2026 Michigan Senate election

Last updated

2026 Michigan Senate election
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←  2022 November 3, 2026 (2026-11-03)2030 →
38 seats in the Michigan Senate
20 seats needed for a majority
  3x4.svg Aric Nesbitt speaking (12210193175) (cropped).jpg
Leader Winnie Brinks
(term-limited)		 Aric Nesbitt
(term-limited)
Party Democratic Republican
Leader sinceJanuary 1, 2023January 11, 2023
Leader's seat 29th–Grand Rapids 20th–Porter
Last election20 seats, 50.41%18 seats, 48.75%
Current seats1918
Seats neededIncrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 2
2026 Michigan Senate election.svg
Results:
     Democratic incumbent     Democratic incumbent retiring
     Republican incumbent     Republican incumbent retiring
     Vacant
Incumbent Majority Leader

Winnie Brinks
Democratic



The 2026 Michigan Senate election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect all 38 members to the Michigan Senate. The election will coincide with elections for all of Michigan's constitutional offices; governor, attorney general, secretary of state and all 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives. Seats in the Michigan Senate were last elected in 2022.

Contents

Background

Under the Michigan Constitution, state representatives and senators are limited to twelve years combined in either chamber of the legislature, after voters approved on November 8 a constitutional amendment that revised term limits. [1] Michigan has what are considered the toughest term limits in the country. [2]

In the previous election, Democrats gained four seats, winning control of the chamber for the first time since 1984. [3]

In 2023, several districts in the metro Detroit area were struck down as unconstitutional and the redistricting panel was ordered to draw new maps that could be used. A final map was chosen in July 2024 and new district lines will be in effect for the 2026 elections. [4] [a]

Outgoing incumbents

Term limited

In total, 8 Democrats and 10 Republicans are term-limited.

Retiring

Seeking other office

Vacated

Special election

District 35

Following the resignation of Kristen McDonald Rivet, who resigned to take a seat in the United States House of Representatives, a special election will take place to fill the vacancy. Primary elections will take place on February 3, 2026 and the general election will happen on May 5, 2026. [7]

Current declared candidates include Democrats Pamela Pugh, President of the Michigan State Board of Education and candidate for Michigan's 8th congressional district in 2024, and Brandell Adams, the current chair of Saginaw County Democrats and former Bridgeport Township trustee. The two are also joined by Republican Chadwick Twillman. Republican state representatives Timmy Beson and Bill G. Schuette are also viewed as potential candidates. [8] [9]

Results summary

† - Incumbent not seeking re-election or term-limited

District Incumbent PartyElected SenatorOutcome
1st Erika Geiss†TBD
2nd Sylvia Santana†TBD
3rd Stephanie Chang†TBD
4th Darrin Camilleri TBD
5th None (open seat)TBD
6th Mary Cavanagh TBD
7th Jeremy Moss†TBD
8th Mallory McMorrow† [q] TBD
Dayna Polehanki [r]
9th Michael Webber TBD
10th Paul Wojno†TBD
11th Veronica Klinefelt TBD
12th Kevin Hertel TBD
13th Rosemary Bayer†TBD
14th Sue Shink TBD
15th Jeff Irwin†TBD
16th Joe Bellino TBD
17th Jonathan Lindsey TBD
18th Thomas Albert TBD
19th Sean McCann†TBD
20th Aric Nesbitt†TBD
21st Sarah Anthony TBD
22nd Lana Theis†TBD
23rd Jim Runestad†TBD
24th Ruth Johnson†TBD
25th Dan Lauwers†TBD
26th Kevin Daley†TBD
27th John Cherry TBD
28th Sam Singh TBD
29th Winnie Brinks†TBD
30th Mark Huizenga TBD
31st Roger Victory†TBD
32nd Jon Bumstead†TBD
33rd Rick Outman†TBD
34th Roger Hauck TBD
35th VacantTBD
36th Michele Hoitenga TBD
37th John Damoose TBD
38th Ed McBroom†TBD

Detailed results

District 2

The incumbent Democrat Sylvia Santana, who was re-elected with 67.99% of the vote in 2022, is term limited. Dearborn representative Erin Byrnes and Allen Park representative Tullio Liberati Jr. are running to succeed her. [10]

District 5

The incumbent Democrat Dayna Polehanki, who was re-elected with 61.07% of the vote in 2022, is running in the newly redistricted 8th District. Plymouth Democratic state representative Matt Koleszar is running to succeed her. [11]

District 8

The incumbent Democrat Mallory McMorrow, who was re-elected with 78.94% of the vote in 2022, is retiring to run for U.S. Senate. Fellow Democratic state senator Dayna Polehanki was moved into this district as a result of redistricting.

