99chambers
Called Nov 4Unofficial results

Michigan Governor

Governor · Michigan

Jocelyn Benson held the seat for Democrats, winning by 10.8 points over John James.

Jocelyn BensonDemocrat · winner
54.5%2,599,963
John JamesRepublican
43.7%2,086,978
Anthony HudsonLibertarian
0.9%44,289
Donna BrandenburgConstitution
0.4%20,036
Douglas CampbellGreen
0.4%17,515
Write-inNonpartisan
0.1%2,843
96% of the expected vote counted · 4,771,624 votes

Source: civicAPI unofficial results and race callsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 2:10 AM ET

Where the race moved

Against the 2024 presidential vote

Every county, 2024 to 2026

Each dot is a county, sized by votes cast and colored by who carried it in 2026. Dots above the line moved toward Benson compared with the 2024 presidential vote; 83 of 83 did. The largest shift among the bigger counties: Macomb, +17.3 points.

R+60R+60R+30R+30EvenEvenD+30D+30D+60D+60Moved toward Democrats ↑↓ Moved toward RepublicansWayneOaklandMacombKentWashtenawGenesee2024 presidential margin →2026 margin →

Source: civicAPI county results (unofficial); 2024 president: MEDSL precinct returnsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:34 PM ET

The seat's recent races

EvenD+9.62018 GovernorD+10.22022 GovernorR+1.42024 Pres.D+10.82026 Governor

Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

By county

CountyShareMarginShift
WayneD+45.9+16.9
OaklandD+20.7+10.1
MacombD+3.6+17.3
KentD+15.2+9.9
WashtenawD+52.3+7.9
GeneseeD+16.8+12.6
OttawaR+13.6+6.9
InghamD+41.7+12.0
Show 75 more
KalamazooD+26.9+9.2
LivingstonR+16.0+7.9
SaginawD+6.2+9.5
St. ClairR+24.7+9.9
MuskegonD+8.9+10.7
MonroeR+15.7+11.4
BerrienD+0.3+8.1
JacksonR+9.6+11.7
AlleganR+18.8+8.4
EatonD+9.1+12.2
CalhounR+2.2+11.8
Grand TraverseD+8.8+10.5
BayR+1.5+13.2
LapeerR+30.0+9.8
LenaweeR+12.1+10.9
ClintonD+2.6+11.2
MidlandR+6.5+8.7
Van BurenR+4.3+10.8
MarquetteD+22.8+14.1
ShiawasseeR+10.6+12.5
BarryR+24.7+9.6
MontcalmR+28.0+10.9
IoniaR+20.4+11.5
IsabellaD+5.0+12.5
TuscolaR+31.6+11.3
NewaygoR+34.2+8.6
St. JosephR+21.8+12.1
CassR+24.6+9.3
EmmetR+3.6+7.2
HillsdaleR+40.9+10.5
SanilacR+40.1+7.6
MecostaR+21.3+8.7
DeltaR+19.4+11.0
BranchR+28.6+13.7
HoughtonR+5.0+12.1
LeelanauD+12.8+5.1
GratiotR+20.2+11.1
WexfordR+24.0+10.7
HuronR+30.6+10.0
MasonR+13.2+8.1
ChippewaR+14.5+9.7
CharlevoixR+8.7+8.2
AntrimR+16.1+7.7
ClareR+28.4+9.2
AlpenaR+16.4+12.2
CheboyganR+23.2+7.9
RoscommonR+23.1+9.8
OtsegoR+24.6+10.7
ManisteeR+6.4+9.5
IoscoR+19.4+11.2
OceanaR+21.0+9.0
GladwinR+31.6+9.1
DickinsonR+23.3+13.0
BenzieD+1.7+10.3
OsceolaR+39.6+8.3
OgemawR+32.0+10.0
MenomineeR+24.3+9.4
KalkaskaR+31.7+11.1
MissaukeeR+47.8+8.2
ArenacR+28.3+12.3
Presque IsleR+18.5+10.4
CrawfordR+20.8+12.9
GogebicR+3.6+13.5
AlconaR+34.1+7.6
MackinacR+16.9+8.0
IronR+15.4+13.9
LakeR+23.7+8.5
MontmorencyR+37.5+7.8
AlgerR+9.1+10.7
OscodaR+36.8+7.5
SchoolcraftR+18.9+13.1
BaragaR+17.9+11.9
OntonagonR+18.3+12.1
LuceR+37.6+9.3
KeweenawR+2.1+10.7

Bar: share of the state's vote. Shift: change in margin from the 2024 presidential vote, + toward Democrats.

