# 2022 Michigan Secretary of State election

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vte :
The 2022 Michigan Secretary of State election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the Secretary of State of Michigan. Incumbent Democrat Jocelyn Benson decisively won reelection to a second term, defeating Republican Kristina Karamo by a 14 percentage point margin.
Some analysts originally predicted for the race to be competitive, especially during the final days, but Benson's performance seemingly outperformed the polls following the election. The results held the largest margin in the 2022 state elections, as well as the worst performance by Republican candidate in the Secretary of State election since 1990. It was also the first time since 1990 that a Democratic candidate won re-election.

## Background

The position of Secretary of State of Michigan is responsible for overseeing elections in the state. Benson, a Democrat, was first elected to the position in 2018. She received national attention in her position following Joe Biden's victory in the state in the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump's campaign contested Biden's victory in Michigan and filed a lawsuit over the counting of absentee ballots.
The race for Michigan Secretary of State in 2022 received national attention over its potential impact on how the state would oversee the 2024 presidential election there.

## Democratic Party
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Jocelyn Benson, incumbent secretary of state

### Endorsements

Organizations
* American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 25
* American Federation of Teachers
* Michigan Democratic Party
* United Auto Workers

## Republican Party
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Kristina Karamo, activist and educator

#### Eliminated at convention

* Cindy Berry, Chesterfield Township clerk
* Beau LaFave, member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 108th district
* Cathleen Postmus, Plainfield Township clerk

#### Declined

* Ann Bollin, member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 42nd district
* Meghan Reckling, Livingston County Republican Party chair

### Endorsements

Executive officials
* Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States (2017–2021)
State officials
* Ruth Johnson, former Michigan Secretary of State
Organizations
* Michigan Republican Party

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Leans D | November 3, 2022 |
| Elections Daily | Likely D | November 7, 2022 |

### Post-primary endorsements

Executive officials
* Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States (2009–2017)
U.S. Representatives
* Adam Kinzinger, U.S. Representative for Illinois's 16th congressional district (2011–2023) (Republican)
Newspapers
* Detroit Free Press
* The Michigan Daily
Organizations
* Human Rights Campaign
* National Wildlife Federation
Organizations
* America First Secretary of State Coalition

### Polling

Graphical summary
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jocelyn Benson (D) | Kristina Karamo (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Cygnal (R) | November 1–4, 2022 | 1,603 (LV) | ± 2.5% | 49% | 44% | 2% | 6% |
| Mitchell Research | November 3, 2022 | 658 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 51% | 40% | 2% | 7% |
| Cygnal (R) | October 31 – November 2, 2022 | 1,754 (LV) | ± 2.3% | 49% | 42% | 3% | 6% |
| EPIC-MRA | October 28 – November 1, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 50% | 41% | 3% | 6% |
| Cygnal (R) | October 27–31, 2022 | 1,584 (LV) | ± 2.5% | 50% | 40% | 3% | 7% |
| Cygnal (R) | October 25–29, 2022 | 1,543 (LV) | ± 2.5% | 50% | 39% | 3% | 8% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc. | October 26–28, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 49% | 39% | 5% | 7% |
| Cygnal (R) | October 23–27, 2022 | 1,822 (LV) | ± 2.3% | 49% | 41% | 3% | 8% |
| Cygnal (R) | October 21–25, 2022 | 1,378 (LV) | ± 2.6% | 50% | 40% | 3% | 8% |
| Cygnal (R) | October 19–23, 2022 | 1,459 (LV) | ± 2.6% | 48% | 41% | 3% | 8% |
| Cygnal (R) | October 17–21, 2022 | 1,904 (LV) | ± 2.3% | 49% | 39% | 3% | 9% |
| Mitchell Research | October 19, 2022 | 541 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 49% | 40% | 2% | 9% |
| Cygnal (R) | October 15–19, 2022 | 1,793 (LV) | ± 2.3% | 48% | 40% | 4% | 9% |
| CNN/SSRS | October 13–18, 2022 | 901 (RV) | ± 4.2% | 54% | 41% | 5% | 1% |
| CNN/SSRS | October 13–18, 2022 | 651 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 51% | 47% | 1% | – |
| Cygnal (R) | October 12–14, 2022 | 640 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 48% | 42% | 3% | 7% |
| EPIC-MRA | October 6–12, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 47% | 37% | 4% | 12% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc. | September 26–29, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 47% | 29% | 8% | 14% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R) | September 24–28, 2022 | 1,075 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 50% | 45% | 4% | 2% |
| EPIC-MRA | September 15–19, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 51% | 37% | – | 12% |
| EPIC-MRA | September 7–13, 2022 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 48% | 40% | 7% | 5% |
| EPIC-MRA | August 18–23, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 44% | 38% | – | 18% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc. | July 5–8, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 46% | 39% | – | 15% |
| Target Insyght | May 26–27, 2022 | 600 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 56% | 23% | – | 22% |
| EPIC-MRA | May 11–17, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 47% | 38% | – | 15% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc. | January 3–7, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 46% | 32% | – | 22% |

### Results

* Democratic — +10-12.5%
* Democratic — +7.5-10%
* Democratic — +5-7.5%
* Democratic — +2.5-5%
* Democratic — +0-2.5%
* Republican — +0-2.5%
* Republican — +2.5-5%
* Republican — +5-7.5%
* Republican — +7.5-10%
* Republican — +10-12.5%
* Republican — +12.5-15%
* Democratic — +10-12.5%
* Democratic — +7.5-10%
* Democratic — +5-7.5%
* Democratic — +2.5-5%
* Democratic — +0-2.5%
* Republican — +0-2.5%
* Republican — +2.5-5%
* Republican — +5-7.5%
* Republican — +7.5-10%
* Republican — +10-12.5%
* Republican — +12.5-15%
2022 Michigan Secretary of State election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Jocelyn Benson (incumbent) | 2,467,859 | 55.86% | +2.96% |
| | Republican | Kristina Karamo | 1,852,510 | 41.93% | −2.05% |
| | Libertarian | Gregory Scott Stempfle | 52,982 | 1.20% | −0.76% |
| | Constitution | Christine Schwartz | 27,937 | 0.63% | −0.54% |
| | Green | Larry James Hutchinson Jr. | 16,615 | 0.38% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,417,903 | 100.00% | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

#### By congressional district

Benson won 9 of 13 congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans.
| District | Benson | Karamo | Representative |
| 1st | 44% | 53% | Jack Bergman |
| 2nd | 42% | 56% | John Moolenaar |
| 3rd | 57% | 41% | Peter Meijer (117th Congress) |
| 3rd | 57% | 41% | Hillary Scholten (118th Congress) |
| 4th | 51% | 47% | Bill Huizenga |
| 5th | 42% | 56% | Tim Walberg |
| 6th | 68% | 30% | Debbie Dingell |
| 7th | 55% | 42% | Elissa Slotkin |
| 8th | 56% | 41% | Dan Kildee |
| 9th | 43% | 54% | Lisa McClain |
| 10th | 58% | 40% | John James |
| 11th | 66% | 32% | Haley Stevens |
| 12th | 76% | 22% | Rashida Tlaib |
| 13th | 77% | 21% | Shri Thanedar |