Jocelyn Benson and John James Set to Compete for Michigan Governorship
The Michigan governor's race is set, with Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson facing Republican U.S. Rep. John James in the upcoming November midterm election to succeed Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Detroit, MI, August 5, 2026 —
The field is now set for Michigan’s gubernatorial election, with Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson poised to face Republican U.S. Representative John James in the November midterm elections. The race will determine who succeeds current Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Benson, currently serving as the state’s Secretary of State, has secured the Democratic nomination. She has held this statewide office since 2019, following a tenure as Dean of Wayne State University Law School. Her previous public service includes working as an election protection lawyer and as a community organizer.
On the Republican side, U.S. Representative John James will be the party’s nominee. James, who represents Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, is a businessman and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He previously ran for the U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020.
The election will be a key contest in the upcoming November midterms, with the winner taking over the executive office from Governor Whitmer, who is completing her second term. The campaign is expected to focus on a range of issues pertinent to Michigan residents.
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