State Candidates

🏛 State Offices up for Election in 2026

• GOVERNOR
  • Democratic Primary
    • Jocelyn Benson
      • Benson has served as Michigan’s Secretary of State since 2019, following her victory in the 2018 election, her second attempt at seeking the office, after losing in the 2010 election.  She was re-elected to another term in 2022, and is term-limited.  Prior to being Secretary of State, Benson served as the Dean of the Wayne State University School of Law from 2012 to 2016.
    • Kevin Hogan
      • Hogan is making his second run for the governor’s mansion, after having been the Green Party’s nominee in the 2022 election, receiving 0.2% of the vote.  Hogan is a native of Detroit.  A graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, he is a retired research biochemist.
    • Mami Sawicki
      • Sawicki served as the mayor of Cape Coral, Florida from 2013 to 2017, the first woman to hold the position.  The Battle Creek native and Central Michigan University graduate moved back to Michigan in 2021.  Before and after her initial political stint, she worked in various corporate roles.
    • Chris Swanson
      • Swanson has served as the Sheriff of Genesee County since 2020.  He is a graduate of Mott Community College and The University of Michigan.  Before his political career, he served in various roles, such as being a police officer, paramedic, business owner, and teacher.

• • Republican Primary
    • Mike Cox
      • Cox served as Michigan’s Attorney General from 2003 to 2011.  This is his second run for the governor’s mansion, having unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination in 2010.  Cox is a graduate of the University of Michigan, and got his juris doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School.
    • Joyce Gipson
      • Gipson is a native of Decatur.  She received her Associate’s Degree from Southwestern College, and her Bachelor’s Degree from Andrews College.  Gipson currently works as an advocate.  
    • John James
      • James has served as the U.S. Congressman for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District since 2023.  Prior to being elected to Congress, James unsuccessfully sought the U.S. Senate twice as the Republican nominee, losing in 2018 and 2020.  Before politics, James served as a Captain in the U.S. Army from 2004 to 2012, and worked in supply chain management.
    • Perry Johnson
      • Johnson is a businessman, author, and the founder of Perry Johnson Registrars.  Johnson sought the Republican nomination for Governor in 2022, but did not have enough valid signatures.  He also sought the Republican nomination for President in 2024.
    • Tom Leonard
      • Leonard served as the State Representative for Michigan’s 93rd district from 2013 to 2019, and as the Speaker of the State House from 2017 to 2019.  After being term-limited, he sought the Republican nomination for Attorney General twice, receiving it in 2018 and losing in the general election, and not receiving it in 2022.  He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, and the Michigan State University College of Law.
    • Aric Nesbitt
      • Nesbitt has served as the Minority Leader in the Michigan State Senate since 2023, and as a State Senator since 2019, having represented the 20th district since 2023.  Prior to that, he was a State Representative from 2011 to 2017, and was the Michigan Lottery Commissioner from 2017 to 2018.  Nesbitt received his Bachelor’s from Hillsdale College, and his M.B.A. from the Norwegian School of Economics.
    • William Null
      • Null is a Shelbyville native, and a construction manager.  Null was one of the alleged co-conspirators in the plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2020.  He was acquitted of the charges related to the accusation.
    • Ralph Rebandt
      • Rebandt is a pastor, and a former police chaplain.  This is his second run for the governor’s mansion, having unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination in 2022.  He got his Bachelor’s Degree from Summit University and his Master’s Degree and Master of Divinity Degree from Westminster Seminary.
    • Evan Space
      • Space is an entrepreneur and a Traverse City native.  This is his third run for the governor’s mansion, having been a write-in candidate in 2018 and 2022.  Space was a member of the National Guard from 2008 to 2016.
    • Karla Wagner
      • Wagner is a political organizer and advocate.  She is the director of the Ax MI Tax, which is also attempting to find itself on this year’s ballot.  Wagner is a native of Kent County.

• • Libertarian Candidate
    • Anthony Hudson
      • Hudson is a trucker and a small business owner.  Hudson initially sought the Republican nomination for President in 2024, before shifting to the Republican nomination for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, which was unsuccessful.  Hudson served in the Army from 1999 to 2001.

• • Other Candidates
    • Mike Duggan, Independent 
      • Duggan served as the Mayor of Detroit from 2014 to 2026, and is a Detroit native.  Before that, he was the Prosecuting Attorney of Wayne County from 2001 to 2004, and the President and CEO of the Detroit Medical Center from 2004 to 2012.  Duggan left the Democratic Party in 2024.

