Krista Moon

2026 Candidates for Michigan Governor

Written by Krista Moon | 10/14/25 8:27 PM

Get to know the candidates to be the next Governor of Michigan!

As the next election approaches, potential candidates are beginning to announce their plans—or test the waters. This overview summarizes what’s publicly known so far based on information available from official filings, news reports, and candidate communications. It will be updated as new information becomes available.

On August 4th, 2025, voters will go to the polls to nominate their favorite candidate for governor of Michigan for the general election ballot on Tuesday, November 4th, 22025

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 501(c)(3) organization, and our goal is simply to make civic information easier to find and understand.

Democratic Candidates

  1. Joceyln Benson, Secretary of State
  2. Garlin Gilchrest, Lieutenant Governor
  3. Chris Swanson, Genesee County Sheriff
  4. Marni Sawicki, JLL, General Manager

Republican Candidates

  1. Evan Space, [Can't Find]
  2. Ralph Rebrandt, Lighthouse, Pastor
  3. Mike Cox, CEO/Former MI AG
  4. John James, U.S. Government, U.S. Representative
  5. Karla Wagner, Real Estate Developer
  6. Aric Nesbitt, State of Michigan, Senator
  7. Tom Leonard, Plunkett Cooney, Gov't relations, Public Policy & Regulatory Compliance
  8. Anthony Hudson, Loghorn Logistics, Owner

Independent Candidates

Democratic Candidates

Joceyln Benson (D)

 

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Garlin Gilchrest (D)

 

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Chris Swanson (D)

 

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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

 

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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

 

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Ralph Rebrandt (R)

  • Website:
    (No candidate site)
  • Current Job: Lighthouse
  • Job Title: Pastor
  • Age: 67
  • Date of Birth: 1958
  • City: Farmington
  • County: Oakland

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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Aric Nesbitt (R)

 

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Tom Leonard (R)

  • Website: https://www.tomformichigan.com
  • Current Job: Plunkett Cooney
  • Job Title: Gov't Relations, Policy
  • Age: 44
  • Date of Birth: 104/21/1981
  • City: DeWitt
  • County: Clinton

 

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Anthony Hudson (R)

 

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Independent Candidates

Mike Duggan (I)

 

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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.
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