Michigan Governor Choose 1
Primary Election: August 4, 2026Duties: The state's executive powers are vested in the Governor.Qualifications: A Governor must be at least 30 years of age and a registered voter in Michigan for at least four years.Term: 4 years Governors may serve a maximum of two full terms.Vote for no more than 1 candidate.NOTE: ARIC NESBITT AND MIKE COX WITHDREW FROM THE RACE AFTER BALLOTS WERE PRINTED.
Biographical Information
Running Mate
To be announced
Website
http://www.jocelynbenson.com/
Campaign Twitter Handle
@JocelynBenson
Occupation / Current Position
Michigan Secretary of State
Education
Wellesley College (BA), Harvard University Law School (JD), Oxford University (Marshall Scholar, MA).
Qualifications and Experience
Michigan Secretary of State, Dean of Wayne State Law School, CEO of RISE (nonprofit organization).
1. PRIORITIES: What are your top 3 priorities for the State of Michigan and how would you address them?
My priorities will be to lower costs, grow our economy, and protect the rights of Michiganders. Across Michigan, families are struggling to put food on the table, pay for medicine, and cover electricity bills as costs rise. Too often, government is showing up everywhere we don’t want it and nowhere we need it. My affordability plan will lower medical bills and put patients first, make it easier to build affordable homes, end profit-driven rate hikes and protect Michiganders from outages while modernizing our grid and transitioning to renewable energy. We will invest in opportunities to diversify our economy that raise wages and protect jobs.
2. EDUCATION: How do you evaluate Michigan’s current education system in terms of quality, funding, the teacher workforce and standardized testing? What changes, if any, would you propose or support?
I am proud to be the only candidate for governor to release a comprehensive, data driven plan to ensure Michigan is a state known for excellence in public education. My plan will elevate the voices of educators and parents to:
* Develop world class talent with a public education system that guarantees every student will receive the knowledge they need to be career or college ready
* Raise wages and increase support for our educators
* Care for our youngest children by ensuring high quality early childhood education
* Invest in our schools with an equitable funding model to provide every child the resources they need
3. ECONOMY: What policy initiatives do you support for residents to earn a living wage and address the overall question of affordability across Michigan?
My affordability agenda will tackle the costs hitting families hardest. We will streamline regulations to make it easier to build homes in our state - and take on bad actors who abuse the system to drive up costs. I’ll lower healthcare costs with a prescription drug affordability board and a $5,000 caregiver tax credit. And we will invest in clean energy and modernize our energy grid to lower energy costs. I’ll expand early childhood opportunities and successful programs like RX Kids to make childcare more affordable. I will bring down costs and ensure everyone who works hard can afford to live and build a future in Michigan.
4. ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY: How would you approach ensuring energy reliability, consumer affordability and environmental protection in Michigan?
With over 20% of the world’s freshwater in a state where we pay some of the highest energy bills in the nation, we must do more to drive down the cost of energy while protecting our natural resources. As governor I will:
*Stop utilities from increasing bills while neglecting our power grid
*Launch an energy bill relief program to weatherize homes reducing energy costs
*Modernize Michigian’s grid and increase affordable renewable energy
*Restrict political contributions from public utilities and end conflicts of interest on the Michigan Public Service Commission
*Promote the growth of well paying union jobs with investments in clean energy
5. IMMIGRATION: What is your position on due process, First Amendment, and Fourth Amendment rights for all Michigan residents, including noncitizens, and what changes, if any, would you support?
We are in a critical moment for the future of our state and our democracy - one where strong state leaders committed to protecting our constitutional rights and freedoms have never been more vital. I’ve been that leader as Michigan’s Secretary of State - putting my life on the line to protect and defend the constitutional rights of Michigan citizens - and will do the same as Michigan’s governor. This means using every tool available to ensure due process, that the First Amendment and the Fourth Amendment are followed while also being prepared to stand up to anyone - including the President - who would try to undermine those protections.
Biographical Information
Website
http://swansonformichigan.com
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/swanson4mi/
Campaign Twitter Handle
@swanson4mi
Occupation / Current Position
Genesee County Sheriff
Education
Attended Mott Community College before earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration from the University of Michigan.
Qualifications and Experience
Chris Swanson has served his community in multiple roles, including sheriff’s deputy, paramedic, business owner, and educator. He was elected Genesee County Sheriff in 2020 and re-elected in 2024.
