Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who was running as an Independent for Michigan governor, dropped out of the race on Thursday, May 21, leaving the field with eight candidates, for now.
Remaining candidates include Democrats Jocelyn Benson, Kim Thomas and Chris Swanson; and Republicans John James, Aric Nesbitt, Mike Cox, Ralph Rebandt and Perry Johnson.
Thomas, of Battle Creek, and Rebandt, of Washington, should be disqualified from appearing on the primary ballot due to not turning in enough valid petition signatures, Bureau of Elections staff reported Wednesday, May 20.
As of Thursday, both were still in the race. The Board of State Canvassers is set to meet May 28 to decide whether they will qualify for the August primary ballot. Other than Rebandt and Thomas, all other major party candidates turned in sufficient signatures.
With Duggan’s withdrawal, eight candidates have now withdrawn or been disqualified. The filing deadline for partisan candidates was Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II withdrew to run for Secretary of State, earning the Democrats’ endorsement at the April 19 convention, Democrat Marni Sawicki announced she was ending her run on Feb. 1, Democrat Kevin Hogan, Republican Tom Leonard announced he was ending his campaign on April 23, Republican Evan Space, Republican Joyce Gipson, Republican Anthony Hudson and Republican Karla Wagner.
The candidates for the 2026 election all hope to succeed Whitmer, who is term limited. The next governor will take office Jan. 1, 2027, after Whitmer’s term expires.
Here’s a closer look at when the election takes place and declared candidates.
When is Michigan’s gubernatorial election?
The next election for governor of Michigan is Nov. 3, 2026. The 2026 primary election is Aug. 4, 2026.
How can candidates get onto the ballot?
Except for write-in candidates, all candidates for governor must submit an Affidavit of Identity when filing for office.
To be eligible for the office of governor, a person must be 30 or older and have been a registered elector for at least four years.
Candidates seeking the Democratic Party or Republican Party nomination must use the Countywide Partisan Nominating Petition form. A candidate must submit at least 15,000 valid signatures and may submit up to 30,000 signatures. The petition must be signed by at least 100 registered electors in each of at least half of the congressional districts in the state. Access to the ballot via filing fee is not available, the Michigan Secretary of State office says.
Candidates seeking nomination without political party affiliation must submit at least 12,000 valid signatures and may submit up to 60,000. Minor party candidates have until one day after a nominating convention to file.
A candidate seeking the office of governor with write-in votes must file a Declaration of Intent no later than 4 p.m. on the second Friday immediately before the election.
Mike Cox, Republican
Cox served as Michigan’s top legal official from 2003-10. He ran in the GOP gubernatorial primary in 2010, finishing third in a five-candidate field that year. He was Michigan’s first Republican Attorney General in 50 years, his website notes.
Cox grew up in Redford Township. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and then attended the University of Michigan, obtaining his undergraduate and law degrees. He spent 21 years as a prosecutor, the website says.
His wife, Laura Cox, previously served as the Michigan GOP chair during the 2020 election.
His X account says he is running to “eliminate the tax on work, restore the right to work, DOGE the state, teach the ABCs, not DEI, and support school choice.”
“I’m no stranger to winning tough races, and we’re going to do it again. Saving our state is worth it,” he said in a post on X.
John James, Republican
James, who represents the 10th Congressional District, served as president of James Group International (JGI) and CEO of Renaissance Global Logistics — a supply-chain management and logistics services company based in Detroit.
James, of Shelby Township, served eight years of active duty military service as a Ranger-qualified aviation officer leading two Apache helicopter platoons during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2007-09. He is the state’s only Black congressman. He ran for U.S. Senate twice unsuccessfully before taking on this newly created seat in 2022.
“Our state has suffered long enough. Michigan is strong. Our people are strong. But we are being held back by a lack of strong, competent leadership — leadership with real-world experience in the areas Michiganders need most,” James said in a statement April 7, 2025, posted to X. “It’s time to get Michigan’s government out of fantasyland and back to common sense.”