Source: civicAPI county results (unofficial); 2024 president: MEDSL precinct returnsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:34 PM ET

Polls against the result

The final average had Benson ahead by 7.3. Benson won by 10.8: a 3.5-point miss toward Republicans.

R+10EvenD+10Result D+10.8Final average D+7.3Aug 1Sep 1Oct 1Nov 3
  • Poll with Benson ahead
  • Poll with James ahead
  • Final polling average
  • Result
PollsterDatesSampleBensonJamesMarginAdjustedMiss vs resultGradeRelease
Research Co.Oct 30–Nov 1450 LV5341D+12D+12.2+1.2Aresearchco.ca ↗
The New York Times/Siena UniversityOct 23–Nov 11,011 LV51.839.4D+12.4D+12.9+1.6Anytimes.com ↗
Emerson College for Poll VaultNov 1–Nov 1500 LV50.445.8D+4.6D+5.4−6.2A+pollvault.substack.com ↗
Concord Public Opinion Partners for Education Reform Now AdvocacyD-sponsoredOct 30–Nov 1510 LV5041D+9D+1.9−1.8B−concordpublicopinionpartners.org ↗
AtlasIntelOct 28–Nov 11,316 LV53.245.2D+8D+5.3−2.8Apollstergraph.com ↗
YouGovOct 26–Oct 292,086 LV5246D+6D+5.4−4.8Bd3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net ↗
SSRS for CNNOct 20–Oct 27768 LV5341D+12—+1.2Cedition.cnn.com ↗
Mitchell Research & Communications for CBS DetroitOct 26–Oct 27636 LV4944D+5—−5.8B+cbsnews.com ↗
Data for ProgressOct 23–Oct 25622 LV5243D+9—−1.8Bdataforprogress.org ↗
Verasight for Michigan State University Office for Survey ResearchOct 8–Oct 231,383 LV51.441.2D+10.2—−0.6—polisci.msu.edu ↗
Glengariff Group for Detroit News, WDIV-TVOct 19–Oct 22600 LV51.444.5D+6.9—−3.9Bdetroitnews.com ↗
Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Social Research/YouGovMain question · in averageOct 2–Oct 19836 LV53.340.9D+12.4—+1.6Bippsr.msu.edu ↗
Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Social Research/YouGovMain questionOct 2–Oct 191,000 A45.736.6D+9.1—−1.7Bippsr.msu.edu ↗
Marist UniversityMain question · in averageOct 15–Oct 181,185 LV5145D+6—−4.8B+maristpoll.marist.edu ↗
Marist UniversityMain questionOct 15–Oct 181,185 RV5342D+11—+0.2B+maristpoll.marist.edu ↗
YouGovSep 22–Oct 43,949 LV4845D+3—−7.8Bd3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net ↗
Mitchell Research & CommunicationsOct 1–Oct 1682 LV4639D+7—−3.8B+cbsnews.com ↗
Z to A Research for Rust Belt RisingD-sponsoredSep 28–Oct 1483 LV5040D+10—−0.8—x.com ↗
Beacon Research/Shaw & Company Research for Fox NewsMain question · in averageSep 24–Sep 281,028 LV5445D+9—−1.8B+foxnews.com ↗
Beacon Research/Shaw & Company Research for Fox NewsMain questionSep 24–Sep 281,203 RV5544D+11—+0.2B+foxnews.com ↗
Marist UniversitySep 24–Sep 271,235 RV5341D+12—+1.2B+maristpoll.marist.edu ↗
Guidant Polling and Strategy for Public First ActionSep 20–Sep 27800 LV5045D+5—−5.8—static01.nyt.com ↗
co/efficientSep 21–Sep 23843 LV4744D+3—−7.8B+battlegrounds.coefficient.org ↗
The New York Times/Siena UniversitySep 15–Sep 22605 LV48.4542.82D+5.6—−5.2Anytimes.com ↗
