
8%
Other
3%
Undecided
23%
Emerson College
Emerson College
Poll source
Emerson College
Date(s) administered
April 11–13, 2026
Sample size
519 (LV)
Margin of error
± 4 %
Jocelyn Benson
52%
Garlin Gilchrist
–
Chris Swanson
5%
Other
8%
Undecided
36%
Mitchell Research
Mitchell Research
Poll source
Mitchell Research
Date(s) administered
November 18–21, 2025
Sample size
261 (LV)
Margin of error
± 6 %
Jocelyn Benson
48%
Garlin Gilchrist
12%
Chris Swanson
5%
Other
–
Undecided
35%
Rosetta Stone Communications (R)
Rosetta Stone Communications (R)
Poll source
Rosetta Stone Communications (R)
Date(s) administered
October 23–25, 2025
Sample size
287 (LV)
Margin of error
± 5 %
Jocelyn Benson
58%
Garlin Gilchrist
15%
Chris Swanson
6%
Other
–
Undecided
21%
Impact Research (D)
Impact Research (D)
Poll source
Impact Research (D)
Date(s) administered
September 30 – October 6, 2025
Sample size
453 (LV)
Margin of error
± 4 %
Jocelyn Benson
56%
Garlin Gilchrist
17%
Chris Swanson
5%
Other
–
Undecided
22%
Glengariff Group
Glengariff Group
Poll source
Glengariff Group
Date(s) administered
May 5−8, 2025
Sample size
600 (RV)
Margin of error
± 4 %
Jocelyn Benson
59%
Garlin Gilchrist
7%
Chris Swanson
8%
Other
–
Undecided
26%
65%
65%
Poll source
65%
Date(s) administered
10%
Sample size
5%
Margin of error
–
Jocelyn Benson
20%
Mitchell Research
Mitchell Research
Poll source
Mitchell Research
Date(s) administered
March 13, 2025
Sample size
303 (LV)
Margin of error
± 5 %
Jocelyn Benson
46%
Garlin Gilchrist
13%
Chris Swanson
11%
Other
–
Undecided
30%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Jocelyn Benson
Garlin Gilchrist
Chris Swanson
Other
Undecided
Mitchell Research
May 1–7, 2026
405 (LV)
± 4 %
62%
–
8%
–
30%
Glengariff Group
April 17–19, 2026
500 (LV)
± 4 %
66%
–
8%
3%
23%
Emerson College
April 11–13, 2026
519 (LV)
± 4 %
52%
–
5%
8%
36%
January 12, 2026
Gilchrist withdraws from the race to run for Michigan Secretary of State
Mitchell Research
November 18–21, 2025
261 (LV)
± 6 %
48%
12%
5%
–
35%
Rosetta Stone Communications (R)
October 23–25, 2025
287 (LV)
± 5 %
58%
15%
6%
–
21%
Impact Research (D)
September 30 – October 6, 2025
453 (LV)
± 4 %
56%
17%
5%
–
22%
Glengariff Group
May 5−8, 2025
600 (RV)
± 4 %
59%
7%
8%
–
26%
65%
10%
5%
–
20%
Mitchell Research
March 13, 2025
303 (LV)
± 5 %
46%
13%
11%
–
30%
Target Insyght
Target Insyght
Poll source
Target Insyght
Date(s) administered
March 3–6, 2025
Sample size
344 (V)
Margin of error
± 5 %
Jocelyn Benson
55%
Garlin Gilchrist
12%
Dana Nessel
12%
Chris Swanson
3%
Undecided
19%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Jocelyn Benson
Garlin Gilchrist
Dana Nessel
Chris Swanson
Undecided
Target Insyght
March 3–6, 2025
344 (V)
± 5 %
55%
12%
12%
3%
19%
· Republican primary › Fundraising
Candidate
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Raised
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Spent
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Cash on hand
Mike Cox (R)
Mike Cox (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Mike Cox (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$5,113,295
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$975,981
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$4,137,314
Anthony Hudson (R)
Anthony Hudson (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Anthony Hudson (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$13,682
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$12,480
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$1,202
John James (R)
John James (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
John James (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$4,489,826
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$2,041,111
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$2,448,715
Tom Leonard (R)
Tom Leonard (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Tom Leonard (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$937,024
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$227,730
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$709,293
Aric Nesbitt (R)
Aric Nesbitt (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Aric Nesbitt (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$3,058,523
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$848,394
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$2,210,129
Ralph Rebandt (R)
Ralph Rebandt (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Ralph Rebandt (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$972,197
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$166,825
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$805,372
Karla Wagner (R)
Karla Wagner (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Karla Wagner (R)
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$4,092
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$2,671
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
$1,421
Source: Michigan Secretary of State
Source: Michigan Secretary of State
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Source: Michigan Secretary of State
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

References

  1. Joey Andrews, HD-38 (2023–present) Noah Arbit, HD-20 (2023–present) Felicia Brabec, former HD-33 (2021–2024) Kelly Br
  2. $13,300 of this total has been self-funded by Sawicki
  3. Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  4. Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
  5. Mike Duggan, Abdul El-Sayed, and Garlin Gilchrist with a combined 3%
  6. Kim Thomas with 5%; Kevin Hogan with 2%; Marni Sawicki with 1%
  7. Among "definite voters"
  8. $3 million of this total has been self-funded by Cox
  9. $105,000 of this total has been self-funded by Leonard
  10. $811,051 of this total has been self-funded by Rebandt
  11. Ralph Rebandt with 0 %
  12. Anthony Hudson with 2%; Ralph Rebandt with 0%
  13. Ralph Rebandt with 1%; "Someone else" with 5%
  14. Joyce Gipson, Ralph Rebandt, and Evan Space with 1%; Karla Wangner with 0%
  15. Ralph Rebandt with 1%
  16. Ralph Rebandt with 0%
  17. Kevin Rinke with 4%; Ralph Rebandt with 1%
  18. Kevin Rinke with 3%; "Other" with 6%
  19. Woronchak held this seat as a Republican, and was then elected to the Wayne County Commission's 13th district (2005–2018
  20. Brian Banks, HD-1 (2013–2017) and convicted felon (Democratic) Wendell Byrd, HD-3 (2015–2021) (Democratic) Phil Cavana
Image
Source: —
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