# 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election

Elections in Michigan :
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2026 :
State government
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Proposal 3 :
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vte :
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.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State (2019–present)
* Garlin Gilchrist, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (2019–present)
* Chris Swanson, Genesee County Sheriff (2020–present)

#### Publicly expressed interest

* Mallory McMorrow, state senator from the 8th district (2019–present)

#### Potential

* Mark Hackel, Macomb County Executive (2011–present)
* Joe Tate, Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives (2023–2025) from the 10th district (2019–present)

#### Declined

* Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation (2021–2025), former mayor of South Bend, Indiana (2012–2020), and candidate for president in 2020
* Dan Kildee, former U.S. representative for Michigan's 8th congressional district (2013–2025)
* Gary Peters, U.S. senator (2015–present)

### Endorsements
#### U.S. Representatives

* Mark Schauer, former U.S. representative from MI-7 (2009–2011) and nominee for governor in 2014

#### State legislators

* Sean McCann, state senator from the 19th district (2019–present)
* 15 state representatives

#### Local officials

* David LaGrand, mayor of Grand Rapids (2025–present)

#### Organizations

* EMILY's List
* End Citizens United
* Vote Mama

#### Organizations

* International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 948
* Iron Workers Local 25
* IUOE Local 324
* Teamsters Local 332

#### Statewide officials

* Gretchen Whitmer, incumbent governor (2019–present)

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jocelyn Benson | Garlin Gilchrist | Dana Nessel | Chris Swanson | Undecided |
| Target Insyght | February 3-8, 2025 | 344 (V) | ± 5.7% | 55% | 12% | 12% | 3% | 19% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Anthony Hudson, truck driver and candidate for Michigan's 8th congressional district in 2024
* Aric Nesbitt, Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate (2023–present) from the 20th district (2019–present)
* William Null, construction manager

#### Formed exploratory committee

* Mike Cox, former Michigan Attorney General (2003–2011) and candidate for governor in 2010

#### Publicly expressed interest

* Tudor Dixon, conservative media personality and nominee for governor in 2022
* Perry Johnson, businessman, disqualified candidate for governor in 2022, and candidate for president in 2024
* Jonathan Lindsey, state senator from the 17th district (2023–present)

#### Potential

* Dick DeVos, former CEO of Amway and nominee for governor in 2006
* Pete Hoekstra, chair of the Michigan Republican Party (2024–present), former U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands (2018–2021), former U.S. representative for Michigan's 2nd congressional district (1993–2011), and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2012
* John James, U.S. representative for Michigan's 10th congressional district (2023–present) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020
* 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
* Lisa McClain, U.S. representative for Michigan's 9th congressional district (2021–present)
* Peter Meijer, former U.S. representative for Michigan's 3rd congressional district (2021–2023) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024
* Candice Miller, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner (2017–present), former U.S. representative for Michigan's 10th congressional district (2003–2016), and former Michigan Secretary of State (1995–2003)
* Kevin Rinke, former car dealer and candidate for governor in 2022
* Mike Rogers, former U.S. representative for Michigan's 8th congressional district (2001–2015) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024
* Garrett Soldano, chiropractor and candidate for governor in 2022

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Mike Cox | John James | Tom Leonard | Aric Nesbitt | Kevin Rinke | Other | Undecided |
| Target Insyght | February 3-8, 2025 | 336 (V) | ± 5.7% | 5% | 57% | – | 13% | – | 1% | 23% |
| National Research | February 17–19, 2025 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 10% | 38% | – | 17% | – | 8% | 27% |
| OnMessage | January 17–19, 2025 | 1,000 (LV) | ± 3.10% | 4% | 46% | 1% | 6% | 3% | 6% | 35% |

## Independents
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Mike Duggan, mayor of Detroit (2014–present)

### Endorsements
#### State representatives

* Karen Whitsett, state representative from the 4th district (2019–present) (Democratic)

#### Local officials

* Mary Waters, at-large Detroit city councilor (2022–present) (Democratic)

#### Individuals

* William Clay Ford Jr., executive chair of Ford Motor Company (1999–present)

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Tossup | January 23, 2025 |
| Inside Elections | Battleground | February 6, 2025 |

### Polling

Jocelyn Benson (D) vs. Dick DeVos (R) vs. Mike Duggan (I)
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jocelyn Benson (D) | Dick DeVos (R) | Mike Duggan (I) | Undecided |
| EPIC-MRA | February 3-8, 2025 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 31% | 31% | 23% | 15% |
Jocelyn Benson (D) vs. John James (R) vs. Mike Duggan (I)
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jocelyn Benson (D) | John James (R) | Mike Duggan (I) | Undecided |
| Target Insyght | February 3-8, 2025 | 600 (V) | ± 4.0% | 42% | 30% | 21% | 7% |