Overview
- On Tuesday, Aug. 4, Michigan Democrats will pick between Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson while Republicans will choose between U.S. Rep. John James and businessman Perry Johnson.
- Benson runs on election administration and a progressive agenda but faces an Attorney General finding that she violated state law by holding a campaign event in a state building and a January 2026 lawsuit by four Black employees alleging workplace racial discrimination.
- Swanson emphasizes his law-enforcement record and public-safety proposals, including jail education programs and school security measures, and has a profile shaped by marching with protesters and speaking at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
- James's gubernatorial bid drew a key endorsement from President Trump and prompted former AG Mike Cox to leave the Republican primary, and James's departure has opened Michigan's 10th Congressional District to a six-candidate August primary.
- Perry Johnson, who was disqualified from the 2022 governor ballot over invalid petition signatures and ran for president in 2024, is campaigning on eliminating Michigan's state income tax and plans to audit and cut state spending to close the resulting revenue gap.