Who’s in as campaign season nears

• The final election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
• Democratic or Republican candidates should file to run by April 21. Independents have till July 16.

With about three months to go earlier than partisan candidates should file to run, greater than a dozen folks say they’re in search of the workplace of governor in Michigan.

Fourteen candidates are running, after Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, a Democrat, dropped out to as an alternative pursue the Michigan Secretary of State place being vacated by gubernatorial candidate and fellow Democrat Jocelyn Benson.

Declared candidates embody Democrats Benson, Marni Sawicki, Kevin Hogan and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, and Republicans U.S. Rep. John James, Anthony Hudson, Karla Wagner, State Sen. Aric Nesbitt, Ralph Rebandt, Joyce Gipson, Evan Space, former Michigan Home Speaker Tom Leonard and former Michigan Legal professional Normal Mike Cox.

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who was elected as a Democrat, is operating as an Impartial.

The candidates for the 2026 election all hope to succeed Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who’s time period restricted.

The subsequent governor will take workplace Jan. 1, 2027, after Whitmer’s time period expires.

The deadline for Democrats and Republicans to file to hunt the governor’s workplace is 15 Tuesdays before the August primary election (April 21, 2026) and for candidates submitting with out social gathering affiliation, it’s 110 days earlier than the November election (July 16, 2026).

Here is a more in-depth have a look at when the election takes place and declared candidates.

When is Michigan’s gubernatorial election?

The subsequent election for governor of Michigan is Nov. 3, 2026. The 2026 primary election is Aug. 4, 2026.

How can candidates get onto the poll?

Except for write-in candidates, all candidates for governor should submit an Affidavit of Identification in duplicate when submitting for workplace.

To be eligible for the workplace of governor, an individual have to be 30 or older and have been a registered elector for at the very least 4 years.

Candidates in search of the Democratic Social gathering or Republican Social gathering nomination should use the Countywide Partisan Nominating Petition type. A candidate should submit at the very least 15,000 legitimate signatures and should submit as much as 30,000 signatures. The petition have to be signed by at the very least 100 registered electors in every of at the very least half ofthe congressional districts within the state. Entry to the poll by way of submitting payment is just not accessible, the Michigan Secretary of State workplace says.

Candidates in search of nomination with out political social gathering affiliation should submit at the very least 12,000 legitimate signatures and should submit as much as 60,000.

A candidate in search of the workplace of governor with write-in votes should file a Declaration of Intent no later than 4 p.m. on the second Friday instantly earlier than the election.

Mike Cox, Republican

Cox served as Michigan’s high authorized official from 2003-10. He ran within the GOP gubernatorial main in 2010, ending third in a five-candidate discipline that yr. He was Michigan’s first Republican Attorney General in 50 years, his web site notes.

Cox grew up in Redford Township. He served within the U.S. Marine Corps after which attended the College of Michigan, acquiring his undergraduate and regulation levels. He spent 21 years as a prosecutor, the web site says.

His spouse, Laura Cox, beforehand served because the Michigan GOP chair through the 2020 election.

His X account says he’s operating to “get rid of the tax on work, restore the best to work, DOGE the state, educate the ABCs, not DEI, and assist faculty alternative.”

“I’m no stranger to profitable powerful races, and we’re going to do it once more. Saving our state is price it,” he mentioned in a put up on X.

John James, Republican

James, who represents the tenth Congressional District, served as president of James Group Worldwide (JGI) and CEO of Renaissance International Logistics — a supply-chain administration and logistics companies firm primarily based in Detroit.

He served eight years of active duty military service as a Ranger-qualified aviation officer main two Apache helicopter platoons throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom 2007-09. He’s the state’s solely Black congressman. He ran for U.S. Senate twice unsuccessfully earlier than taking over this newly created seat in 2022 and profitable by a slim margin.

James, of Shelby Township, has additionally given consideration to Selfridge Air Nationwide Guard Base and labored to deliver earmarks again to the district.

“Our state has suffered lengthy sufficient. Michigan is powerful. Our persons are robust. However we’re being held again by a scarcity of robust, competent management — management with real-world expertise within the areas Michiganders want most,” James mentioned in a statement April 7, 2025, posted to X. “It is time to get Michigan’s authorities out of fantasyland and again to widespread sense.”

Chris Swanson, Democrat

Swanson was elected Genesee County sheriff in 2020. He received reelection in 2024.

Swanson grew up in Grand Blanc and presently lives in Fenton, each Genesee County cities. He has labored in regulation enforcement for nearly three many years, in accordance with the Genesee County Sheriff’s website.

