Get to know the candidates to be the next Michigan U.S. Senator!
Get to know the candidates to be the next Governor of Michigan!
On August 4th, 2026, Michigan voters will go to the polls to nominate their favorite Democratic and Republican candidates for Michigan Governor. The chosen candidates will appear on the general election ballot on Tuesday, November 4th, 2026. The current Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, has served for 8 years and is term-limited. It's time, yet again, for a fresh perspective!
This article summarizes what’s publicly known so far about the candidates in the race, based on information available from official filings, news reports, and candidate communications. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
Bookmark this page for reference throughout the campaign and follow the candidates on social media. We will be tracking articles about the candidates and will share them with you here.
Table of Contents
About This Article: Last update: 2025-10-14. While we do our best to be thorough and accurate, we might miss something—so always double-check official sources when possible. Michigan Women is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, and our goal is simply to make civic information easier to find and understand.
Democratic Candidates
- Joceyln Benson, Secretary of State
- Chris Swanson, Genesee County Sheriff
- Marni Sawicki, JLL, General Manager
Republican Candidates
- Evan Space, [Can't Find]
- Ralph Rebrandt, Lighthouse, Pastor
- Mike Cox, CEO/Former MI AG
- John James, U.S. Government, U.S. Representative
- Karla Wagner, Real Estate Developer
- Aric Nesbitt, State of Michigan, Senator
- Tom Leonard, Plunkett Cooney, Gov't relations, Public Policy & Regulatory Compliance
- Anthony Hudson, Loghorn Logistics, Owner
Independent Candidates
- Mike Duggan, City of Detroit, Mayor
Dropped Out Candidates
- Garlin Gilchrest, Lieutenant Governor
More Sources
Democratic Candidates
Joceyln Benson (D)
- Website: https://jocelynbenson.com
- Current Job: State of Michigan
- Job Title: Secretary of State
- Age: 49
- Date of Birth: 10/22/1977
- City: Ferndale
- County: Oakland
- Articles
Chris Swanson (D)
- Website: https://www.gcsomichigan.com
- Current Job: Genesee County
- Job Title: Sheriff
- Age: 50
- Date of Birth: —
- City: Fenton
- County: Genesee
- Articles
Marni Sawicki (D)
- Website:
(No candidate site) - Current Job: JLL
- Job Title: General Manager
- Age: 55
- Date of Birth: 2/16/1970
- City: Battle Creek
- County: Calhoun
Republican Candidates
Evan Space (R)
- Website: https://space4governor.com
- Current job: (Can't find)
- Job Title: —
- Age: 45
- Date of Birth: 1980
- City: Rockford
- County: Kent
Ralph Rebrandt (R)
- Website:
(No candidate site) - Current Job: Lighthouse
- Job Title: Pastor
- Age: 67
- Date of Birth: 1958
- City: Farmington
- County: Oakland
Mike Cox (R)
- Website:
(No candidate site) - Current Job: Mike Cox Law Firm
- Job Title: CEO/Former MI AG
- Age: 63
- Date of Birth: 12/30/1961
- City: Livonia
- County: Wayne
John James (R)
- Website:
https://johnjamesmi.com - Current Job: U.S. Government
- Job Title: U.S. Representative
- Age: 44
- Date of Birth: 6/8/1981
- City: Shelby Township
- County: Macomb
- Articles
Karla Wagner (R)
- Website:
https://karla4mi.com - Current Job: Multiple
- Job Title: Real Estate Developer
- Age: 64
- Date of Birth: 1961
- City: Rockford
- County: Kent
Aric Nesbitt (R)
- Website: https://nesbittforgovernor.com
- Current Job: State of Michigan
- Job Title: Michigan Senator, Minority Leader
- Age: 45
- Date of Birth: 1/25/1980
- City: Lawton
- County: Van Buren
- Articles
- 2026-02-06 Nesibitt is all in to allow Feds to take over elections (WOOD Radio Local News)
- 2025-11-14 Jon King: Michigan’s GOP is manufacturing a crisis to undermine democracy [Michigan Advance]
- 2025-11-16 Michigan Republican state legislators ask DOJ to oversee Michigan’s 2026 elections (Nesbit is lead signatory) [The Michigan Daily]
- 2025-11-10 Michigan Senate leader’s press secretary moving to House speaker’s office [Michigan Advance]
- 2025-11-11 Second staffer tied to Republican consulting, petition firm ousted from Michigan Senate [Michigan Advance]
Tom Leonard (R)
- Website: https://www.tomformichigan.com
- Current Job: Plunkett Cooney
- Job Title: Gov't Relations, Policy
- Age: 44
- Date of Birth: 10/21/1981
- City: DeWitt
- County: Clinton
Anthony Hudson (R)
- Website: https://electanthonyhudson.com
- Current Job: Loghorn Logistics
- Job Title: Owner
- Age: 48 (Guess)
- Date of Birth: 1976
- City: Grand Blanc Township
- County: Genesee
- Articles
Independent Candidates
Mike Duggan (I)
- Website: https://mikeduggan.com
- Current Job: City of Detroit
- Job Title: Mayor
- Age: 67
- Date of Birth: 7/15/1958
- City: Detroit
- County: Wayne
- Articles
Dropped Out Candidates
Garlin Gilchrest (D)
- Website: https://garlingilchrist.com
- Current Job: State of Michigan
- Job Title: Lieutenant Governor
- Age: 42
- Date of Birth: 9/25/1982
- City: Detroit
- County: Wayne
- Articles
- 2026-01-12 Gilchrist leaves Michigan gubernatorial hunt, announces secretary of state bid instead (Michigan Advance)
- 2025-03-07 Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist files for gubernatorial run (MidMichigan Now)
More Sources
- 2026-02-02 Benson, James, Duggan grow money momentum in Michigan governor race (Bridge Michigan)
-
2026-01-02 Michigan gubernatorial funding over $25M, on pace to resemble state’s most expensive elections (Michigan Advance)
- 2025-11-05 Michigan GOP 2026 Governor Candidates Say ‘Cut It All’ at 1st Debate (Michigan Women)
Content Disclaimer: Our team researches information from official websites, news outlets, and other public resources to make it easier for Michigan residents to stay informed. We strive to provide accurate, balanced, and up-to-date information, but we may occasionally miss updates or changes. Michigan Women is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and does not support or oppose any political candidate or party. This content is intended solely for civic education and public awareness.
