The 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Michigan. Democratic state secretary of state Jocelyn Benson and Republican U.S. representative John James are the nominees for their respective parties. Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer is ineligible to seek a third term.
Primary elections were held on August 4. Benson won the Democratic nomination with 83.2% of the vote over Genesee County sheriff Chris Swanson. Endorsed by President Donald Trump, James won the Republican nomination with 50.1% of the vote over businessman Perry Johnson.
Republicans have not won a gubernatorial election in Michigan since 2014.
Background Michigan is a purple state in the heart of the Great Lakes and Rust Belt which consistently elected Democrats for president since 1992 until Republican nominee Donald Trump narrowly flipped the state in 2016. In 2020, 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 2022, Democrats held a narrow majority in the State Senate while Republicans held a narrow majority in the Michigan House of Representatives since 2024. According to the Morning Consult, which measures the popularity of governors across the country, Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer has a net +26 approval rating in Michigan as of September 2026.
In 2018, Gretchen Whitmer and her running mate Garlin Gilchrist won by 9.56%. In 2022, Whitmer and Gilchrist won by 10.53%.
The deadline for candidates to submit petitions to run for governor in the partisan primaries was Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jocelyn Benson, Michigan secretary of state (2019–present) Running mate: Winnie Brinks, majority leader of the Michigan Senate (2023–present) from the 29th district (2019–present) Eliminated in primary Chris Swanson, Genesee County sheriff (2020–present)
Disqualified Kim Thomas, auditor
Not on ballot
Kevin Hogan, biochemist and Green nominee for governor in 2022 Marni Sawicki, former mayor of Cape Coral, Florida (2013–2017)
Withdrawn Garlin Gilchrist, lieutenant governor of Michigan (2019–present) (running for Michigan Secretary of State)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) Dan Kildee, former U.S. representative from (2013–2025) Mallory McMorrow, state senator from the 8th district (2019–present) (ran for U.S. Senate) Gary Peters, U.S. senator (2015–present)
Endorsements
Debates and forums + 2026 Michigan Democratic Gubernatorial primary debates and forums Date Host Moderator Link Democratic DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Benson Swanson1 June 4, 2026 Fox 2 Detroit Roop Raj YouTube
Fundraising Italics indicate a withdrawn or disqualified candidate. Campaign finance reports as of July 19, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJocelyn Benson (D)$10,716,576$4,311,982$6,404,593Garlin Gilchrist (D)$1,316,061$1,302,624$13,436Marni Sawicki (D)$15,930$14,605$1,325Chris Swanson (D)$2,171,061$1,984,058$187,003Kim Thomas (D)$0$22,005$0Source: Michigan Secretary of State
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated JocelynBenson ChrisSwanson KimThomas Undecided MarginRace to the WHthrough July 11, 2026July 16, 202670.4%11.4%4.8%13.4%Benson +59.0%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JocelynBenson GarlinGilchrist ChrisSwanson Other UndecidedGlengariff GroupJuly 8–11, 2026500 (LV)± 4.4%72%–12%–16%Mitchell ResearchMay 1–7, 2026405 (LV)± 4.9%62%–8%–30%Glengariff GroupApril 17–19, 2026500 (LV)± 4.4%66%–8%3%23%Emerson CollegeApril 11–13, 2026519 (LV)± 4.3%52%–5%8%36% January 12, 2026Gilchrist withdraws from the race to run for Michigan Secretary of StateMitchell ResearchNovember 18–21, 2025261 (LV)± 6.1%48%12%5%–35%Rosetta Stone Communications (R)October 23–25, 2025287 (LV)± 5.8%58%15%6%–21%Impact Research (D)September 30 – October 6, 2025453 (LV)± 4.6%56%17%5%–22%Glengariff GroupMay 5−8, 2025600 (RV)± 4.0%59%7%8%–26%65%10%5%–20%Mitchell ResearchMarch 13, 2025303 (LV)± 5.6%46%13%11%–30%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JocelynBenson GarlinGilchrist DanaNessel ChrisSwanson UndecidedTarget InsyghtMarch 3–6, 2025344 (V)± 5.7%55%12%12%3%19%
