Election.orgRaces & polls
2026 · Governor

Michigan governor election

Election Day: November 3, 2026. Meet the published candidates, compare reported surveys and make your voting plan.

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Michigan

Who is on the November ballot?

November 3, 2026 · 5 printed ballot names · alphabetical

Official November list checked .

November write-in information

Write-in rules and filing deadlines vary by office and state. Check the current official list; the printed roster alone does not establish whether write-ins are eligible. Official write-in information ↗

Dates for November 3

Download calendar ↓

Partial coverage: only the dated entries below have been checked. Confirm other deadlines and exceptions with your election office.

Michigan · Sourced election dates
ActionDateDetails and source
Register online
Passed
Last day to register online for this election.
Official source ↗
Register by mail
Passed
Last day to register by mail; after this date use your local clerk in person.
Official source ↗
Register in person
3 days left
Register with proof of residency at your local clerk through 8 p.m. Election Day.
Official source ↗
Early voting begins
Passed
Statewide required early-voting period begins; some communities offer additional days.
Official source ↗
Early voting ends
1 day left
Statewide required early-voting period ends; check local optional Monday voting.
Official source ↗
Return ballot
3 days left
Domestic ballots must reach the clerk by 8 p.m.; military/overseas rules differ.
Official source ↗

In-person registration remains available October 20–November 3 at your local clerk; bring residency documentation. Source ↗

Checked 2026-10-16. Confirm local details and exceptions with your election office.

POLLING · SURVEYS, NOT PREDICTIONS

What do the polls say?

26 survey records

Reported support, with field dates and original sources. Surveys cover 2026 contests, including earlier cycle history from 2025. Older or hypothetical matchups do not establish who is on the current ballot.

Simple average, not a forecast

Last 30 days · Same matchup and population · Equal weight per pollster

Reported support · 0–100%

Likely voters

7 polls

–

  • Jocelyn Benson51.2%
  • John James43.1%

8.1 pts between the two highest answers

Included surveys & calculation

Add each answer’s reported support across these 7 surveys and divide by 7. No house effects, sample weights, undecided allocation or error band is applied. Figures are not rescaled to total 100%.

How the average works

Each pollster’s latest general-election survey ending within the last 30 days, with equal weight. Reviewed candidate identities join spelling variants; different matchups and voter populations stay separate. Percentages describe reported support, not a chance of winning.

Newest fieldwork appears first. When dates tie, the default favors more pollsters not marked internal or partisan in this 30-day window. Source labels remain visible; this is not a pollster-quality rating. Incomplete numeric matchups are excluded from this calculation but remain in the survey history. Full methodology →

Survey history

Hover or tap a date to see the survey and source.

