Here are the candidates running for Michigan governor
Michigan's Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is finishing her second term, which means a new face will take over after the 2026 election.
The number of people who announced their candidacy grew to include high-profile names such as Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, U.S. Congressman John James and former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. However, several of the candidates have since dropped out or been disqualified.
In January 2026, Gilchrist dropped out of the gubernatorial race and announced he was running for Secretary of State. Gilchrist received the nomination for SOS from the Michigan Democratic Party.
Former Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard announced in April 2026 that he was dropping out of the gubernatorial race.
Then, in May 2026, Duggan announced he was dropping out.
On May 28, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers met to review petition signatures and determined that Democrat Kim Thomas and Republican Ralph Rebandt failed to meet the state's threshold for valid signatures.
On June 22, Rep. Aric Nesbitt announced he was suspending his campaign and supporting James, who received an endorsement from President Trump.
On July 17, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox announced that he was ending his campaign, citing Mr. Trump's endorsement of James.
Benson and James won in the Democratic and Republican primaries, respectively, in August.
Here's a list of candidates who are running for governor.
Democratic Candidate
Jocelyn Benson
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced in January 2025 that she would run for governor. Benson, elected in 2018, serves her second term overseeing the state's election processes and the motor vehicle department. She cited her achievements in that role, including decreasing wait times for in-person appointments and installing self-service motor vehicle stations across the state.
Benson's campaign promises include bringing accountability and transparency to state government, and working on behalf of the state's families with a "progressive vision for Michigan's future."
Republican Candidate
John James
U.S. Rep. John James, who was reelected to Congress in 2024, announced in April 2025 that he was running for governor. The Republican lawmaker, representing Michigan's 10th congressional district, said the decision came "after deep reflection, prayer, and conversations with my wife and family."
James served as an aviation officer in the U.S. Army for eight years and was president of a supply chain and logistics solutions group. He lost U.S. Senate races in 2018 and 2020 to incumbents Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters. He faced Democrat Carl Marlinga twice in the 2022 and 2024 elections, beating him in both.
Libertarian Candidate
Anthony Hudson
Michigan resident Anthony Hudson joined the list of gubernatorial candidates in March 2025, describing himself as a "hardworking Michigan conservative." Hudson ran in the 2024 Republican primary for a U.S. House seat, but lost to Paul Junge. Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet eventually won the seat.
The Texas native moved to Michigan in 2012 to be near his children. Key ideas in his policy platform include eliminating state property and income taxes and replacing them with a county tax, controlled locally, to fund services at the local level. As part of the effort to redirect specific funding and responsibilities from state to local decision-making, he would eliminate the Michigan Department of Transportation. The intended money would instead go to the county road commissions.
Hudson is also pushing for a "part-time legislature with part-time pay." The goal is to encourage Lansing's lawmakers to "stay connected to the real-world challenges of their communities."
Note: The video above originally aired on April 30, 2026.
