Michigan Candidate & Election Guide
Federal and statewide candidates, elections, state political parties, news sites, and other resources — no frills, just what you need — curated by Politics1 publisher Ron Gunzburger.
Governor
(Governor & Lt. Governor candidates run together on tickets in the General Election.)
[ Gretchen Whitmer (D)* - Term-Limited in 2026. ]
Jocelyn Benson (D) - Secretary of State, Ex-Wayne State Univ Law School Dean & Attorney
Chris Swanson (D) - Genesee County Sheriff
Kim Thomas (D) - Federal Auditor, Farmer, Teacher & Retired Veteran
Mike Cox (R) - Ex-Attorney General, USMC Veteran & '10 Candidate
John James (R) - Congressman, Iraq War Veteran & '18/'20 US Sen Nominee
Perry Johnson (R) - Businessman, '22 Candidate & '24 Pres Candidate
Tom Leonard (R) - Ex-State House Speaker, Attorney & '18/'22 Atty Gen Candidate
Aric Nesbitt (R) - State Senate Minority Leader, Ex-State Lottery Commissioner & Ex-State Rep.
Ralph Rebandt (R) - Pastor, Police Chaplain & '22 Candidate
Anthony Hudson (L) - Truck Driver, Anti-Tax Activist & Ex-Republican
Mike Duggan (I) - Detroit Mayor, Ex-Wayne County Prosecutor & Ex-Hospital System CEO
Karla Wagner (I) - Anti-Tax Activist & Ex-Republican
Next State Constitutional Officer Elections in 2026.
Lieutenant Governor
[ Garlin Gilchrist (D)* - Candidate for Secretary of State in 2026. ]
Secretary of State
[ Jocelyn Benson (D)* - Candidate for Governor in 2026. ]
Garlin Gilchrist (D) - Lt Governor, Ex-Detroit City Official & Ex-Community Organizer
Anthony Forlini (R) - Macomb County Clerk, Ex-State Rep. & Ex-Harrison Township Supervisor
Eric Borregard (G) - Graphic Designer, Video Editor & Frequent Candidate
Attorney General
[ Dana Nessel (D)* - Term-Limited in 2026. ]
Eli Savit (D) - Washtenaw County Prosecutor
Doug Lloyd (R) - Eaton County Prosecutor
STATE LEGISLATURE
State House - ( Republican Caucus - Democratic Caucus )
State Senate - ( Republican Caucus - Democratic Caucus )
U.S. Senator
SENATE ELECTION 2026:
[ Gary Peters (D)* - Retiring in 2026. ]
Abdul El-Sayed (D) - Ex-Wayne County Health Director, Physician, Epidemiologist & '18 Gov Candidate
Mallory McMorrow (D) - State Senate Majority Whip
Haley Stevens (D) - Congresswoman & Ex-US Treasury Dept Official
Mike Rogers (R) - Ex-Congressman, Ex-State Sen., Ex-FBI Agent, Army Veteran & '24 Nominee
Genevieve Peters Scott (R) - Ex-Teacher & MAGA Activist
Bernadette Smith (R) - Ex-State GOP Co-Chair
Doug Marsh (G) - Journalist & '24 Nominee
Lydia Christensen (I) - Computer Programmer & Ex-Factory Worker
Craig Johnson (I) - Businessman, Factory Worker & '28 Pres Candidate
Jason Sherman (I)
Thomas "TJ" Stephens (I) - Businessman & Ex-Firefighter
Valerie Willis (I) - Farmer, MAGA Activist & Frequent Candidate
SENATE ELECTION 2030:
Elissa Slotkin (D)* - (Campaign Site)
U.S. House (Districts)
District 1
Jack Bergman (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Matthew DenOtter (R) - Realtor & '22 Candidate
Justin Michal (R) - Retired Army Officer
Callie Barr (D) - Attorney, Ex-Teacher & '24 Nominee
Kyle Blomquist (D) - Iron Mountain City Councilman & Architect
Wayne Stiles (D) - Industrial Designer
Andrew Gale (L) - Recycling Executive & '22/'24 Nominee
Liz Hakola (WCP) - Retired Gas Company Manager & Frequent Candidate
Zebulon Featherly (I) - Factory Worker & Ex-Wind Turbine Technician