Polling history for the selected matchup17 survey observations. Vertical scale: reported support from 0 to 60 percent. Select a survey date to read its source. Arrow keys move between dates. Exact figures and source links follow in the survey reports.0%15%30%45%60%Jocelyn Benson: 53% · CNN/SSRS · Oct 27, 2026 · 768 people surveyed · https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/29/politics/cnn-polls-michigan-maine-texas-kansas-senate-races-midterms-visJocelyn Benson: 50% · Guidant Polling and Strategy · Oct 27, 2026 · 800 people surveyed · https://x.com/burgessev/status/2107923538392776875?s=20Jocelyn Benson: 49% · Mitchell Research & Communications · Oct 27, 2026 · 636 people surveyed · https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/jocelyn-benson-john-james-october-michigan-gubernatorial-poll/Jocelyn Benson: 50.9% · Michigan State University Department of Political Science/Verasight · Oct 23, 2026 · 1,383 people surveyed · https://polisci.msu.edu/news-events/news/smidt-poll102926.htmlJocelyn Benson: 51.4% · Glengariff Group, Inc. · Oct 22, 2026 · 600 people surveyed · https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/27/jocelyn-bensons-lead-over-john-james-grows-in-michigan-governor-race/92441176007/Jocelyn Benson: 53.3% · Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Social Research/YouGov · Oct 19, 2026 · 836 people surveyed · https://ippsr.msu.edu/news/msu-poll-shows-benson-large-lead-while-el-sayed-roger-race-tightJocelyn Benson: 51% · Marist University · Oct 18, 2026 · Number of people surveyed not supplied · https://maristpoll.marist.edu/polls/midterm-elections-in-michigan-october-2026/Jocelyn Benson: 54% · Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. Research · Sep 28, 2026 · 1,028 people surveyed · https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-michigan-voters-split-between-el-sayed-rogersJocelyn Benson: 47% · co/efficient · Sep 23, 2026 · 843 people surveyed · https://battlegrounds.coefficient.org/mi/Jocelyn Benson: 48% · The New York Times/Siena University · Sep 22, 2026 · 605 people surveyed · https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/09/25/polls/times-siena-poll-mi-crosstabs.htmlJocelyn Benson: 53% · The Washington Post/George Mason University School of Policy and Government · Sep 14, 2026 · 803 people surveyed · https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/08fa9b5e-43ac-456c-a706-4c33ec6506dc.pdfJocelyn Benson: 45% · EPIC-MRA · Aug 28, 2026 · 600 people surveyed · https://drive.google.com/file/d/1flmzB5xpdJ6Noa-3hAbms0vBml6KwAxy/view?usp=sharingJocelyn Benson: 52% · Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Social Research/YouGov · Aug 20, 2026 · 779 people surveyed · https://ippsr.msu.edu/news/msu-poll-shows-democrats-lead-republicans-coalesce-behind-rogersJocelyn Benson: 49% · Fabrizio, Lee & Associates/Impact Research · Aug 11, 2026 · 877 people surveyed · https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/voter-research/politics/2026-midterm-election-poll-michigan/Jocelyn Benson: 46% · Mitchell Research & Communications · Jul 29, 2026 · 672 people surveyed · https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f14ae6fb2a20e01e9c6d608/t/6a6d26262f442f133d15fa49/1785538087149/MITCHELL+MI+Poll+Nov+Electio+Press+Release+7-31-2026+305PM_A.pdfJocelyn Benson: 43.7% · Glengariff Group, Inc. · Jul 24, 2026 · 600 people surveyed · https://mea.org/latest-statewide-poll-7-2026/Jocelyn Benson: 49% · TIPP Insights · May 23, 2026 · 1,163 people surveyed · https://tippinsights.com/league-of-american-workers-survey-michiganJohn James: 41% · CNN/SSRS · Oct 27, 2026 · 768 people surveyed · https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/29/politics/cnn-polls-michigan-maine-texas-kansas-senate-races-midterms-visJohn James: 45% · Guidant Polling and Strategy · Oct 27, 2026 · 800 people surveyed · https://x.com/burgessev/status/2107923538392776875?s=20John James: 44% · Mitchell Research & Communications · Oct 27, 2026 · 636 people surveyed · https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/jocelyn-benson-john-james-october-michigan-gubernatorial-poll/John James: 41.5% · Michigan State University Department of Political Science/Verasight · Oct 23, 2026 · 1,383 people surveyed · https://polisci.msu.edu/news-events/news/smidt-poll102926.htmlJohn James: 44.5% · Glengariff Group, Inc. · Oct 22, 2026 · 600 people surveyed · https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/27/jocelyn-bensons-lead-over-john-james-grows-in-michigan-governor-race/92441176007/John James: 40.9% · Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Social Research/YouGov · Oct 19, 2026 · 836 people surveyed · https://ippsr.msu.edu/news/msu-poll-shows-benson-large-lead-while-el-sayed-roger-race-tightJohn James: 45% · Marist University · Oct 18, 2026 · Number of people surveyed not supplied · https://maristpoll.marist.edu/polls/midterm-elections-in-michigan-october-2026/John James: 45% · Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. Research · Sep 28, 2026 · 1,028 people surveyed · https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-michigan-voters-split-between-el-sayed-rogersJohn James: 44% · co/efficient · Sep 23, 2026 · 843 people surveyed · https://battlegrounds.coefficient.org/mi/John James: 43% · The New York Times/Siena University · Sep 22, 2026 · 605 people surveyed · https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/09/25/polls/times-siena-poll-mi-crosstabs.htmlJohn James: 41% · The Washington Post/George Mason University School of Policy and Government · Sep 14, 2026 · 803 people surveyed · https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/08fa9b5e-43ac-456c-a706-4c33ec6506dc.pdfJohn James: 41% · EPIC-MRA · Aug 28, 2026 · 600 people surveyed · https://drive.google.com/file/d/1flmzB5xpdJ6Noa-3hAbms0vBml6KwAxy/view?usp=sharingJohn James: 43% · Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Social Research/YouGov · Aug 20, 2026 · 779 people surveyed · https://ippsr.msu.edu/news/msu-poll-shows-democrats-lead-republicans-coalesce-behind-rogersJohn James: 44% · Fabrizio, Lee & Associates/Impact Research · Aug 11, 2026 · 877 people surveyed · https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/voter-research/politics/2026-midterm-election-poll-michigan/John James: 44% · Mitchell Research & Communications · Jul 29, 2026 · 672 people surveyed · https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f14ae6fb2a20e01e9c6d608/t/6a6d26262f442f133d15fa49/1785538087149/MITCHELL+MI+Poll+Nov+Electio+Press+Release+7-31-2026+305PM_A.pdfJohn James: 38.7% · Glengariff Group, Inc. · Jul 24, 2026 · 600 people surveyed · https://mea.org/latest-statewide-poll-7-2026/John James: 38% · TIPP Insights · May 23, 2026 · 1,163 people surveyed · https://tippinsights.com/league-of-american-workers-survey-michiganMay 23, 2026Oct 27, 2026
Jocelyn BensonJohn James