1. PRIORITIES: What are your top 3 priorities for the State of Michigan and how would you address them?
1. Affordability
The cost of living crisis permeates every facet of life for nearly every Michigander and small business. As Governor, I will champion policies directly addressing affordability, housing supply shortages, skyrocketing child-care costs, and grow good paying union jobs.
2. Transparency
Michigan needs a Governor outside of the Lansing bubble, one that fights for Michiganders in every part of our state. That is why I’m advocating for a restructure of government agencies that no longer benefit our residents and will expand FOIA rules to every elected office.
3. Protecting bargaining rights and fair wages across our state
2. EDUCATION: How do you evaluate Michigan’s current education system in terms of quality, funding, the teacher workforce and standardized testing? What changes, if any, would you propose or support?
I have established a 7-point educational plan that will be implemented on day one of my administration. Expanding access to preschool and supporting early career exploration in middle school and high school will engage our students from the beginning of their educational career until graduation. Protecting education funding by stopping the raid on our School Aid Fund to backfill shortfalls in our General Fund budget will ensure these priorities are funded and sustained. Retaining our educators by paying our teachers and support staff a fair and competitive wage will ensure the talent remains in place to implement a first-class education.
3. ECONOMY: What policy initiatives do you support for residents to earn a living wage and address the overall question of affordability across Michigan?
Our government must have a customer service mindset, helping stimulate economic growth, good paying union jobs, better schools, skilled labor opportunities, and reducing the costs of everyday necessities to ease the economic pain we all have felt for too long.
I will support entrepreneurship through an Office of Innovation that can support startups and small business owners through the bureaucratic process.
We must also audit and restructure Michigan Economic Development Corporation to make it work for everyone, not just the political insiders.
4. ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY: How would you approach ensuring energy reliability, consumer affordability and environmental protection in Michigan?
We will bring down the cost of energy in the state, both by increasing energy production and by making sure DTE and Consumers only raise your rate when they can guarantee better service. I have committed to not taking DTE and Consumers Energy PAC contributions and will issue a moratorium on electricity and energy rate hikes my first day in office.
Corporations via their operations place a large burden on our public infrastructure and we must ensure the profits they gain from these public goods are used to maintain and replace our failing infrastructure and ensure affordable access to public utilities.
5. IMMIGRATION: What is your position on due process, First Amendment, and Fourth Amendment rights for all Michigan residents, including noncitizens, and what changes, if any, would you support?
Federal Immigration officials have created an environment of fear and chaos by grabbing parents dropping their children off at school, forcing parents to keep children out of our classrooms, stopping and detaining individuals without warrant or probable cause, and entering homes of innocent individuals who have done nothing wrong. I have spoken out against these policies as a Sheriff and Gubernatorial Candidate and will support and implement laws as Governor that will keep ICE agents off public school property, out of our hospitals, and away from our religious institutions.
Biographical Information
1. PRIORITIES: What are your top 3 priorities for the State of Michigan and how would you address them?
Candidate has not yet responded.
2. EDUCATION: How do you evaluate Michigan’s current education system in terms of quality, funding, the teacher workforce and standardized testing? What changes, if any, would you propose or support?
Candidate has not yet responded.
3. ECONOMY: What policy initiatives do you support for residents to earn a living wage and address the overall question of affordability across Michigan?
Candidate has not yet responded.
4. ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY: How would you approach ensuring energy reliability, consumer affordability and environmental protection in Michigan?
Candidate has not yet responded.
5. IMMIGRATION: What is your position on due process, First Amendment, and Fourth Amendment rights for all Michigan residents, including noncitizens, and what changes, if any, would you support?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
Website
http://johnjamesmi.com
Facebook
http://facebook.com/JohnJamesMI/
Campaign Twitter Handle
@johnjamesmi
Occupation / Current Position
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives serving Michigan’s 10th Congressional district (Elected
Education
I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Systems (Industrial) Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. I also earned a Master of Supply Chain Management and Information Systems from P
Qualifications and Experience
As a combat veteran, I learned to lead under pressure, make difficult decisions, and always put the mission first. In business, I've created jobs, met a payroll, and understand what it takes to build
1. PRIORITIES: What are your top 3 priorities for the State of Michigan and how would you address them?
Affordability: My top priority is making Michigan a place where families can afford to build a future. I will lower the cost of living by cutting taxes, reducing burdensome regulations, and creating good-paying jobs.