Swanson attended Mott Neighborhood School in Flint, and holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in public administration, each from the College of Michigan.

Throughout a marketing campaign kickoff occasion, Swanson named defending Michigan residents’ 2nd Modification, collective bargaining and civil rights as a few of his priorities in addition to the liberty to worship, in a speech through which he invoked his personal religion, saying the Lord had opened doorways for him.

“I need to lead and assist folks and encourage a complete technology within the state of Michigan,” he mentioned throughout his announcement.

Jocelyn Benson, Democrat

Benson was first elected Secretary of State in 2018 after which once more in 2022. As Michigan’s chief elections officer through the 2020 election, Benson spoke out towards President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his loss that yr.

Along with her election duties, Benson additionally oversees motorized vehicle companies in Michigan. Throughout her time in workplace, Benson has moved extra companies on-line and, with self-service kiosk stations in Michigan, some drivers have changed in-person visits to a Secretary of State workplace with a visit to the grocery retailer.

A graduate of Harvard Law School and skilled on civil rights regulation, training regulation and election regulation. Earlier than serving as Secretary of State, Benson was dean at Wayne State College Regulation Faculty in Detroit.

“I need Michigan to be one of the best place within the nation to be a child, increase a child, and be wholesome, protected, and profitable. A spot the place authorities is environment friendly and straightforward to take care of, the place companies and communities thrive, and the place each resident has entry to high quality little one care, well being care, training, and housing,” Benson mentioned in an announcement.

Tom Leonard, Republican

Two-time GOP lawyer common candidate and former Michigan Home Speaker Tom Leonard, of DeWitt, says Michigan is at a crossroads.

“Our unemployment price ranks forty ninth out of fifty, and fewer than 40% of our third-graders can learn at a proficient stage. We’re additionally shedding our family members to different states. A constructive imaginative and prescient, exhausting work, and a whole lot of grit are what it is going to take to show this state round,” he mentioned in a post on X on June 17, 2025.

In November 2012, he was elected as a state consultant representing Clinton and Gratiot counties, serving from 2013 by 2018 and led the chamber in his remaining two-year phrases. In 2018, he misplaced the lawyer common’s race to Democrat Dana Nessel.

Leonard graduated with a bachelor’s diploma from the College of Michigan. He earned his juris doctorate diploma from Michigan State College regulation faculty.

Leonard is a associate on the regulation agency Plunkett Cooney’s Lansing workplace, serving because the Authorities Relations, Public Coverage and Regulatory Apply Group Chief, in accordance with the agency’s web site.

Aric Nesbitt, Republican

Nesbitt is a Cass County Republican, who grew up on a farm and has an extended profession in Republican politics. He was first elected to the Michigan Home of Representatives in 2010, serving three phrases within the chamber.

He was elected to the Michigan Senate in 2018. When Democrats flipped that chamber from Republican to Democratic management within the 2022 election, his fellow GOP lawmakers selected him to function the Senate Republican Chief.

“As governor, I’ll put Michigan first by supporting taxpayers over the woke left, empowering mother and father, retaining households protected, and standing with President Trump to revive our manufacturing trade and Make Michigan Nice Once more,” Nesbitt mentioned in an announcement.

Anthony Hudson, Republican

Hudson, a Grand Blanc resident, was born in Hillsboro, Texas, and served within the U.S. Military from 1999 to 2001. He moved to Michigan in 2012, his on-line biography says, to be close to his youngsters after his divorce.

His profession expertise consists of proudly owning a small trucking firm, Longhorn Logistics, in accordance with his LinkedIn profile.

Hudson is operating for governor to get rid of property and state revenue taxes, demand transparency and accountability, and return energy to native communities the place it belongs, he says on his web site.

Mike Duggan, Impartial

Duggan is a Detroit native and was elected the seventy fifth mayor of Detroit in 2013. He took workplace as mayor in 2014 and is presently serving his third four-year time period.

After graduating from regulation faculty on the College of Michigan, he grew to become an lawyer for Wayne County, after which served for 14 years as deputy Wayne County govt.

Duggan chaired the stadium authority and was concerned in constructing Comerica Park and Ford Area, the downtown stadiums for the Tigers and Lions. He additionally oversaw the development of the McNamara Terminal and modernization of Metro Airport, the web site mentioned. Duggan additionally was CEO of the Detroit Medical Heart.

Duggan says he desires to find ways to maintain Michigan’s younger folks within the state, enhance public training, and broaden entry to reasonably priced housing. He additionally hopes to finish partisanship in Lansing.

Marni Sawicki, Democrat

Democrat Marni Sawicki, of Kalamazoo, says she was raised in Battle Creek.

