Updates About Elections

The primary field for the Governor’s race in both parties is expected to be finalized after the Michigan Bureau of Elections (BOE) completes signature validation, with nine candidates having submitted the minimum required signatures for review. The candidates who filed for each party are listed below:

Democrats

• Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson
• Genesee County Sheriff, Chris Swanson
• Former Federal Auditor, Kim Thomas

Republicans

• U.S. Congressman, John James
• Businessman, Perry Johnson
• Former Attorney General, Mike Cox
• Senate Minority Leader, Aric Nesbitt
• Pastor, Ralph Rebrandt

Former Mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan, who is running as an independent, will forgo any primary election and instead have to turn his signatures in by July 16 in order to appear on the November general election ballot.

Recently, the Michigan Democratic Party held their State Endorsement Convention. At the convention, party delegates voted to endorse current Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II for Secretary of State and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit for Attorney General. Gilchrist won the endorsement over Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum and former Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. Eli Savit beat out Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald.

With nominees now finalized, both parties can shift their focus to the general election in November. Below are the matchups for each race.

Secretary of State

• Democrat Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II
• Republican Macomb County Clerk, Anthony Forlini

Attorney General

• Democrat Washtenaw County Prosecutor, Eli Savit
• Republican Eaton County Prosecutor, Doug Lloyd

On May 5th, Saginaw area voters will decide who represents them in the State Senate in the 35th district special election. The seat has been vacant since January of last year when the former incumbent, Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City), resigned when she was sworn into the U.S. House. The district encompasses parts of Bay, Saginaw, and Midland counties. The Democratic candidate is Chedrick Greene, a former Marine and the current Saginaw Fire Captain. The Republican is Attorney and Businessperson Jason Tunney from Saginaw. The winner of the race will serve for the remainder of the year and face re-election in the November 3rd general election.

The race is of particular interest given the current composition of the Michigan Senate. Currently, Democrats have a slim 19-18 majority in the Senate. A Greene victory would strengthen their lead, but if Tunney comes out ahead, the chamber would have 19 Democrats and 19 Republicans. In such a case, tie-breaker votes would need to be cast by Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist.

In 2022, McDonald Rivet won the seat with 53% of the vote.