2026 Michigan gubernatorial election

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2026 Michigan gubernatorial election
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  3x4.svg 3x4.svg Mike Duggan 8r4a7149 54353782077 (1).jpg
NomineeTBDTBD Mike Duggan
Party Democratic Republican Independent
Incumbent Governor

Gretchen Whitmer
Democratic



The 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Michigan. Incumbent Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist are term-limited and are ineligible to seek 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.

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Potential

Declined

Endorsements

Jocelyn Benson
U.S. Representatives
State legislators
Local officials
Organizations
Chris Swanson
Organizations
Declined to endorse
Statewide officials

Polling

Hypothetical polling
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Jocelyn
Benson		Garlin
Gilchrist		Dana
Nessel		Chris
Swanson		Undecided
Mitchell Research [17] [A] March 13, 2025303 (LV)± 5.6%46%13%–11%30%
Target Insyght [18] March 3-6, 2025344 (V)± 5.7%55%12%12%3%19%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Polling

Hypothetical polling
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Mike
Cox		Tudor
Dixon		John
James		Tom
Leonard		Aric
Nesbitt		Kevin
Rinke		OtherUndecided
Mitchell Research [17] [A] March 13, 2025281 (LV)± 5.8%10%30%31%1%5%–8% [b] 15%
Target Insyght [32] March 3-6, 2025336 (V)± 5.7%5%–57%–13%–1% [c] 23%
National Research (R) [33] [B] February 17–19, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%10%–38%–17%–8%27%
OnMessage Inc.(R) [34] [C] January 17–19, 20251,000 (LV)± 3.1%4%–46%1%6%3%6%35%

Independents

Candidates

Declared

Endorsements

Mike Duggan
State representatives
Local officials
Individuals

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [38] TossupJanuary 23, 2025
Inside Elections [39] BattlegroundFebruary 6, 2025

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Jocelyn Benson vs. Dick DeVos vs. Mike Duggan

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Jocelyn
Benson (D)		Dick
DeVos (R)		Mike
Duggan (I)		Undecided
EPIC-MRA [29] February 3-8, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%31%31%23%15%

Jocelyn Benson vs. Tudor Dixon vs. Mike Duggan

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Jocelyn
Benson (D)		Tudor
Dixon (R)		Mike
Duggan (I)		Undecided
Mitchell Research [17] [A] March 13, 2025688 (LV)± 3.7%38%36%16%10%

Jocelyn Benson vs. Mike Cox vs. Mike Duggan

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Jocelyn
Benson (D)		Mike
Cox (R)		Mike
Duggan (I)		Undecided
Mitchell Research [17] [A] March 13, 2025688 (LV)± 3.7%37%35%16%12%

Jocelyn Benson vs. John James vs. Mike Duggan

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Jocelyn
Benson (D)		John
James (R)		Mike
Duggan (I)		Undecided
Mitchell Research [17] [A] March 13, 2025688 (LV)± 3.7%37%34%16%13%
Target Insyght [40] February 3-8, 2025600 (V)± 4.0%42%30%21%7%

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ↑ Perry Johnson with 8%
  3. ↑ Perry Johnson with 1%
Partisan clients
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Poll commissioned by MIRS
  2. ↑ Poll sponsored by GOPAC, which supports Nesbitt
  3. ↑ Poll sponsored by Harbor Strategic Public Affairs