Strong families: I will empower parents with more choices in education, raise academic standards, support law enforcement to keep our communities safe, protect girls' sports, and ensure our children have every opportunity to succeed.
Accountability: I will eliminate wasteful spending, audit government programs, increase transparency, hold bureaucrats accountable, and put Michigan taxpayers first.
2. EDUCATION: How do you evaluate Michigan’s current education system in terms of quality, funding, the teacher workforce and standardized testing? What changes, if any, would you propose or support?
Michigan's kids are not failing. The system is failing them. We are going to fix that. On day one as Governor, I will opt Michigan into the Federal K-12 Education Freedom Tax Credit through immediate executive action, unlocking scholarships for tutoring, special needs services, and after school programs. My administration will also prioritize evidence-based literacy instruction and mastery-based learning. As Governor I will pursue legislative action to require proven phonics instruction from kindergarten through third grade, following the Mississippi model that delivered the nation's greatest reading gains.
3. ECONOMY: What policy initiatives do you support for residents to earn a living wage and address the overall question of affordability across Michigan?
Every decision my administration makes will be filtered through one question: Does this make Michigan more or less affordable? Lansing has been adding costs for years. We are going to start subtracting them. We need to lower taxes, cut burdensome regulations, eliminate wasteful spending, and make our state more affordable to live and raise a family. My economic development strategy is centered on Retention, Reclamation, and Recruiting. I support a Retention and Relocation Worker Tax Credit for critical shortage occupations and a 100% tax credit for businesses that fund scholarships for students pursuing high-demand careers.
4. ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY: How would you approach ensuring energy reliability, consumer affordability and environmental protection in Michigan?
Michigan needs an energy policy that is affordable, reliable, and grounded in common sense. As Governor, my first priority will be repealing the Whitmer "green energy" mandates and restoring local control. As Governor, I will pursue an all-of-the-above energy strategy. That includes natural gas, nuclear, hydro, renewables where they make economic sense, biofuels, and emerging technologies. I reject the false choice between environmental protection and economic strength. Michigan can prepare for climate impacts, protect natural resources, and remain affordable and competitive.
5. IMMIGRATION: What is your position on due process, First Amendment, and Fourth Amendment rights for all Michigan residents, including noncitizens, and what changes, if any, would you support?
A governor's responsibility is to put Michigan first. State agencies and local law enforcement must cooperate with federal immigration authorities to enforce the law and protect public safety, particularly when dealing with individuals who have committed crimes or pose a threat to our communities. I am opposed to sanctuary policies that prevent cooperation with federal authorities. Schools, hospitals, and other public institutions should remain focused on their core missions while complying with applicable state and federal laws.
Biographical Information
1. PRIORITIES: What are your top 3 priorities for the State of Michigan and how would you address them?
Candidate has not yet responded.
2. EDUCATION: How do you evaluate Michigan’s current education system in terms of quality, funding, the teacher workforce and standardized testing? What changes, if any, would you propose or support?
Candidate has not yet responded.
3. ECONOMY: What policy initiatives do you support for residents to earn a living wage and address the overall question of affordability across Michigan?
Candidate has not yet responded.
4. ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY: How would you approach ensuring energy reliability, consumer affordability and environmental protection in Michigan?
Candidate has not yet responded.
5. IMMIGRATION: What is your position on due process, First Amendment, and Fourth Amendment rights for all Michigan residents, including noncitizens, and what changes, if any, would you support?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
1. PRIORITIES: What are your top 3 priorities for the State of Michigan and how would you address them?
Candidate has not yet responded.
2. EDUCATION: How do you evaluate Michigan’s current education system in terms of quality, funding, the teacher workforce and standardized testing? What changes, if any, would you propose or support?
Candidate has not yet responded.
3. ECONOMY: What policy initiatives do you support for residents to earn a living wage and address the overall question of affordability across Michigan?
Candidate has not yet responded.
4. ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY: How would you approach ensuring energy reliability, consumer affordability and environmental protection in Michigan?
Candidate has not yet responded.
5. IMMIGRATION: What is your position on due process, First Amendment, and Fourth Amendment rights for all Michigan residents, including noncitizens, and what changes, if any, would you support?
Candidate has not yet responded.