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee John James, U.S. representative from (2023–present) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020 Running mate: Jay DeBoyer, state representative from the 63rd district (2023–present)
Eliminated in primary Perry Johnson, businessman, disqualified candidate for governor in 2022, and candidate for president in 2024
Disqualified Ralph Rebandt, pastor and candidate for governor in 2022 (endorsed Johnson)
Not on ballot
Joyce Gipson, advocate William Null, construction manager Evan Space, entrepreneur and former member of the National Guard
Withdrawn
Mike Cox, former Michigan Attorney General (2003–2011) and candidate for governor in 2010 (remained on ballot; endorsed James) Anthony Hudson, truck driver and candidate for in 2024 (switched to Libertarian convention) Tom Leonard, former speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives (2017–2019) from the 93rd district (2013–2019), nominee for attorney general in 2018 and candidate in 2022 (endorsed James) Aric Nesbitt, minority leader of the Michigan Senate (2023–present) from the 20th district (2019–present) (remained on ballot; endorsed James) Karla Wagner, political organizer (ran as an Independent; withdrew again)
Declined Tudor Dixon, conservative media personality and nominee for governor in 2022 Kevin Rinke, former car dealer and candidate for governor in 2022 (endorsed Johnson)
Endorsements
Debates and forums + 2026 Michigan Republican Gubernatorial primary debates and forums Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Cox James Johnson1July 8, 2026Fox 2 DetroitRoop RajYouTube 2 July 9, 2026 WOOD-TV Rick Albin YouTube
Fundraising Italics indicate a withdrawn or disqualified candidate. Campaign finance reports as of July 19, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handMike Cox (R)$7,641,829$6,778,906$862,922Anthony Hudson (R)$13,682$12,480$1,202John James (R)$5,507,746$4,165,126$1,342,619Perry Johnson (R)$30,808,204$29,598,184$1,188,625Tom Leonard (R)$1,076,397$983,805$92,592Aric Nesbitt (R)$3,629,701$3,392,477$237,224Ralph Rebandt (R)$1,011,082$985,799$25,283Karla Wagner (R)$4,092$2,671$1,421Source: Michigan Secretary of State
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated MikeCox JohnJames PerryJohnson UndecidedMargin270toWinJuly 30 – August 1, 2026August 3, 202611.0%45.0%27.0%17.0%James +18.0%Race to the WHthrough July 30, 2026August 3, 202614.6%43.4%26.9%15.1%James +16.5%Average12.8%44.2%27.0%16.0%James +17.2%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin MikeCox JohnJames PerryJohnson TomLeonard AricNesbitt Other UndecidedMitchell ResearchJuly 28–29, 2026332 (LV)± 5.34%13%50%22%–5%–10%Emerson CollegeJuly 26–27, 2026350 (LV)±5.2%13%48%33%–6%––9%40%32%–3%–17% July 17, 2026Cox withdraws from the race, endorses Jamesco/efficient (R)July 14–16, 2026773 (LV)± 3.5%21%36%23%–3%–17%co/efficient (R)June 30 – July 3, 20261,101 (LV)± 2.9%20%35%23%–4%–18%OnMessage Inc. (R)June 28–30, 2026800 (LV)–14%46%21%–––19% June 22, 2026Nesbitt withdraws from the race, endorses JamesStrategic National (R)June 10–14, 2026500 (LV)± 4.4%12%24%27%–6%–31%Susquehanna Polling & ResearchJune 9–14, 2026175 (LV)± 7.4%20%38%10%–3%5%24%Mitchell ResearchJune 11–13, 2026404 (LV)± 4.9%27%28%23%–4%–18%Tarrance Group (R)June 1–4, 2026500 (LV)± 4.4%22%38%26%–12%–2%TIPP Insights (R)May 20–23, 2026555 (LV)–20%31%19%–3%5%21%1892 Polling (R)May 12–14, 2026681 (LV)± 3.8%7%24%23%–7%–39%Mitchell ResearchMay 1–7, 2026400 (LV)± 4.9%19%32%23%–7%2%17%Glengariff GroupApril 21–24, 2026500 (LV)–10%37%20%3%7%6%20% April 23, 2026Leonard