Incumbent: Gretchen Whitmer (Democratic) · Term-limited
General election Tuesday, Nov 3, 2026
Write-ins: Michigan counts write-in votes only for people who file a Declaration of Intent with the proper filing official by 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 (MCL 168.737a; Michigan Bureau of Elections 2026 election calendar). The state's list of declared write-in candidates is prepared after that deadline, so none are listed here yet.
Michigan secretary of state (2019–present).
U.S. representative (2023–present) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020.
Businesswoman and U.S. Taxpayers Party nominee for governor in 2022.
Engineer and perennial candidate.
Truck driver and Republican candidate in 2024.
Candidates checked against the official list: state election office source. Candidate list compiled from the Wikipedia race page and the sources on each profile. Check your official sample ballot before voting.
Topic headings are Vote Book’s; quoted words are each candidate’s own, with the source under each one. “As reported” means a news outlet’s description, not an exact quote. A yellow tag means no public position was found on that topic.
| Health care | |
|---|---|
| BensonNo public position found | James Health care costs I fought for healthcare price transparency because patients deserve to know the price before the bill arrives. As Governor, I’ll lower costs, increase competition, and give you more control over your care. Original: x.com/JohnJamesMI/status/2110897047213621357 (accessed Oct 21, 2026) |
| Energy & environment | |
| Benson Data centers I’ll put a moratorium on data centers until we have guardrails in place to protect our water, give local communities a voice, secure union jobs, and require data centers to pay for the power they use. Original: x.com/JocelynBenson/status/2110891317744001066 (accessed Oct 21, 2026) | James Utility rates As Governor, I’ll replace every MPSC commissioner rubber-stamping these rate hikes Original: x.com/JohnJamesMI/status/2110829503823909205 (accessed Oct 21, 2026) |
| Jobs, wages & cost of living | |
| Benson Economic development The MEDC is broken, but I know how to fix broken systems and make government work better. Original: x.com/JocelynBenson/status/2110897127014433108 (accessed Oct 21, 2026) What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Everywhere I go in Michigan, I hear stories about the struggles families are enduring as costs continue to skyrocket. Moms are having to choose between whether to eat or pay rent. Seniors are anxious about covering the rising cost of their prescriptions on a fixed income. My affordability agenda details how we can streamline government to provide more support for everyone struggling to make ends meet in this economy, and in my first days in office I will begin putting this plan into motion. Candidate's own survey answer, via Ballotpedia Candidate Connection | JamesNo public position found |
| Foreign policy | |
| BensonNo public position found | James Iran war we need to end this war quickly because war is terrible and no one likes war. Quoted by Bridge Michigan, Oct 1, 2026 |
| Background & priorities | |
| Benson Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? As governor, lowering costs will be a top priority. Everywhere I go in Michigan, it’s clear that people are struggling to pay for childcare, pay for groceries, and buy a home, as the cost of everything continues to skyrocket and government feels too much like an obstacle. I've run one of our state’s most important agencies, saving residents time, saving them money, making their lives easier. Making government work for you and bringing costs down will always be a priority for a Benson administration. • As we work to bring costs down, raising wages will be equally important. As Secretary of … Candidate's own survey answer, via Ballotpedia Candidate Connection What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign? I’ve spent the last 18 months building a broad, statewide coalition to win in November. This growing coalition of state and local leaders, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations supporting my campaign to be Michigan’s next governor includes six major statewide labor unions, over 40 state legislators, and dozens of local leaders, faith leaders, and community organizers across the state, among others. You can find a full list of endorsements here: https://www.jocelynbenson.com/endorsements. Candidate's own survey answer, via Ballotpedia Candidate Connection | JamesNo public position found |
| Other priorities | |
| Benson Early childhood I will be a governor who invests in free pre-K, expands Rx Kids, and fights for better pay and dignity for our early childhood Original: x.com/JocelynBenson/status/2111539487830667726 (accessed Oct 21, 2026) Tribal sovereignty As governor, I promise to recognize and respect your sovereignty and make sure you have a real seat at the table to solve the most pressing issues impacting your communities every day. Original: x.com/JocelynBenson/status/2111431515062288623 (accessed Oct 21, 2026) | JamesNo public position found |
Lobbying
The gift ban has loopholes, so I'd make it total: no meals, no travel, nothing.
Campaign money
No campaign money from anyone who lobbies the state or holds a state contract.
Education (League of Women Voters of Michigan Voter Guide 2026)
Eliminate the charter system. Fund schools with a statewide budget.
Economy (League of Women Voters of Michigan Voter Guide 2026)
Directly hiring people -- a’la the Green New Deal -- and establishing a Universal Basic Income are the alternatives to automation, job reduction and corporate profiteering.
Platform
Anthony is running for Governor to eliminate property and state income taxes, to stop the data center and solar panel invasion of our state and protect our farmland, demand transparency and accountability, and return power to local communities where it belongs.
Priorities
ELIMINATE PROPERTY TAX · Eliminate State Income Tax · Eliminate Solar & Wind Farms · RETURN LOCAL CONTROL · Make PTO & Sick Time Tax Exempt · LOWER ENERGY COSTS
The same nine Senate votes (or three House votes) are shown for every current member of Congress running, so records can be compared across races. Click a roll call for the official tally.
| Measure | James |
|---|---|
| Laken Riley Act (S. 5) — final House passage Jan 22, 2025 · House roll call 23 (2025) | Yea |
| One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) — House passage May 22, 2025 · House roll call 145 (2025) | Yea |
| One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) — final, concur in Senate version Jul 3, 2025 · House roll call 190 (2025) | Aye |
Pulled from official roll-call records · Congress.gov profile & full record.
No congressional voting record for: Jocelyn Benson, Donna Brandenburg, Douglas Campbell, Anthony Hudson. State legislative or local records are not yet compiled.