The 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Michigan. The primary elections will take place on August 4, 2026. Incumbent Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to 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.
Incumbent Democratic secretary of state Jocelyn Benson and Republican U.S. representative John James are the frontrunners for their respective nominations. Independent Mike Duggan's bid for governor is expected to make the race more competitive after Democrats' wide margins in the 2018 and 2022 Michigan elections.
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%.
Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate.
Aggregate polls<br />
Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate.
Aggregate polls<br />
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