Sawicki’s marketing campaign web site and Fb web page, Michigan Loves Marni, Governor, announce “Marni is the previous mayor of Cape Coral, Florida. She was elected in 2013 and served for 4 years. She is now operating to the following Governor of Michigan!”

Sawicki says she spent 15 years working in company insurance coverage, then transitioned to managing six malls, 5 in Michigan.

“(Feb. 24), I am formally asserting my candidacy for Governor of Michigan,” she said on Facebook. “This is not a choice I’ve made calmly, however I can not stand by whereas profession politicians proceed to place particular pursuits and outdated desires of the social gathering forward of hardworking Michigan households.

“Our marketing campaign will not be backed by company PACs or rich lobbyists. We’re constructing one thing totally different – a real grassroots motion powered by Michiganders such as you. Whereas my opponents could have their battle chests stuffed by the political institution, we’ll depend on small-dollar donations from individuals who imagine Michigan deserves higher management,” she added.

Kevin Hogan, Democrat

Hogan, a biochemist, says on his marketing campaign web site that he’s operating for governor to offer tax cuts to senior residents, small companies and minimal wage earners. He is advocating for a dwelling minimal wage and helps unions.

Hogan says he’ll uphold private privateness, guarantee equal rights and can shield the Earth and its many life kinds.

Hogan ran in 2022 with the Green Party of Michigan, his web site says.

. He earned a level from the College of Michigan, in accordance with Ballotpedia.

Joyce Gipson, Republican

Republican Joyce Gipson, of Grand Rapids, on March 4, 2025, said on Facebook she is operating for governor.

“I am operating for governor as a result of I imagine in serving others,” she mentioned. “I am additionally deeply dedicated to advocating for my neighborhood. As a Black girl from Decatur with a big household of 18 siblings, I’ve seen first hand the challenges confronted by those that could have been missed as a result of standardized testing.”

Gipson says she graduated from Decatur High, went to Southwestern School and obtained an affiliate’s diploma. Later, she returned to Andrews College to earn a bachelor’s diploma.

In a Fb put up, Gipson mentioned her religion guides her selections.

“I’ve dedicated myself to serving Christ, and I aspire to dwell a life that displays these values. I imagine my dedication to service, mixed with my private experiences, will permit me to successfully serve the folks of this state,” the put up mentioned.

She says she would battle for freedom of speech, shield youngsters by stopping “boys from competing in ladies sports activities and finish the sexual mutilation of our youth” and battle for veterans and seniors.

Evan Area, Republican

Republican Evan Space, of Grand Rapids, has fashioned a campaign committee and has a web site stating he’s operating for governor.

Space, a Traverse Metropolis native, requires the elimination of all enterprise taxes, statehood for the UP, bringing area launches to Michigan, the institution of a U.S. army base and the reform of the Pal of the Court docket, amongst different objectives.

He attended Grand Valley State College and Western Michigan College.

Area owns a window washing firm. He served within the Military Nationwide Guard as an engineer.

Ralph Rebandt, Republican

Rebandt is a former pastor who got here in final in his social gathering’s most up-to-date gubernatorial main. He was and farm raised in Woodhaven, in accordance with his marketing campaign web site.

He launched his 2026 gubernatorial bid Sept. 18 with a video celebrates President Donald Trump’s return to the White Home.

Rebandt opposes abortion. He was the one Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2022 who favored an abortion ban with none exceptions.

“I’ve a dream that collectively we are going to usher within the golden age of Michigan,” Rebandt says within the video. “We’ll construct the strongest economic system within the nation. We’ll return to commonsense insurance policies.”

Along with calling for a producing renaissance and curbing authorities regulation of enterprise, he says Michigan ought to create a state-backed cryptocurrency and get rid of property taxes. Whereas Rebandt listed Oakland County as his county of residence in 2022, his 2026 marketing campaign finance submitting says he presently lives in Otsego County.

Karla Wagner, Republican

Karla Wagner says on her marketing campaign web site that “property tax elimination is and can all the time be my most important focus. It’s the fruits of my analysis into how we are able to save our properties, farms and companies. It’s removed from my solely focus, nonetheless.”

She says she desires all ranges of presidency to reassess wants and spending, analysis “legit” various vitality, promote small companies, scale back the Legislature to part-time, assist farmers, revert the lottery to its unique intent and scope, reform faculty funding, scale back insurance coverage prices, examine authorities overreach and different objectives.

Wagner is founder of the AXMITax effort that hopes to get a referendum on the poll to eliminate property taxes.

The Detroit Free Press contributed reporting to this story.