Primary
Democratic Primary
Held August 4, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jocelyn Benson ✓ | 1,247,174 | 83.2% | |
| Christopher Robert Swanson | 251,762 | 16.8% |
Republican Primary
Held August 4, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| John James ✓ | 466,232 | 58.7% | |
| Perry Johnson | 327,910 | 41.3% |
Full calendar and every race: Michigan primary guide
Race Overview
General Election Polling Trend
PollingSource average — trailing average of all polls from the last 30 days.
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Race page
Candidates
Jocelyn Benson Nominee
DemocratJohn James Nominee
RepublicanGeneral Election Polling Average
Average reflects all polls from the last 30 days; table shows the most recent 30 days or the newest 3 polls, whichever is more — subscribe for the full history. How accurate is each pollster? →
| Pollster | Date | Sample | MoE | Dem | Rep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSRS | 2026-09-06 | 843 LV | ±4.10 | Jocelyn Benson 50.00% | John James 41.00% |
| Glengariff Group | 2026-09-03 | 600 LV | ±4.00 | Jocelyn Benson 47.00% | John James 43.00% |
| Glengariff | 2026-09-03 | LV | Jocelyn Benson 47.00% | John James 43.00% | |
| EPIC-MRA | 2026-08-28 | 600 LV | ±4.00 | Jocelyn Benson 48.00% | John James 44.00% |
| Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Social Research/YouGov | 2026-08-20 | 913 RV | Jocelyn Benson 49.00% | John James 39.00% |
Questions About This Race
Who is winning the 2026 Michigan governor's race?
Jocelyn Benson leads John James 48.5% to 41.8% in the PollingSource polling average — a D+6.7 margin based on 4 polls from the last 30 days.
Is the 2026 Michigan governor's race competitive?
It is not considered a top-tier battleground: the PollingSource polling average rates it Likely D, meaning Democrats are clearly favored but an upset is not impossible.
What does the latest poll of the 2026 Michigan governor's race say?
The most recent public poll, from SSRS (completed September 6, 2026), found Jocelyn Benson (D) at 50% and John James (R) at 41%.
When is the 2026 Michigan governor's race decided?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
How is the PollingSource average calculated?
The PollingSource average is the unweighted mean of every scientific public poll of the race from the last 30 days — we do not exclude pollsters. Each race page lists the individual polls behind the average with pollster, field dates, sample size, and margin of error. Full details: pollingsource.com/methodology.
Race Notes
Term-limited, open seat