Michigan Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Jocelyn Benson (D) vs. Donna Brandenburg (I) vs. Douglas Campbell (I) vs. Anthony Hudson (I) vs. John James (R). General election Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
What does a governor do?
Runs the state government. Proposes the state budget, signs or vetoes bills passed by the legislature, and appoints the heads of state agencies. Usually 4 years (2 in NH and VT).
- State budget, schools and Medicaid funding
- Signs or vetoes state laws
- Leads emergency response and the state National Guard
Your options
Listed alphabetically by last name. Each box has the same sections in the same order. Donation and campaign links appear only after we confirm they belong to the candidate's own committee.
Jocelyn Benson
Who they are
In their words: “Jocelyn Benson will be a Governor who gets things done for Michiganders.” campaign site
What they say they'll do
- Affordability
- Housing
- Healthcare
- Childcare
- Energy Costs
What they've done
Who funds them
In short
ActBlue page belongs to "Jocelyn Benson", checked against the page's own recipient details.
Donna Brandenburg
Who they are
What they say they'll do
What they've done
Who funds them
In short
Douglas Campbell
Who they are
What they say they'll do
What they've done
Who funds them
In short
Anthony Hudson
Who they are
In their words: “Invest in the future of Michigan with Anthony Hudson, who embodies Trump's Agenda 47 with the principles, vision, and drive that Michigan voters overwhelmingly supported when they voted for President Trump. This is about ensuring Michigan gets what it wants: bold leadership and the Trump agenda implemented right here in the Great Lakes State.” campaign site
What they say they'll do
What they've done
Who funds them
In short
John James
Who they are
What they've done
Who funds them
In short
WinRed page belongs to "John James for MI", checked against the page's own recipient details.
Where they stand, issue by issue
Quotes are taken from each campaign's own website (first sentences of the section, unedited). Topics are assigned by keyword; we do not summarize or score positions. "No public position found" means we did not find the topic on the campaign site, not that the candidate has no view.
Michigan created the middle class and put the world on wheels. We pride ourselves on our innovation, our resilience, and our hardworking communities. But as I listen to people around our state, it's clear that too many families are struggling to make ends meet.source
Where a paycheck covers the month and a young family can buy their first home here instead of in another state.source
Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. With all of the chaos, corruption, and confusion emerging from Washington, D.C.source
We have a childcare affordability crisis in Michigan. Some parents are stuck on waiting lists for months; others are paying more for care than their mortgage. And too often, women are pushed out of the workforce because affordable, reliable care simply doesn't exist.source
I love Michigan. From running on our miles of trails to swimming in our Great Lakes, to getting engaged on Isle Royale and then married on Belle Isle – I know the abundant natural beauty of our state is among our greatest strengths.source
No matter what city I'm in or what event I'm attending, housing is the number one issue people bring up. In places like Traverse City, where the average cost of a house is creeping into the millions, farmers can't find a place to live and raise their families.source
No candidate in this race addresses on their site: Taxes & government spending, Social Security & Medicare, Immigration & the border, Crime & public safety, Guns, Abortion, Foreign policy & defense, Veterans, Elections & government ethics, Farming & rural issues, Roads, transit & infrastructure.
About this race
No incumbent is on the ballot (open seat). The race is rated leaning Democratic. Usually 4 years (2 in NH and VT).
Rating from the Cook Political Report race ratings, Oct 23, 2026. Candidates from the Michigan Bureau of Elections candidate listing, 2026 general election.