• ATTORNEY GENERAL
  • The Michigan Democratic and Republican Parties use a state convention to select their nominee for Attorney General, a process mandated by state law for this specific office.
  • Democratic Candidates 
    • Karen McDonald
      • McDonald has served as the Prosecuting Attorney for Oakland County since 2021.  Before then, she served on the Oakland County Circuit Court from 2012 to 2019.  She received her Bachelor’s from Alma College, and her juris doctorate from Wayne State University Law School.
    • William Noakes
      • Noakes is a public defender and professor.  Along with his law and educational career, Noakes was also a captain and judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force.  He received his Bachelor’s from the University of Notre Dame and received his masters and juris doctorate from the University of Chicago.  
    • Eli Savit
      • Savit has served as the Prosecuting Attorney for Washtenaw County since 2021.  Along with serving in various clerkship roles, Savit became the Senior Legal Counsel in the Detroit Mayoral Office.  Savit received his Bachelor’s from Kalamazoo College and his juris doctorate from the University of Michigan.

• • Republican Candidates
    • Matt DePerno
      • DePerno is a lawyer, and a Warren native.  This is his second run for the Attorney General’s office, having lost the general election as the Republican nominee in 2022.  DePerno received his Bachelor’s from the University of Michigan, his juris doctorate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, and his Master of Laws degree from the New York University School of Law.
    • Kevin Kijewski
      • Kijewski is a defense attorney based in Birmingham.  He is also the former Superintendent of Catholic Schools within the Archdiocese of Detroit.  Kijewski received his Master’s from Notre Dame University and his juris doctorate from Michigan State University.
    • Doug Lloyd
      • Lloyd has served as the Prosecuting Attorney for Eaton County since 2013.  Before that, Lloyd served in various roles within the Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office from 2000 to 2013, and served in Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office from 1996 to 2000.  Lloyd received his Bachelor’s from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and received his juris doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

SECRETARY OF STATE

The Michigan Democratic and Republican Parties use a state convention to select their nominee for Secretary of State, a process mandated by state law for this specific office.

• Democratic Candidates
  • Barbara Bynum
    • Bynum has served as the Clerk of Ingham County since 2013.  Before that, she was a State Representative from 2007 to 2013.  Bynum received her Bachelor’s from Michigan State University, and received her juris doctorate from the Michigan State University College of Law.
  • Garlic Gilchrist
    • Gilchrist has served as the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan since 2019.  Before that, he unsuccessfully sought the office of Clerk of the City of Detroit in 2017.  Gilchrist received his Bachelor’s from the University of Michigan. 
  • Suzanna Shkreli
    • Shkreli served as the Commissioner of the Michigan Lottery from 2024-2025.  Before then, she was the Democratic nominee for the 8th Congressional District in 2016, but she lost in the general election.  Shkreli received her Bachelor’s from Oakland University and her juris doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

• Republican Candidates
  • Anthony Forlini
    • Forlini has served as the Clerk for Macomb County since 2020.  Before that, he was a State Representative from 2011 to 2016, and the Supervisor of Harrison Township from 2004 to 2011.  Forlini received his Bachelor’s from Western Michigan University.
  • Amanda Love
    • Love currently serves as a Trustee for Clarkston Community Schools.  Before then, she served in various roles within the Secretary of State’s office, the Attorney General’s office, and elsewhere.  She received her Bachelor’s from Western Michigan University.
  • Timothy Smith
    • Smith is an electronics technician, and works at Gentex in Zeeland.  Smith is a Grand Haven native.  He received his Associate’s from Muskegon Community College.
  • Monica Yatooma
    • Yatooma is an entrepreneur.  She currently serves on the Executive Board for the Oakland County GOP.  She received her Bachelor’s from Oakland University.

U.S. SENATE

• • Democratic Primary
    • Abdul El-Sayed
      • El-Sayed served as the Director of the Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Affairs for Wayne County from 2023 to 2025.  He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of Michigan in 2018.  El-Sayed received his Bachelor’s from The University of Michigan, his masters and Ph.D. from The University of Oxford’s Oriel College, and his MD from Columbia University.
    • Rachel Howard
      • Howard is a medical researcher, and a native of Rochester.  She served in the Army National Guard from 2005 to 2019.  Howard received her Bachelor’s from Grand Valley State University, her Master of Social Work from Wayne State University, and her Master of Public Health from The George Washington University.
    • Mallory McMorrow
      • McMorrow has served as a State Senator since 2019, and has been the State Senator for the 8th District since 2023.  Prior to entering politics, she worked in industrial design.  McMorrow earned her Bachelor’s from Notre Dame University.
    • Haley Stevens
      • Stevens has been the Congresswoman for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District since 2019.  Prior to  that, she last worked with the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute in Chicago until 2017.  Stevens received her Bachelor’s and Master’s from American University.