Aric Nesbitt, Republican
Aric Nesbitt is a Van Buren County Republican, who grew up on a farm and has a long career in Republican politics. He was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2010, serving three terms in the chamber.
He was elected to the Michigan Senate in 2018. When Democrats flipped that chamber from Republican to Democratic control in the 2022 election, his fellow GOP lawmakers chose him to serve as the Senate Republican Leader.
“As governor, I will put Michigan first by supporting taxpayers over the woke left, empowering parents, keeping families safe, and standing with President Trump to revive our manufacturing industry and Make Michigan Great Again,” Nesbitt said in a statement.
Ralph Rebandt, Republican
Rebandt is a former pastor who came in last in his party’s most recent gubernatorial primary. He was and farm raised in Woodhaven, according to his campaign website.
He launched his 2026 gubernatorial bid Sept. 18, 2025, with a video celebrating President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Rebandt opposes abortion. He was the only Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2022 who favored an abortion ban without any exceptions.
“I have a dream that together we will usher in the golden age of Michigan,” Rebandt says in the video. “We will build the strongest economy in the country. We will return to commonsense policies.”
In addition to calling for a manufacturing renaissance and curtailing government regulation of business, he says Michigan should create a state-backed cryptocurrency and eliminate property taxes. While Rebandt listed Oakland County as his county of residence in 2022, his 2026 campaign finance filing says he currently lives in Otsego County.
Perry Johnson, Republican
Johnson, a Bloomfield Hills millionaire who advises corporate clients on how to improve quality in their processes, has described himself as a “quality guru,” but has never held elected office. His campaign website describes him as a self-made businessman.
“Michigan families and small businesses deserve a government that works as hard as they do,” Johnson said in a news release.
Johnson said a news release that his campaign will focus on efficiency in government, fiscal discipline, and a path to eliminating Michigan’s 4.25% personal income tax.
Chris Swanson, Democrat
Swanson was elected Genesee County sheriff in 2020. He won reelection in 2024.
Swanson grew up in Grand Blanc and currently lives in Fenton, both Genesee County cities. He has worked in law enforcement for almost three decades, according to the Genesee County Sheriff’s website.
Swanson attended Mott Community College in Flint, and holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in public administration, both from the University of Michigan.
Swanson has said protecting Michigan residents’ 2nd Amendment, collective bargaining, civil rights, freedom to worship are among his priorities.
“I want to lead and help people and inspire an entire generation in the state of Michigan,” he said previously.
Jocelyn Benson, Democrat
Benson was first elected Secretary of State in 2018 and then again in 2022. As Michigan’s chief elections officer during the 2020 election, Benson spoke out against President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his loss that year.
In addition to her election duties, Benson also oversees motor vehicle services in Michigan. During her time in office, Benson has moved more services online and, with self-service kiosk stations in Michigan, some drivers have replaced in-person visits to a Secretary of State office with a trip to the grocery store.
A graduate of Harvard Law School and expert on civil rights law, education law and election law. Before serving as Secretary of State, Benson was dean at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit.
“I want Michigan to be the best place in the country to be a kid, raise a kid, and be healthy, safe, and successful. A place where government is efficient and easy to deal with, where businesses and communities thrive, and where every resident has access to quality child care, health care, education, and housing,” Benson said in a statement.
Kimberly Thomas
Kimberly “Kim” Thomas spent 20 years working for the United States Department of Defense, according to her campaign website.
Thomas received her MBA from Spring Arbor University.
“I am a federal auditor. I’ve spent my career finding where the money is hidden. Michigan’s budget is massive, but it’s full of ‘ghost’ projects and administrative bloat. We don’t need more of your tax money; we need a Governor who knows how to count the money we already have.”
The Detroit Free Press contributed to this story.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Duggan drops out of governor’s race. Who’s still running?
Reporting by Dan Basso and Jalen Williams, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