Dots show reported support; connecting lines are not an average or forecast.

How to read this chart

Party colors: Republican red, Democratic blue, Independent purple. Other or unmatched affiliations are gray. Dash patterns distinguish candidates sharing a color.

Dots show reported support. Lines connect surveys over time—not an average or forecast. Pollsters can differ. Missing values and multiple surveys ending on the same date break the lines.

No average, trend estimate, or win probability. Different matchups and populations are not combined. Dates mark the last day people were surveyed. The vertical scale always starts at zero; use “Full 0–100% scale” to compare charts on the same scale. The number of people surveyed is the survey sample size, not the number supporting a candidate. Select “Survey source” to inspect every report, including overlapping dots.

Individual survey reports (17)

Latest surveys · selected matchup

Individual reports. Original sources and methodology below.

2026 Michigan

CNN/SSRS

Fieldwork –
Reported support
  • Jocelyn BensonDemocratic53%
  • John JamesRepublican41%

0–100% scale · Listed alphabetically

Sample
768 people surveyed
Population
Likely voters
Survey details & methodology
Reported margin of error
Not supplied in this feed
Method
Not supplied in this feed
Sponsors
Not supplied in this feed
Pollster/sponsor partisan label
Not supplied
Internal poll
Not marked internal by provider
Added by provider
Provider ID
gov202cnnabfbf7a9
Fieldwork –
Reported support
  • Jocelyn BensonDemocratic50%
  • John JamesRepublican45%

0–100% scale · Listed alphabetically

Sample
800 people surveyed
Population
Likely voters
Survey details & methodology
Reported margin of error
Not supplied in this feed
Method
Not supplied in this feed
Sponsors
Public First Action
Pollster/sponsor partisan label
Not supplied
Internal poll
Not marked internal by provider
Added by provider
Provider ID
gov202gui12b1fe0d
Fieldwork –
Reported support
  • Jocelyn BensonDemocratic49%
  • John JamesRepublican44%

0–100% scale · Listed alphabetically

Sample
636 people surveyed
Population
Likely voters
Survey details & methodology
Reported margin of error
Not supplied in this feed
Method
Not supplied in this feed
Sponsors
WWJ-TV, WKBD-TV
Pollster/sponsor partisan label
Not supplied
Internal poll
Not marked internal by provider
Added by provider
Provider ID
gov202miteee408e5
Fieldwork –
Reported support
  • Jocelyn BensonDemocratic50.9%
  • John JamesRepublican41.5%

