Who's running to be Michigan's next governor in 2026? Here's the updated list
MICHIGAN — Michigan voters will choose a new governor in November 2026. Current Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited after serving back-to-back four year stints in Lansing. We are keeping track of candidates who throw their hats in the ring below.
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, Is Running for Governor
Ms. Benson, a Democrat, jumped into a high-profile and potentially crowded race to lead one of the country’s top battleground states.
Who's vying to replace Gretchen Whitmer as governor in 2026?
Sen. Aric Nesbitt, who represents Michigan's 20th Congressional District, was elected into office in 2019. In 2023, Nesbitt was named the Michigan Senate's Minority Leader. He declared his candidacy for the governor position earlier this month.
Jocelyn Benson running for Michigan governor after serving as SOS since 2019
Benson has been Michigan's SOS since 2019. She's now setting her sights on replacing outgoing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Voters will decide on the next governor in 2026.
Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State, announces run for Michigan governor
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson becomes the first major Democratic candidate to launch a bid to be Michigan's next governor.
Jocelyn Benson announces bid for Michigan governor
Benson said she's running for governor to "bring real solutions, not political games, conspiracy theories, or inaction" to Lansing.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to run for governor in 2026
(The Center Square) – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has declared her bid for governor. Benson, a Democrat, is running to fill the seat currently held by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Why Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, is running for governor
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson officially joined the race for governor. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is already running as an independent and Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt is also in the race with more expected to follow considering election day is still 22 months away.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announces run for Governor
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson officially announced Wednesday morning that she will run for Governor of Michigan. Benson joins a short, but growing list of candidates that have entered the race so far,
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson enters governor's race
Jocelyn Benson, currently Michigan's secretary of state, announced her campaign Wednesday for the state's governor in the 2026 election cycle. Current governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, is facing a term limit situation and therefore unable to run again for that seat.
Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson launches bid for governor of swing-state Michigan
Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is running for governor of the all-important swing state of Michigan (AP video: Mike Householder)
2026 race for Michigan governor heats up almost two years out from election
The race to become Michigan’s 50th governor is already heating up, almost two years before a single vote is cast.
Crain's Detroit1d
Duggan lays groundwork for governor run at Chamber conference
Whether Mike Duggan gets to be governor remains to be seen, but the three-term Detroit mayor is focused on leaving things in a good place for his successor at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.
Metro Times4d
Michigan Attorney General won’t investigate Duggan over file destruction, leaving innocent inmates in limbo
The Michigan Attorney General’s Office officially declined to investigate Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan for allegedly destroying ...
Hosted on MSN2d
Jocelyn Benson announces run for Michigan governor
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has become the first Democrat to announce a run for governor in 2026. In ...