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November 3, 2026
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| Elections in Michigan |
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The 2026 Michigan Secretary of State election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the Secretary of State of Michigan. Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is term-limited and ineligible to seek a third term. Instead, Benson is running for Governor. The major-party nominees will be decided by state party conventions.
Democratic convention
Candidates
Declared
- Barbara Byrum, Ingham County clerk (2013–present) and former state representative from the 67th district (2007–2012)[1]
- Garlin Gilchrist, lieutenant governor of Michigan (2019–present) (previously ran for governor of Michigan)[2]
- Adam Hollier, former state senator from the 2nd district (2018–2022) and candidate for Michigan's 13th congressional district in 2022 and 2024 (previously ran for Michigan's 13th congressional district)[3]
- Suzanna Shkreli, former Michigan lottery commissioner (2024–2025) and nominee for Michigan's 8th congressional district in 2016[4]
Withdrawn
- Aghogho Edevbie, deputy secretary of state (2023–present) (endorsed Gilchrist)[5]
Declined
- Jeremy Moss, president pro tempore of the Michigan Senate (2023–present) from the 7th district (2019–present)[6] (running for U.S. House)[7]
Endorsements
Barbara Byrum
- U.S. representatives
- James Barcia, former MI-5 (1993–2003) and Bay County Executive (2017–present)[8]
- Mark Schauer, former MI-7 (2009–2011) and nominee for governor in 2014[8]
- Joe Schwarz, former MI-7 (2005–2007) (Independent; elected as a Republican)[8]
- State legislators
- Dianne Byrum, former minority leader of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 67th district (2003–2006) (candidate's mother)[9]
- Kara Hope, state representative from the 74th district (2019–present)[9]
- Jeff Irwin, state senator from the 15th district (2019–present)[9]
- Tullio Liberati Jr., state representative from the 2nd district (2021–present)[10]
- Laurie Pohutsky, state representative from the 17th district (2019–present)[9]
- Will Snyder, state representative from the 87th district (2023–present)[9]
- Penelope Tsernoglou, state representative from the 75th district (2023–present)[9]
- 12 other former state representatives[9][10]
- Local officials
- Richard LeBlanc, Westland city clerk (2016–present)[11]
- 12 county clerks[11]
- Party officials
- Lavora Barnes, former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party (2019–2025)[12]
- Mark Brewer, former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party (1995–2013)[12]
- Lon Johnson, former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party (2013–2015)[12]
- Labor unions
- United Association Locals 85, 333, 370, and 671[13][8]
- United Food and Commercial Workers Local 951[14]
Adam Hollier
- State legislators
- Peter Herzberg, state representative from the 25th district (2024–present)[15]
- Joe Tate, former speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives (2023–2025) from the 9th district (2019–present)[15]
- Local officials
- David Coulter, Oakland County Executive (2019–present)[15]
Aghogho Edevbie (withdrawn)
- State legislators
- Jimmie Wilson Jr., state representative from the 32nd district (2023–present)[16]
- Stephanie Young, state representative from the 16th district (2021–present)[16]
- Labor unions
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters Locals 243, 247, 406, and 1038[17][18]
- Organizations
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of October 20, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Barbara Byrum (D) | $135,975 | $32,367 | $103,609 |
| Aghogho Edevbie (D) | $228,877 | $194,278 | $34,599 |
| Adam Hollier (D) | $348,635[a] | $4,079 | $344,557 |
| Source: Michigan Secretary of State[20] | |||
Republican convention
Candidates
Declared
- Anthony Forlini, Macomb County clerk (2020–present)[21]
- Amanda Love, Clarkston Community Schools trustee[4]
- Monica Yatooma, strategic partnerships director[22]
Filed paperwork
- Timothy Smith[22]
Endorsements
Anthony Forlini
- Statewide officials
- Candice Miller, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner (2017–present), former Michigan Secretary of State (1995–2003), and former U.S. representative for Michigan's 10th congressional district (2003–2016)[21]
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of October 20, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Anthony Forlini (R) | $53,043 | $10,215 | $42,828 |
| Amanda Love (R) | $123,905[b] | $18,320 | $105,584 |
| Timothy Smith (R) | $23.70 | $0 | $23.70 |
| Monica Yatooma (R) | $108,920 | $26,648 | $82,272 |
| Source: Michigan Secretary of State[20] | |||