References

  1. ↑ Hendrickson, Clara (January 22, 2025). "Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State, announces run for Michigan governor". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  2. ↑ Kamisar, Ben (March 11, 2025). "Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist launches a run for governor, setting up a major 2026 race". NBC News . Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ Cappelletti, Joey (February 6, 2025). "Chris Swanson, prominent sheriff and Democrat, announces run for Michigan governor". Associated Press . Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Schuster, Simon (November 11, 2024). "Has Michigan governor race begun? Duggan spurs speculation. Here's who might run". Bridge Michigan . Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  5. ↑ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (March 21, 2025). "Morning Digest, sponsored by Liftoff Campaigns: How Dick Durbin plans to decide whether to seek a sixth term". The Downballot. Retrieved March 21, 2025. Former Democratic Rep. Andy Levin tells Inside Elections' Jacob Rubashkin that he's received encouragement to run for...Senate, governor, attorney general, and two different House districts—the 10th and 11th.
  6. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg won't seek US Senate seat in Michigan, leaving door wide open for 2028 run". AP News . March 13, 2025. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  7. ↑ Roth, Andrew (February 20, 2024). "Swanson 'absolutely' foresees 2026 bid for governor, while Kildee rules out run". Michigan Advance . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  8. ↑ Kamisar, Ben (April 2, 2025). "Mallory McMorrow jumps into Michigan's Senate race with a call for change in the Democratic Party". NBC News . Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  9. ↑ Burke, Melissa Nann. "Michigan's Gary Peters won't seek reelection to U.S. Senate. Here's why". The Detroit News . Archived from the original on January 28, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Bournonville, Alexandria (January 23, 2025). "Michigan Dems show support for Benson after announcing run for governor". WJMN-TV . Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  11. ↑ Marquez, Alexandra (January 23, 2025). "Emily's List endorses Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's bid for governor". NBC News . Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  12. ↑ "End Citizens United Endorses Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for Michigan Governor". End Citizens United. January 23, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  13. ↑ https://www.votemamapac.org/candidates
  14. ↑ "UFCW 951 Endorses Jocelyn Benson for Governor". facebook. March 11, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Ball, Hannah (February 7, 2025). "Swanson announces run for Governor". Tri-City Times. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  16. ↑ Lengel, Allan (January 10, 2025). "Michigan Gov. Whitmer Won't Endorse Lt. Gov. Gilchrist or Anyone Else For Governor in Primary". Deadline Detroit. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 "Benson-James/Dixon Top Candidates for Governor" (PDF). RealClearPolitics. March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Poll: Jocelyn Benson Dominates Mike Duggan in Governor's Race". Deadline Detroit. March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  19. ↑ Foster, Wells (April 15, 2025). "Former AG Mike Cox announces run for governor". WILX . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  20. ↑ Jeltema, Ryan (February 13, 2025). "Republican from Grand Blanc Township announces run for governor". WJRT-TV . Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  21. ↑ Powers, Sara (April 7, 2025). "Rep. John James announces run for Michigan governor". WDIV-TV . Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  22. ↑ Buss, Kaitlyn (January 14, 2025). "Top GOP lawmaker launches run for governor". The Detroit News . Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  23. ↑ Nichols, Anna. "Gun advocates gather on the Michigan Capitol lawn to slam Democrats' gun reforms". Michigan Advance . Retrieved February 8, 2025. At the event, William Null announced he'd try to run for governor of Michigan in 2026.
  24. ↑ Skubick, Tim (August 14, 2024). "Republican Tudor Dixon not ruling out running for governor in 2026 race". WJBK . Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  25. ↑ Crisp, Elizabeth (March 18, 2025). "Tudor Dixon considering bid for Senate, Michigan governor". The Hill . Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  26. ↑ Burke, Melissa Nann; Mauger, Craig (January 28, 2025). "Here's who could run for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat in 2026 ― and who's already out". The Detroit News . Retrieved January 28, 2025. Johnson confirmed he was considering a bid for governor
  27. ↑ Skubick, Tim (November 26, 2024). "Add another name for guv". The Alpena News . Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  28. 1 2 Skubick, Tim (November 8, 2024). "The next Michigan governor - there's no shortage of contenders, says Lansing insider". WJBK . Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  29. 1 2 Spangler, Todd (February 11, 2025). "Michigan poll: Democrats face uncertain road in 2026 races". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  30. ↑ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (November 15, 2024). "Morning Digest: It's game on for one of the biggest races of 2026". The Downballot. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  31. ↑ Finley, Nolan (November 30, 2024). "Duggan will trigger early start to 2026 governor's race". The Detroit News . Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Poll: Jocelyn Benson Dominates Mike Duggan in Governor's Race". Deadline Detroit. March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  33. ↑ "GOPAC's early poll of next year's GOP primary for governor of Michigan shows Rep. John James beating its endorsed candidate, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, 38-17. The memo argues Nesbitt will pull ahead once voters learn more about him". March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025– via Bluesky.
  34. ↑ Sellek, John (January 29, 2025). "MIGOV Poll Shows U.S. Rep. John James Leading GOP Primary for Governor". Harbor Strategic Public Affairs.
  35. ↑ Epstein, Reid (December 4, 2024). "Detroit's Mayor, a Democrat, Will Run for Michigan Governor as an Independent". The New York Times . Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  36. 1 2 Robinson, Sam (December 5, 2024). "Knives out: Benson, Duggan fire opening shots in Michigan governor's race". Detroit One Million– via Substack.
  37. ↑ LeBlanc, Beth; Mauger, Craig (December 4, 2024). "Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan launches independent campaign for governor of Michigan". The Detroit News . Retrieved January 10, 2025. Ford Motor Co. issued a statement from Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. endorsing Duggan's independent bid
  38. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Poll: Jocelyn Benson Dominates Mike Duggan in Governor's Race". Deadline Detroit. March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
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