The rating
Lean Democrat
Rated Lean Democrat by Cook Political Report on Oct 13, 2026.
| Forecaster | Rating | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Cook Political Report (opens in a new tab) | Lean D | Oct 13, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely D | Latest |
Who is running
John James
Republican Open seat
Jocelyn Benson
Democrat Open seat
The facts
- Whitmer won in 2022 with 54.5% and is term-limited.
- James beat businessman Perry Johnson in the Aug. 4 Republican primary with 50.1%. Benson won the Democratic primary with 83.2%.
- Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, running as an independent, suspended his campaign in May.
Opinion
Why this race matters to conservatives
Michigan is a swing state that decides national elections. Governor and Senate are on the same ballot.
This box is the opinion of RightNewsRightNow. The rest of this page is reporting, with sources listed below.
Where these facts come from
- Cook Political ReportCurrent rating, as of Oct 13, 2026Read it (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia (election pages, with their cited sources)Candidate and race factsRead it (opens in a new tab)