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[23] | Tossup | August 7, 2025 |
See also
Notes
- ^ $244,000 of this total has been transferred from Hollier's congressional campaign account
- ^ $52,756 of this total has been self-funded by Love
References
- ^ Lobo, Arpan (May 21, 2025). "Democrat Barb Byrum launches campaign to become Michigan Secretary of State". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ^ Kamisar, Ben (January 12, 2026). "Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist ends bid for governor to run for secretary of state". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
- ^ Nann Burke, Melissa (September 10, 2025). "Hollier dropping Congress bid to run for Secretary of State". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on September 10, 2025. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ a b Mauger, Craig (December 8, 2025). "Ex-Whitmer aide, lottery commissioner joins secretary of state race". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2025. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ King, Jon (January 16, 2026). "Your Weekly Michigan Political Brief - Edevbie drops bid for Michigan Secretary of State". Michigan Advance. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
- ^ LeBlanc, Beth (January 27, 2025). "Democrat Aghogho Edevbie, Deputy Secretary of State, to run for top job". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on January 31, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ Spangler, Todd. "Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Moss announces run for US House". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- ^ a b c d King, Jon (January 9, 2026). "Your Weekly Michigan Political Brief". Michigan Advance. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g Solis, Ben (July 7, 2025). "Gilchrist, Byrum net legislative endorsements for respective governor, secretary of state bids". Michigan Advance. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ^ a b King, Jon (October 31, 2025). "Your Weekly Michigan Political Brief". Michigan Advance. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
- ^ a b Solis, Ben (June 2, 2025). "Election administrators from across Michigan endorse Byrum for secretary of state". Michigan Advance. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c Apel, Elyse (June 10, 2025). "Party chairs endorse Byrum for secretary of state". Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ Solis, Ben (November 28, 2025). "Your Weekly Michigan Political Brief". Michigan Advance. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ^ "UFCW Local 951 Endorses Barb Byrum For Secretary of State". May 27, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c Solis, Ben (September 10, 2025). "Ex-state senator Adam Hollier ends bid for Congress, joins race for Michigan secretary of state". Michigan Advance. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ a b Solis, Ben (September 11, 2025). "Edevbie racks up endorsements in Michigan secretary state bid, adding two sitting legislators". Michigan Advance. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
- ^ King, Jon (October 10, 2025). "Your Weekly Michigan Political Brief". Michigan Advance. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
- ^ King, Jon (December 19, 2025). "Your Weekly Michigan Political Brief". Michigan Advance. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
- ^ comms (March 6, 2025). "End Citizens United Endorses Aghogho Edevbie for Michigan Secretary of State - End Citizens United | We the People, Not "We the Wealthy"". End Citizens United | We the People, Not "We the Wealthy". Archived from the original on March 24, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ a b "Committee Search". Michigan Secretary of State. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ a b Mauger, Craig (September 24, 2025). "Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini to run for Michigan secretary of state". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on September 24, 2025. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
- ^ a b Lobo, Arpan (September 4, 2025). "Oakland County GOP delegate Monica Yatooma enters Michigan Secretary of State race". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
- ^ Jacobson, Louis (August 7, 2025). "Previewing the 2026 Secretary of State Races". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
External links
Official campaign websites
- Barbara Byrum (D) for Secretary of State
- Anthony Forlini (R) for Secretary of State
- Garlin Gilchrist (D) for Secretary of State
- Adam Hollier (D) for Secretary of State
- Amanda Love (R) for Secretary of State
- Suzanna Shkreli (D) for Secretary of State
- Monica Yatooma (R) for Secretary of State