Thomas Latza (I) - Pharmacist
District 2
John Moolenaar (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Ben Ambrose (D) - Marketing Executive, Ex-Congressional Aide & USMC Veteran
Jamie Hill (D) - Physician Assistant
Clyde Welford (D) - Lake County Commissioner & Retired Teacher
District 3
Hillary Scholten (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Ryan Cushman (R) - Businessman & Army Veteran
Terri DeBoer (R) - TV Meteorologist & Ex-TV News Reporter
District 4
Bill Huizenga (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Phil Tanis (R) - Ex-Holland Mayor & College Historical Research Center Director
Diop Harris (D) - Ex-Congressional Aide & Political Organizer
Sean McCann (D) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Ex-Kalamazoo City Commissioner
DISTRICT 5
Tim Walberg (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Christian Vukasovich (D) - College Professor & Labor Organizer
Jim Bronke (G) - Avionics Engineer, Digital Content Producer & '24 Nominee
District 6
Debbie Dingell (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Heather Smiley (R) - Retired Autoworker, MAGA Activist & Frequent Candidate
Clyde Shabazz (G) - Podcast Host, Media Producer, Artist & Frequent Candidate
Bill Krebaum (L) - Barber Shop Owner, '24 Candidate & '16 St Rep Candidate
District 7
Tom Barrett (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Bridget Brink (D) - Ex-US Ambassador to Ukraine & Ex-US Ambassador to Slovakia
William Lawrence (D) - Political Organizer & Progressive Activist
Matt Maasdam (D) - Ex-Navy SEAL, Ex-Obama Military Presidential Aide & Iraq/Afghan War Veteran
Alexandra Prieditis (I) - Advertising Art Director & Progressive Activist
District 8
Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Amir Hassan (R) - Ex-US Postal Inspection Service Agent & Navy Veteran
Al Lemmo (R) - Retired Mechanical Engineer, Pro-Life Activist & '20 Candidate
Thomas Smith (R)
District 9
Lisa McClain (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Ray Pooley (D) - Machinist & Computer Programmer
Jasen Cartwright (I) - IT Technician
Fernando Valdez Jr. (I) - Retired Electronic Technician
District 10
[ John James (R)* - Candidate for Governor in 2026. ]
Mike Bouchard Jr (R) - National Guard Officer & Iraq War Veteran
Steffan Demetropoulos (R) - Construction Project Manager & Afghan War Veteran
Justin Kirk (R) - Attorney & Ex-Congressional Aide
Robert Lulgjuraj (R) - Attorney
Eric Chung (D) - Ex-US Commerce Dept Official & Attorney
Tim Greimel (D) - Pontiac Mayor, Ex-State House Minority Leader, Attorney & '18 Candidate
Christina Hines (D) - Attorney & '24 Macomb County Prosecutor Nominee
District 11
[ Haley Stevens (D)* - Candidate for US Senate in 2026. ]
Stu Baker (D) - Parking Valet & Ex-Restaurant Worker
Aisha Farooqi (D) - Attorney
Jeremy Moss (D) - State Senate President Pro Tem, Ex-State Rep. & Ex-Southfield City Councilman
Michelle Murphy (D) - Social Service Program Manager & Volunteer Tutor
John Paul Torres (D) - Waterford School Board Member & Juvenile Justice Program Manager
Don Ufford (D) - Retired Auto Engineer
Ethan Baker (R) - Troy Mayor & Attorney
Tony Prieto (R) - Businessman & MAGA Activist
Anil Kumar (I) - Wayne State University Trustee, Physician, Ex-Democrat & '24/'16 Candidate
Dave Trott (I) - Ex-Congressman, Attorney & Ex-Republican
