The 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election is approaching, with numerous candidates eyeing the seat currently held by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Among the potential candidates are high-profile politicians such as Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State, who declared her candidacy in January. Chris Swanson, Genesee County Sheriff, and Garlin Gilchrist II, Michigan Lt. Gov., are also in the running.
On the Republican side, potential candidates include Aric Nesbitt, State Senator of Michigan’s 20th District, and John James, Congressman for Michigan’s 10th District. Mike Duggan, the current Mayor of Detroit, is running as an Independent after serving as Mayor since 2014 and being credited with revitalization efforts in Detroit.
The candidates come from diverse backgrounds – Benson previously served as the Dean of Wayne State University Law School, Swanson gained national attention for his actions during protests in 2020, Gilchrist is Michigan’s first Black lieutenant governor, Nesbitt has a farm background and conservative reform experience, James has a military and business background, and Duggan has been a long-serving mayor in Detroit.
The election, scheduled for November 3, 2026, will be one of five Democratic-held governor seats up for election in states won by President Trump in 2024. The competition for the Michigan governor’s seat is expected to be intense, with a diverse group of candidates vying for the opportunity to lead the state.
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