District 10

The incumbent Democrat Paul Wojno, who was re-elected with 67.70% of the vote in 2022, is term limited. Democrats running to succeed him are Berkley state representative Natalie Price and Royal Oak's Amanda Treppa. [12]

District 13

The incumbent Democrat Rosemary Bayer, who was re-elected with 57.17%, is retiring. [6] Current deputy Oakland County executive Sean Carlson of Commerce Township is running to replace her. [13]

Endorsements

Sean Carlson
State Senators

District 15

The incumbent Democrat Jeff Irwin, who was re-elected with 74.15% of the vote in 2022, is term limited. Former Democratic state representative Felicia Brabec is running to succeed him. [15]

District 19

The incumbent Democrat Sean McCann, who was re-elected with 59.79% of the vote in 2022, is term limited and running for U.S. Congress. Democratic state representative Julie Rogers is running to succeed him. [16]

District 20

The incumbent Republican Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, who was re-elected with 60.95% of the vote in 2022, is term limited and running for governor. Casco Township treasurer and Republican Kenny Clevenger is running to succeed him. [17]

District 22

The incumbent Republican, Lana Theis, who was re-elected with 60.68% of the vote in 2022, is term limited. Livingston County Sheriff and Republican Mike Murphy is running to succeed her. [18]

District 23

The incumbent Republican, Jim Runestad, who was re-elected with 59.38 of the vote in 2022, is term limited. Republican state representative Donni Steele of Orion Township is running to succeed him [19]

District 29

The incumbent Democratic Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, who was re-elected with 60.30% of the vote in 2022, is term limited. East Grand Rapids Democratic state representative Phil Skaggs is running to succeed her. [20]

District 30

The incumbent Republican, Mark Huizenga, who was re-elected with 49.18% of the vote in 2022, is eligible for a second full term, after being initially elected via the 2021 Michigan Senate special election. Grand Rapids democrat Richard Kreuzer is running on the democratic ticket.

District 33

The incumbent Republican, Rick Outman, who was re-elected with 66.25% of the vote in 2022, is term limited. Sand Lake Republican Tom Norton is running to succeed him.

Notes

  1. ↑ The map being used in the infobox does not display the updated district lines
  2. ↑ Previously represented the 6th district from 2019-2023
  3. ↑ Previously represented the 3rd district from 2019-2023
  4. ↑ Previously represented the 1st district from 2019-2023
  5. ↑ Previously represented the 11th district from 2019-2023
  6. ↑ Previously represented the 9th district from 2019-2023
  7. ↑ Previously represented the 18th district from 2019-2023
  8. ↑ Previously represented the 20th district from 2019-2023
  9. ↑ Previously represented the 26th district from 2019-2023
  10. ↑ Previously represented the 15th district from 2019-2023
  11. ↑ Previously represented the 14th district from 2019-2023
  12. ↑ Previously represented the 31st district from 2019-2023
  13. ↑ Previously represented the 30th district from 2019-2023
  14. ↑ Previously represented the 34th district from 2019-2023
  15. ↑ Previously represented the 12th district from 2019-2023
  16. ↑ Previously represented the 13th district from 2019-2023
  17. ↑ Redistricted into the 10th district
  18. ↑ Redistricted from the 5th district

References

  1. ↑ DesOrmeau, Taylor (November 9, 2022). "Proposal 1: Voters pass plan to shorten term limits, require politicians to disclose finances". mlive. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  2. ↑ Bill Ballenger (October 11, 2016). "Michigan's Term Limits Are Toughest in Nation". The Ballenger Report. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  3. ↑ Perkins, Tom (November 17, 2022). "How Michigan Democrats took control for the first time in decades". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  4. ↑ King, Jon (July 26, 2024). "Federal court grants final approval to new Michigan Senate districts". Michigan Advance . Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  5. ↑ Davidson, Kyle (July 14, 2025). "Facing term limits, McCann to join Democratic race for Michigan's 4th Congressional District". Michigan Advance . Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Solis, Ben (August 11, 2025). "Bayer will not seek reelection in Southeast Michigan state Senate district". Michigan Advance. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  7. ↑ Hendrickson, Clara (August 29, 2025). "Gov. Gretchen Whitmer calls special election to fill long-vacant Michigan Senate seat". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  8. ↑ Maddox, Tiffany (July 22, 2025). "Candidates enter race for Michigan's open 35th Senate District seat". WJRT . Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  9. ↑ Solis, Ben (July 21, 2025). "Pugh to focus on economic opportunity, education in bid for still empty 35th State Senate seat". Michigan Advance . Retrieved July 23, 2025. State Rep. Timmy Beson (R-Bay City) has said he intends to run for the seat, and state Rep. Bill Schuette (R-Midland) is said to be considering the race, as well.
  10. ↑ Smith, Nick (June 30, 2025). "Liberati files for 2nd Senate District, sets up primary with Byrnes". Gongwer. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  11. ↑ Sergent, Katie (April 10, 2025). "Rep. Matt Koleszar announces campaign for Michigan Senate's open 5th District". WWMT . Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  12. ↑ Smith, Nick (July 23, 2025). "Price files to run for 10th Senate District". Gongwer. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  13. ↑ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  14. ↑ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  15. ↑ Meerschaert, Kevin (March 7, 2025). "Felicia Brabec kicks off 2026 bid for Michigan Senate". WEMU . Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  16. ↑ Arney, Michael (July 22, 2025). "State Representative Julie Rogers running for state Senate". WKZO . Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  17. ↑ HP STAFF (August 21, 2025). "Clevenger to run for Michigan Senate District 20" . Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  18. ↑ Wellington, Paula (March 25, 2025). "Mike Murphy announces candidacy for Michigan state Senate seat". CBS News . Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Steele files to run for open state Senate seat, leaving House seat vulnerable • Michigan Advance". Michigan Advance. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  20. ↑ Smith, Nick (July 3, 2025). "Skaggs announces campaign for 29th Senate District". Gongwer. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
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