Michigan holds primary election for governor, with open seat after Whitmer is term-limited

Michigan holds its primary election for governor and other state offices on August 4, 2026, with the general election on November 3. The governor''s race is fully open: Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and cannot run again. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson leads the Democratic primary field. Michigan is rated a genuine toss-up for November, making it the marquee governor''s race of the 2026 cycle. Michigan is also home to competitive U.S. Senate and House races.