Cygnal/Beacon Research for Michigan EnjoyerSep 18–Sep 21600 LV4538D+7—−3.8Cenjoyer.com ↗
Suffolk UniversitySep 16–Sep 20500 LV50.634.4D+16.2—+5.4Asuffolk.edu ↗
Emerson College for NexstarSep 12–Sep 141,000 LV48.6341.94D+6.7—−4.1A+emersoncollegepolling.com ↗
The Washington Post/George Mason University Schar School of Policy and GovernmentSep 10–Sep 14803 LV5341D+12—+1.2A−washingtonpost.com ↗
SSRS for CNNAug 31–Sep 6843 LV5041D+9—−1.8Ccnn.com ↗
Glengariff Group for Detroit News, WDIV-TVAug 31–Sep 3600 LV4743D+4—−6.8Bdetroitnews.com ↗
EPIC-MRAAug 22–Aug 28600 LV4541D+4—−6.8A−talkingpointsmemo.com ↗
Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Social Research/YouGovMain questionAug 10–Aug 20913 RV4939D+10—−0.8Bippsr.msu.edu ↗
Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Social Research/YouGovMain question · in averageAug 10–Aug 20779 LV5243D+9—−1.8Bippsr.msu.edu ↗
Fabrizio Ward/Impact Research for AARPAug 9–Aug 11877 LV4944D+5—−5.8Baarp.org ↗
TIPP Insights for League of American WorkersR-sponsoredMain questionAug 6–Aug 101,528 RV48.3634.08D+14.3—+3.5A−tippinsights.com ↗
TIPP Insights for League of American WorkersR-sponsoredMain question · in averageAug 6–Aug 101,215 LV53.0236.55D+16.5—+5.7A−tippinsights.com ↗
Beacon Research/Shaw & Company Research for Fox NewsAug 6–Aug 101,006 RV5247D+5—−5.8B+foxnews.com ↗
EPIC-MRA for MIRS News ServiceJul 24–Jul 31600 LV4738D+9—−1.8A−x.com ↗
Mitchell Research & CommunicationsJul 28–Jul 29672 LV4644D+2—−8.8B+static1.squarespace.com ↗
Glengariff Group for Business Leaders for Michigan, Michigan Education AssociationJul 22–Jul 24600 LV43.738.7D+5—−5.8Bmea.org ↗

Adjusted: after correcting for the pollster's house effect and likely-voter screens. Miss: the poll's margin minus the result; + means the poll leaned Democratic. Grade: the pollster's accuracy in past elections, A+ to D (pollster ratings).

Source: Each poll's release, via The New York Times and Wikipedia poll listsUpdated Nov 1, 2026

Pre-election forecast (final, Nov 3)

Our model's last run before Election Day, Nov 3, 2026. It no longer updates.

Jocelyn Benson
92%
John James
8%
Projected margin
D+7.4
How the forecast works →

The candidates

Jocelyn Benson (D)
Michigan secretary of state (2019–present)John James (R)
U.S. representative from MI-10 (2023–present) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020

Also on the ballot: Anthony Hudson (Libertarian), 0.9%; Donna Brandenburg (Constitution), 0.4%; Douglas Campbell (Green), 0.4%; Write-in (Nonpartisan), 0.1%

Also on this ballot here

U.S. SenateD+7.0
Attorney GeneralD+8.2
Secretary of StateD+10.1

Results within this state. Source: civicAPI unofficial results and race callsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:34 PM ET

Changes to this page

  • · Race called for Benson.