District 12
Rashida Tlaib (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Shanelle Jackson (D) - Ex-State Rep. & Frequent Candidate
Byron Nolen (D) - Inkster Mayor & Attorney
James Hooper (R) - Tradesman, GOP Activist & Frequent Candidate
Brenda Sanders (G) - Ex-District Judge, Attorney & Frequent Candidate
Gary Walkowicz (WCP) - Retired Autoworker, Militant Labor Activist & Frequent Candidate
District 13
Shri Thanedar (D)* - (Campaign Site)
John Goci (D) - Realtor & '14 Candidate
Donavan McKinney (D) - State Rep. & Political Organizer
Mary Waters (D) - Detroit City Councilwoman, Ex-State House Minority Leader & '24 Candidate
Martell Bivings (R) - Policy Analyst, Ex-City Council Aide & '22/'24 Nominee
Raphiel King (R)
Taras "TP" Nykoriak (R) - Felon & Frequent Candidate
Chris Dardzinski (USTP) - Ex-Lincoln Park City Councilman, Businessman & '22/'24 Nominee
Maurice Morton (I) - Attorney, Cannabis Executive & '14 Candidate
Political Parties
Michigan Democratic Party (D)
Michigan Green Party (G)
Libertarian Party of Michigan (L)
Natural Law Party of Michigan (NL)
Michigan Republican Party (R)
Socialist Party of Michigan (S)
US Taxpayers Party of Michigan (USTP) - Constitution Party state affiliate
Working Class Party (WCP)
Independent (I)
Write-In (WI)
State Election Office
State News Sources
Alpena News
Ann Arbor Independent (Alternative)
Ann Arbor News
Ann Arbor Observer
Battle Creek Enquirer
Benton Spirit
Berrien County Record
Bridge Michigan
Cadillac News
Cheboygan News
Coldwater Daily Reporter
Dearborn Arab-American News
Dearborn Press & Guide
Dearborn Times-Herald
Axios Detroit
Detroit Catholic
Chalkbeat: Detroit
Deadline Detroit
Detroit Free Press
Detroit Jewish News
Detroit Metro Times (Alternative)
Detroit News
Outlier Media Detroit
Dundee Independent
Escanaba Daily Press
Fenton Times
Flint Beat
Flint Courier News
Flint Journal
Gongwer News Service
Gladwin County Record & Clarion
Grand Rapids Press / Muskegon Chronicle
Grand Rapids Rapidian
Grand Rapids Times (African American)
Hillsdale Daily News
Holland Sentinel
Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
Huron Daily Tribune
Ionia Sentinel-Standard
Ironwood Daily Globe
Jackson Citizen-Patriot
Kalamazoo Gazette
Kalamazoo Times
Lansing State Journal
Lapeer County Press
Latino Detroit (Spanish)
Lenawee Daily Telegram
Livingston County Daily Press & Argus
Ludington Daily News
Macomb Daily
Marquette Mining Journal
Michigan Advance
Michigan Chronicle (African American)
Michigan Daily (University of Michigan)
Michigan Votes (Mackinac Center for Public Policy)
Midland Daily News
MLive.com Advance Local Media
Monroe News
Niles Daily Star
Oakland Press
Observer & Eccentric Newspapers
(Wayne/Oakland Counties)
Petoskey News-Review
Pride Source / Between the Lines (LGBT)
Revie West Michigan (Alternative)
Sault News
Southgate News-Herald
Southwest Michigan Herald-Palladium
State News (Michigan State University)
Traverse City Record-Eagle
WJBK TV-2 (FOX - Detroit)
WDIV TV-4 (NBC - Detroit)
WXYZ TV-7 (ABC - Detroit)
WTVS TV-56 Public Television (PBS - Detroit)
WWJ TV-62 (CBS - Detroit)
WLNS TV-6 (CBS - Lansing)
WJMN TV-3 (CBS - Marquette)
WLUC TV-6 (NBC / FOX - Marquette)
WNEM TV-5 (CBS - Flint / Saginaw
/ Midland / Bay City)
WOOD TV-8 (NBC - Grand Rapids)
WOOD NewsRadio 1300 AM (Grand
Rapids)
Michigan Public Radio (NPR)