2026 Michigan gubernatorial election

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 the 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 +21 approval rating in Michigan. 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 Declared • Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State (2019–present) • Chris Swanson, Genesee County Sheriff (2020–present) • 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) 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 from (2013–2025) • Mallory McMorrow, state senator from the 8th district (2019–present) (running for U.S. Senate) • Gary Peters, U.S. senator (2015–present) Endorsements Fundraising Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate. Polling Aggregate polls Results ==Republican primary==

Candidates Declared • Mike Cox, former Michigan Attorney General (2003–2011) and candidate for governor in 2010 • John James, U.S. representative from (2023–present) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020 • Perry Johnson, businessman, candidate for governor in 2022, and candidate for president in 2024 • Aric Nesbitt, Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate (2023–present) from the 20th district (2019–present) • Ralph Rebandt, pastor and candidate for governor in 2022 Not on ballot • Joyce Gipson, advocate • 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 • Karla Wagner, political organizer (running as an Independent) Declined • Tudor Dixon, conservative media personality and nominee for governor in 2022 • Kevin Rinke, former car dealer and candidate for governor in 2022 Endorsements Fundraising Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate. Polling Aggregate polls Results == Libertarian convention ==

Candidates Presumptive nominee • Anthony Hudson, truck driver and Republican candidate for in 2024 (switched from Republican primary) == Independents ==

Candidates Declared • Mike Duggan, former mayor of Detroit (2014–2026) • Karla Wagner, political organizer (previously ran as a Republican) Fundraising == General election ==

Predictions Endorsements Polling Jocelyn Benson vs. John James vs. Mike Duggan Jocelyn Benson vs. Mike Cox vs. Mike Duggan Jocelyn Benson vs. Aric Nesbitt vs. Mike Duggan Jocelyn Benson vs. Tom Leonard vs. Mike Duggan Chris Swanson vs. John James vs. Mike Duggan Jocelyn Benson vs. Dick DeVos vs. Mike Duggan Jocelyn Benson vs. Tudor Dixon vs. Mike Duggan Garlin Gilchrist vs. John James vs. Mike Duggan Generic Democrat vs. John James vs. Mike Duggan Generic Democrat vs. Mike Cox vs. Mike Duggan Results == See also ==