Jocelyn Benson has fundraising edge in Michigan governor’s race

Present Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson had the biggest quarterly fundraising of any candidate operating to change into Michigan’s subsequent governor, in line with the most recent spherical of marketing campaign finance statements.

Benson, a Democrat, raised greater than $995,000 for her gubernatorial marketing campaign in the course of the remaining fundraising quarter of 2025, which ran from Oct. 21 to Dec. 31. She spent about $423,000 and reported having greater than $3.5 million in money readily available on the finish of 2025.

“Michiganders are rallying behind Jocelyn Benson to combat for the way forward for our state,” Benson marketing campaign supervisor Nikki Goldschein stated in an announcement.

Benson has the fundraising benefit for the Democratic nomination within the Michigan statewide main on August 4. With Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II dropping out of the gubernatorial race final month to run for secretary of state, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is the opposite main Democratic candidate remaining within the discipline.

Swanson’s marketing campaign reported elevating greater than $87,000 and spending greater than $202,000 in the course of the quarter. In line with the most recent monetary disclosures, the sheriff’s marketing campaign has about $270,000 in money readily available.

The Republican main discipline is significantly extra crowded at this stage. U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township led the main Republican candidates in fundraising this quarter. The 2-term congressman reported elevating simply over $838,500 in the course of the interval whereas spending about $661,000. James’ marketing campaign has simply over $2.4 million in money readily available.

“John James is the frontrunner within the race for governor of Michigan, in fundraising, within the polls and in actual common assist,” James marketing campaign supervisor Jackson Gross stated in an announcement.

Former Michigan Legal professional Common Mike Cox raised about $525,500 this quarter, and his marketing campaign spent simply over $176,000 throughout that interval. Cox, who loaned his marketing campaign $3.5 million, has greater than $4.1 million in money readily available on the finish of the quarter.

Michigan Senate Minority Chief Aric Nesbitt, of Porter Township in southwestern Michigan, raised almost $336,000 within the remaining quarter of 2025, in line with his marketing campaign finance assertion. Nesbitt has spent roughly $231,500 throughout this era and has simply over $2.2 million in money readily available.

Different candidates within the Republican main embody former Michigan Home Speaker Tom Leonard, who raised about $91,000 whereas spending slightly below $243,000. In an announcement, Leonard stated the marketing campaign has spent strategically “to safe sufficient legitimate signatures to get on the poll, purchase a month’s price of advertisements throughout the state and journey throughout the state to satisfy voters the place they dwell.”

Ralph Rebandt, a Rebandt candidate who additionally ran for governor in 2022, raised about $45,400 and spent about $120,000 within the final quarter of 2025, in line with his quarterly assertion.

The GOP discipline additionally consists of businessman Perry Johnson, who introduced his entry into the race in January. As he entered the brand new 12 months, he was not included within the 2025 returns, which have been due on February 2. Johnson beforehand spent greater than $7 million of his personal cash in 2022 when he sought the governor’s workplace for the primary time. Johnson additionally had a short-lived presidential marketing campaign in 2024.

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan can be within the race and is operating for governor as an impartial. Duggan, a beforehand longtime Democrat, reported elevating almost $644,000 this quarter whereas spending simply over $456,500. Duggan’s marketing campaign has $2.7 million in money readily available, in line with his newest submitting.

You’ll be able to attain Arpan Lobo at alobo@freepress.com