The Race for Michigan Govenor in 2026 Begins

While nearly everyone involved in Michigan politics is focused on the upcoming presidential election, some hints of what could be to come in 2026, when the state will have an open governor’s race as Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, have started to show.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson briefly entertained the idea of running for governor in 2022 after he made national headlines the year prior for joining Black Lives Matter demonstrators in Flint.

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint), who has been floated as a potential candidate for governor in previous election years and had expressed some interest in the role, closed the door on seeking the state’s highest office, even though he is leaving Congress at the end of his current term.

Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has hinted at a 2026 gubernatorial run and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is widely expected to jump in, as well. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) have also been mentioned as potential candidates.

The Republican field seems wide open, but unsuccessful 2022 gubernatorial candidates like businessman Perry Johnson, who launched a failed 2024 presidential campaign, right-wing commentator Tudor Dixon and businessman Kevin Rinke could run again.

DWags wrote:I’d love Buttigieg in 2026 for two years to see his administration ability up close, than as a presidential candidate in 2028.  

AvgMSUJoe wrote:

TravelinMan wrote:I'm a huge Swanson fan.

Feels a bit "hack"... a TON of TV time that no other Sheriff gets (daily task force media updates)... the hair... country jelly facetat guy in the prison... feels like a pro politician.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:

TravelinMan wrote:I'm a huge Swanson fan.

Feels a bit "hack"... a TON of TV time that no other Sheriff gets (daily task force media updates)... the hair... country jelly facetat guy in the prison... feels like a pro politician.

Floyd Robertson wrote:

AvgMSUJoe wrote:

Feels a bit "hack"... a TON of TV time that no other Sheriff gets (daily task force media updates)... the hair... country jelly facetat guy in the prison... feels like a pro politician.

Not to mention going from sheriff to governor is a biiiiiigggg stretch.

Trapper Gus wrote:I'm finding it hard to pinpoint anyone I would like to see running, so some comments about whose help they need.

On the Republician side they need the support of the DeVoss family and hanger ons. Last time, after the great qualification petition mess they supported Dixon, who flamed out.  She is a lightweight, politically, so not her.  Peter Meijer maybe?

On the Democratic side are there any power brokers at the level of the DeVoss crowd?  Some of the business owners in the Detriot Metro area, maybe.  As far as I know the Fords et al stay away from this sort of stuff.  I'm not personnal excited by any of the names in this article and don't see one of them with the connections that Whitmer had when she decided to run. Does Whitmer's endorsement matter much?

If someone can come up with a grand plan to find the revenue to fix the infrastructure I might be interested.  A use tax on vehicle miles definitely isn't a fair answer.

TravelinMan wrote:

Trapper Gus wrote:I'm finding it hard to pinpoint anyone I would like to see running, so some comments about whose help they need.

On the Republician side they need the support of the DeVoss family and hanger ons. Last time, after the great qualification petition mess they supported Dixon, who flamed out.  She is a lightweight, politically, so not her.  Peter Meijer maybe?

On the Democratic side are there any power brokers at the level of the DeVoss crowd?  Some of the business owners in the Detriot Metro area, maybe.  As far as I know the Fords et al stay away from this sort of stuff.  I'm not personnal excited by any of the names in this article and don't see one of them with the connections that Whitmer had when she decided to run.  Does Whitmer's endorsement matter much?

If someone can come up with a grand plan to find the revenue to fix the infrastructure I might be interested.  A use tax on vehicle miles definitely isn't a fair answer.

I think a use tax is ultimately VERY fair, but I have no idea how you would enforce such a thing.  Just way too many problems with that.

DWags wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
Never heard of him. So in the name of "I did my own research", I looked him up..

he looks like what would happen if Klanuary 6th collided with Mar-O-Lago at the intersection of Spray Tan and Hair Gel.

Trapper Gus wrote:

TravelinMan wrote:

I think a use tax is ultimately VERY fair, but I have no idea how you would enforce such a thing.  Just way too many problems with that.

My issue with the user tax on milage is that the users of roads are far more people than those who drive on them.  Effectively, since transportation is the backbone of the economy, the users of the roads are everyone who benefits from the economy.  A general tax on economic activity is a better match for those who benefit from the roads.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
Never heard of him. So in the name of "I did my own research", I looked him up..

he looks like what would happen if Klanuary 6th collided with Mar-O-Lago at the intersection of Spray Tan and Hair Gel.

I doubt hes a bad guy, he just seems "planned"...

DWags wrote:I’d love Buttigieg in 2026 for two years to see his administration ability up close, than as a presidential candidate in 2028.

Jake from State Farm wrote:The Livingston County Sheriff just won some award for vowing to let children kill themselves with their parent's guns. He'll probably soon be running on that platform for state office and the 2nd Amendment nutcases will eat it right up.

Livingston County Sheriff awarded for not enforcing gun safety laws

Trapper Gus wrote:List of potential Democratic Candidates...

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
State Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks

No Republicans have expressed interest, yet, and names floated out there are...

Businessman Perry Johnson
2022 Candidate Tudor Dixon
Businessman Kevin Rinke

Trapper Gus wrote:List of potential Democratic Candidates...

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
State Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks

No Republicans have expressed interest, yet, and names floated out there are...

Businessman Perry Johnson
2022 Candidate Tudor Dixon
Businessman Kevin Rinke

Jake from State Farm wrote:

Trapper Gus wrote:List of potential Democratic Candidates...

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
State Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks

No Republicans have expressed interest, yet, and names floated out there are...

Businessman Perry Johnson
2022 Candidate Tudor Dixon
Businessman Kevin Rinke

What about the AG with a drinking problem, is she gonna run?

GRR Spartan wrote:John James is a 2 time loser in statewide races however he's still a Betsy DeVos' favorite and last US Senate race when he lost to Gary Peters in 2020, John James wife was employed by Amway.

No salary info available since Amway is a privately held company.

Trapper Gus wrote:

GRR Spartan wrote:John James is a 2 time loser in statewide races however he's still a Betsy DeVos' favorite and last US Senate race when he lost to Gary Peters in 2020, John James wife was employed by Amway.

No salary info available since Amway is a privately held company.

James has a sweet gig as a US Rep in swing district and there are others who could make a credible run for Governor. How about the former chief of the Detroit Police Dept.

Then there is this article about who might run...

https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/has-michigan-governor-race-begun-duggan-spurs-speculation-heres-who-might-run