withdraws from the raceOnMessage Inc. (R)April 15–18, 2026400 (LV)–7%41%18%–5%––Emerson CollegeApril 11–13, 2026452 (LV)± 4.6%10%20%21%4%3%3%39%1892 Polling (R)March 25–26, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%6%26%21%1%4%1%42%JMC AnalyticsMarch 21–23, 2026450 (LV)± 4.6%6%23%20%3%5%–43%OnMessage Inc. (R)March 16–19, 2026509 (LV)± 4.3%10%37%19%1%4%–30%1892 Polling (R)February 2026– (V)–5%44%4%2%4%0%35% January 26, 2026Johnson enters the raceMitchell ResearchNovember 18–21, 2025255 (LV)± 6.1%11%48%–5%2%1%33%Rosetta Stone Communications (R)October 23–25, 2025252 (LV)± 6.2%13%44%4%3%6%5%25%Plymouth Union Public (R)October 8−9, 2025200 (LV)± 4.0%7%41%–<5%<5%––Target InsyghtMarch 3–6, 2025336 (V)± 5.7%5%57%1%–13%–23%National Research (R)February 17–19, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%10%38%––17%8%27%OnMessage Inc.(R)January 17–19, 20251,000 (LV)± 3.1%4%46%–1%6%9%35%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeCox TudorDixon JohnJames PerryJohnson TomLeonard AricNesbitt UndecidedRosetta Stone Communications (R)October 23–25, 2025252 (LV)± 6.2%10%33%25%––––Glengariff GroupMay 5−8, 2025600 (RV)± 4.0%11%20%42%––5%22%10%24%44%––4%18%Mitchell ResearchMarch 13, 2025281 (LV)± 5.8%10%30%31%8%1%5%15%
Results
Libertarian convention Candidates Nominee Anthony Hudson, truck driver and Republican candidate for in 2024 (switched from Republican primary) Running mate: Beau Parmenter, businessman
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handAnthony Hudson (L)$25,183$21,245$3,937Source: Michigan Secretary of State
Green convention Candidates Nominee Douglas Campbell, engineer and perennial candidate Running mate: Bobbie Clay
U.S. Taxpayers convention Candidates Nominee Donna Brandenburg, businesswoman and U.S. Taxpayers Party nominee for governor in 2022 Running mate: Robert Donald Cowper II
Independents Candidates Withdrawn Mike Duggan, former mayor of Detroit (2014–2026) Karla Wagner, political organizer (previously ran as a Republican)
Fundraising Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate. Campaign finance reports as of July 20, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handMike Duggan (I)$5,073,806$4,993,698$80,108Karla Wagner (I)$4,092$2,671$1,421Source: Michigan Secretary of State
General election
Campaign In September 2026, the Libertarian Party of Michigan formally disavowed connections and support to Anthony Hudson, their gubernatorial nominee. The party stated that Hudson's campaign was promoting positions that contradicted their purpose as a party, while Hudson responded and said that he was comfortable with their disavowal. Given that this happened after the withdrawal deadline had passed, Hudson's name will still appear listed as the party's nominee on the election ballot. Also in September 2026, it was revealed that Hudson's running mate, Beau Parmenter, had been arrested that month and charged with felony larceny by conversion for an incident from May 2025.
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportJuly 12, 2026Decision Desk HQOctober 4, 2026Fox NewsJuly 23, 2026Inside ElectionsJune 25, 2026RealClearPoliticsAugust 13, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallJuly 23, 2026Silver Bulletin October 3, 2026
Post-primary endorsements
Debate + 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election debates and forums Date Host Moderator Link Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Benson James1 October 6, 2026 WOOD-TV Rick AlbinAmber Krycka YouTube 2October 15, 2026WDIV-TVJason Colthorp
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of August 24, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJocelyn Benson (D)$12,508,001$6,573,760$5,934,240John James (R)$6,444,200$5,378,585$1,065,614Anthony Hudson (L)$25,183$21,245$3,937Source: Michigan Secretary of State
Polling Aggregate polls