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 congressman 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.
The 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Michigan. Democratic state secretary of state Jocelyn Benson defeated Republican representative John James. Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer was 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 had not won a gubernatorial election in Michigan since 2014. This was the first gubernatorial election in Michigan since 1960 in which a Democrat, who was not the incumbent governor, was elected while there was an incumbent Democratic governor. This was also the first time since 1998 that either major party won the Michigan governorship in more than two consecutive elections, and the first time Democrats did so since 1960.
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), (ran for secretary of state)
Declined
Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. secretary of transportation (2021–2025)
Dan Kildee, former U.S. representative from Michigan's 8th congressional district (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
Jocelyn Benson
Pete Buttigieg, former secretary of transportation (2021–2025)
Jennifer Granholm, former secretary of energy (2021–2025) and former governor of Michigan (2003–2011)
Brenda Lawrence, former MI-14 (2015–2023)
Mark Schauer, former MI-7 (2009–2011)
Hillary Scholten, MI-3 (2023–present)
James Blanchard, former governor of Michigan (1983–1991)
Wes Moore, governor of Maryland (2023–present)
Sarah Anthony, SD-21 (2023–present)
Winnie Brinks, majority leader of the Michigan Senate (2023–present) from SD-29 (2019–present)
Darrin Camilleri, SD-4 (2023–present)
Stephanie Chang, SD-3 (2019–present)
Jeff Irwin, SD-15 (2019–present)
Sean McCann, SD-19 (2019–present)
Jeremy Moss, SD-7 (2019–present)
Ranjeev Puri, minority leader of the Michigan House of Representatives (2025–present) from HD-24 (2021–present)
Sam Singh, SD-28 (2023–present)
Paul Wojno, SD-10 (2019–present) (previously endorsed Gilchrist)
24 other state representatives
David Coulter, Oakland County executive (2019–present)
Warren Evans, Wayne County executive (2015–present)
Abdullah Hammoud, mayor of Dearborn (2022–present)
David LaGrand, mayor of Grand Rapids (2025–present)
Greg Mathis, television personality and former district court judge
Mary Sheffield, mayor of Detroit (2026–present)
Christopher Taylor, mayor of Ann Arbor (2014–present)
Kym Worthy, Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney (2004–present)
Hill Harper, actor
Horace Sheffield III, pastor and talk show host
George Takei, actor
13th Congressional District Democratic Party
American Federation of Teachers Michigan
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 26
Laborers' International Union of North America Michigan District Council and Locals 355 and 499
Michigan AFL-CIO
Michigan Nurses Association
Michigan Professional Fire Fighters
Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters
SEIU Michigan
Teamsters Locals 243, 247, 283, 406, and 1038
United Association Local 174
United Auto Workers
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 876 and 951
Emgage Action
EMILY's List
End Citizens United
Giffords
Jewish Democratic Council of America
Michigan Association for Justice
Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Reproductive Freedom for All
Vote Mama
Young Democrats of Michigan
Michigan Chronicle
Chris Swanson
John Cherry, former lieutenant governor of Michigan (2003–2011)
Virgil Bernero, former mayor of Lansing (2006–2018)
Sean O'Brien, general president of the Teamsters (2022–present)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 875
Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 2
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 25
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Michigan and Local 948
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324
Iron Workers Local 25
Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Michigan and statewide
Michigan Pipe Trades Association
Sheet Metal Workers' Local 7
SMART Local 7
Teamsters and Locals 214, 299, 332, and 614
United Association Locals 85 and 370
United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local 149
Southeast Michigan Chamber of Commerce (previously endorsed Duggan)
The Detroit News(Democratic primary only)
Garlin Gilchrist (withdrawn)
Jasmine Crockett, TX-7 (2023–present)
Pramila Jayapal, WA-7 (2017–present)
Ilhan Omar, MN-5 (2019–present)
Rashida Tlaib, MI-12 (2019–present)
Brenda Carter, HD-53 (2019–present)
Kimberly Edwards, HD-12 (2023–present)
Morgan Foreman, HD-33 (2025–present) (endorsed Benson after withdrawal)
Peter Herzberg, HD-25 (2024–present)
Veronica Klinefelt, SD-11 (2023–present)
Donavan McKinney, HD-11 (2023–present)
Cynthia Neeley, HD-70 (2020–present)
Amos O'Neal, HD-94 (2021–present)
Laurie Pohutsky, HD-17 (2019–present) (endorsed Benson after withdrawal)
Paul Wojno, SD-10 (2019–present) (endorsed Benson after withdrawal)
Mai Xiong, HD-13 (2024–present) (endorsed Benson after withdrawal)
Fundraising
Italics indicate a withdrawn or disqualified candidate.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
John James, U.S. representative from Michigan's 10th congressional district (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 Michigan's 8th congressional district 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
John James
Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)
Jack Bergman, MI-01 (2017–present)
Lisa McClain, MI-09 (2021–present) and chair of the House Republican Conference (2025–present)
Mike Cox, former Michigan attorney general (2003–2011)
Jon Bumstead, SD-32 (2019–present)
Jay DeBoyer, HD-63 (2023–present)
Parker Fairbairn, HD-107 (2025–present)
Matt Hall, speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives (2025–present) from HD-42 (2019–present)
Roger Hauck, SD-34 (2023–present)
Tom Leonard, former speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives (2017–2019) from HD-93 (2013–2019)
Peter Lucido, Macomb County prosecutor (2021–present) and former SD-8 (2019–2020)
Aric Nesbitt, minority leader of the Michigan Senate (2023–present) from SD-20 (2019–present)
Alicia St. Germaine, HD-62 (2023–present)
Michael Webber, SD-9 (2023–present)
Mike Murphy, Livingston County sheriff (2017–present)
Ted Nugent, singer and songwriter
Kid Rock, rapper
Americans for Prosperity Michigan
Right to Life of Michigan
Detroit Free Press
Fundraising
Italics indicate a withdrawn or disqualified candidate.
Polling
Aggregate polls
Libertarian convention
Candidates
Nominee
Anthony Hudson, truck driver and Republican candidate for Michigan's 8th congressional district in 2024 (switched from Republican primary)
Running mate: Beau Parmenter, businessman
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.
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 still appeared 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.
Post-primary endorsements
Jocelyn Benson (D)
Mike Duggan (I) (withdrawn)
Sandy Baruah, former administrator of the Small Business Administration (2008–2009) (Republican)
Dave Trott, former MI-11 (2015–2019) (Independent; elected as a Republican)
Mark Bernstein, regent of the University of Michigan (2013–present) (Democratic)
Marshall Bullock, member of the Michigan State Board of Education (2023–present) (Democratic)
Denise Ilitch, regent of the University of Michigan (2009–present) (Democratic)
Conrad Mallett Jr., former chief justice (1997–1998) of the Michigan Supreme Court (1990–1999) (Democratic)
14 state representatives
Laura Toy, at-large Livonia city councilor (1988–1995, 2008–2015, 2018–present) and former state senator from the 6th district (2003–2006) (Republican)
Mary Waters, at-large Detroit city councilor (2022–present) (Democratic)
Karen Weaver, former mayor of Flint (2015–2019) (Democratic)
William Clay Ford Jr., executive chair of Ford Motor Company (1999–present)
Andrew Yang, businessman and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate (Forward)