• • Republican Primary
    • Kent Benham
      • Benham is a dentist.  He has a practice that is located in both Deerfield and Dundee.  Benham is a political newcomer.
    • Frederick Heurtebise
      • Heurtebise currently resides in Luther.  He works as a Joining Engineer at R&E Automated.  Heurtebise received his Associates from Baker College and his Bachelor’s from Ferris State University.
    • Mike Rogers
      • Rogers served as the Congressman for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District from 2001 to 2015.  This is his second run for U.S. Senate, having been the Republican nominee for the office in 2024, and having lost in the general election.  Rogers received his Bachelor’s from Adrian College.
    • Genevieve Scott
      • Scott is a Detroit native.  Throughout her life, she has worked as a teacher, an entrepreneur, and most recently, within the Macomb County Clerk’s Office.  Scott received her Bachelor’s in Sociology from Western Michigan University, her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Teaching from California State University-Long Beach, and her T.E.F.L certification from the University of Cambridge.
    • Bernadette Smith
      • Smith is a Detroit native.  She served as the co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party.  This is her first run for elected office.

• U.S. HOUSE (District 1)
  • Democratic Primary
    • Callie Barr
      • Barr is a native of Cheboygan.  Along with advocating for various causes, she worked as a business attorney.  Barr received her Bachelor’s from Central Michigan University, and her juris doctorate from University of Michigan Law School.
    • Kyle Blomquist
      • Blomquist currently serves as a City Councilman in his native Iron Mountain.  He also co-manages an architecture firm.  Blomquist received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
    • Wayne Stiles
      • Stiles is an industrial designer and entrepreneur.  He was raised in west Michigan, and now lives in Traverse City.  Stiles received his Associate’s from Grand Rapids Community College, and his Bachelor’s from the University of Michigan.

• • Republican Primary
    • Jack Bergman
      • Bergman has served as the Congressman for Michigan’s 1st Congressional District since 2017.  Before that, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 40 years, retiring as a Lieutenant General, and also working as a business owner and pilot.  Bergman received his Bachelor’s from Gustavus Adolphus College, and his MBA from the University of Western Florida.
    • Matthew DenOtter
      • DenOtter is a pharmaceutical representative and is from Boyne City.  This is his second run for Congress, having unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District in 2022.  DenOtter received his Bachelor’s and Master of Divinity from Calvin University.
    • Justin Michal
      • Michal is a researcher and a native of Grayling.  In addition to that, he also served in the U.S. Army.  Michal received his Bachelor’s from Palm Beach State College, and is in the process in receiving his Ph.D. from Nova Southeastern University.

• • Other Candidates
    • Zebulon Featherly
      • Featherly is an electrician.  He grew up outside of Houghton, but now lives in Traverse City.  Featherly is a graduate of the Northwest Renewable Energy Institute.
    • Thomas Latza
      • Latza is a pharmacist.  He currently resides in Ishpeming.  Latza received his Bachelor’s from Northern Michigan University.

• STATE SENATE (District 32)
  • Democratic Primary
    • Rebecca Amidon
      • Amidon is a teacher and a political activist.  She served as the Vice Chair of the Manistee County Democratic Party from 2021-2024, and has been associated with various other organizations.  Amidon received her Associate’s from Ivy Tech Community College, her Bachelor’s from Purdue University-Fort Wayne, and her Graduate degree from Trine University.
    • Jay Kilgo
      • Kilgo currently serves as a Muskegon City Commissioner.  Alongside his political career, he is also a real estate broker, and has worked in real estate since 2019.  Kilgo attended Lincoln College of Technology.
      • Republican Primary
        • Kim Cole
          • Cole has served as the Sheriff of Mason County since 2013.  Before that, he rose up the ranks, and served in various positions with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.  Cole is a graduate of West Shore Community College.
        • Max Rieske
          • Rieske served in the U.S. Army for 32 years, is a former school teacher and was formerly on the Fruitport Township Park Commission.  He ran for President in 2008, the 91st State House district in 2016, and for Muskegon County Sheriff in 2024.  Rieske received both of his Bachelor degrees from Western Michigan University.
    • STATE HOUSE (District 104)
      • Republican Candidate
        • John Roth
          • Roth has served as the State Representative for Michigan’s 104th District since 2020.  Before that, he served as the chairman of the Grand Traverse County Republican Party, and a member of the Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation Committee.  Roth is a graduate of Northwest Michigan College.

• • • STATE SUPREME COURT
      • No candidates announced yet