0–100% scale · Listed alphabetically

Sample
1,383 people surveyed
Population
Likely voters
Survey details & methodology
Reported margin of error
Not supplied in this feed
Method
Not supplied in this feed
Sponsors
Not supplied in this feed
Pollster/sponsor partisan label
Not supplied
Internal poll
Not marked internal by provider
Added by provider
Provider ID
gov202mic1cf10b5d
Fieldwork –
Reported support
  • Jocelyn BensonDemocratic51.4%
  • John JamesRepublican44.5%

0–100% scale · Listed alphabetically

Sample
600 people surveyed
Population
Likely voters
Survey details & methodology
Reported margin of error
Not supplied in this feed
Method
Not supplied in this feed
Sponsors
The Detroit News, WDIV-TV
Pollster/sponsor partisan label
Not supplied
Internal poll
Not marked internal by provider
Added by provider
Provider ID
gov202gle26998710
Fieldwork –
Reported support
  • Jocelyn BensonDemocratic53.3%
  • John JamesRepublican40.9%

0–100% scale · Listed alphabetically

Sample
836 people surveyed
Population
Likely voters
Survey details & methodology
Reported margin of error
Not supplied in this feed
Method
Not supplied in this feed
Sponsors
Not supplied in this feed
Pollster/sponsor partisan label
Not supplied
Internal poll
Not marked internal by provider
Added by provider
Provider ID
gov202mic9eb10e12
Fieldwork –
Reported support
  • Jocelyn BensonDemocratic51%
  • John JamesRepublican45%

0–100% scale · Listed alphabetically

Sample
Number of people surveyed not supplied
Population
Likely voters
Survey details & methodology
Reported margin of error
Not supplied in this feed
Method
Not supplied in this feed
Sponsors
Not supplied in this feed
Pollster/sponsor partisan label
Not supplied
Internal poll
Not marked internal by provider
Added by provider
Provider ID
gov202mar8163ad9f
Fieldwork –
Reported support
  • Jocelyn BensonDemocratic54%
  • John JamesRepublican45%

0–100% scale · Listed alphabetically

Sample
1,028 people surveyed
Population
Likely voters
Survey details & methodology
Reported margin of error
Not supplied in this feed
Method
Not supplied in this feed
Sponsors
Fox News
Pollster/sponsor partisan label
Not supplied
Internal poll
Not marked internal by provider
Added by provider
Provider ID
gov202bea0796a0d8

Labels and figures are supplied by VoteHub. A listed matchup does not establish ballot qualification or primary/general-election status unless the source explicitly says so. Unlisted responses may include undecided voters or other choices; the displayed figures are not rescaled to total 100%.

Polling compilation: VoteHub · CC BY 4.0. Election.org normalizes dates, matches races, and visualizes reported results; it does not estimate outcomes. Original survey links are attached to each report.

Automatic hourly sync. Across all feeds, the latest survey ended 2026-10-30. Check the field dates above for this selection. Feed update status →

Last successful feed updates
  • Senate: 11/1/2026, 3:17:20 AM UTC · 548 survey records
  • House: 11/1/2026, 3:17:19 AM UTC · 184 survey records
  • Governor: 11/1/2026, 3:17:19 AM UTC · 428 survey records
  • National preference: 11/1/2026, 3:17:19 AM UTC · 545 survey records

An update time is when we checked the feed, not when a survey was conducted. Coverage is not exhaustive.

Follow campaign money

Governor campaigns file with their state’s campaign-finance authorities. Federal candidate totals do not describe this race.

SECRETARY OF STATE ↗

State campaign-finance sources →

No verified prediction-market match is connected for this race yet. See national House and Senate market prices →

Election inventory: National Governors Association ↗ · checked 2026-10-11. Ballot status comes from the separate state certification when present.