2026CalledUnofficial results

2026 election for Michigan Secretary of State

Name: 2026 election for Michigan Secretary of State
Start: 2026-11-03
Location: Michigan

Secretary of State · Michigan

Garlin Gilchrist (D) won with 53.7% of the vote, defeating Anthony Forlini (R) by 10.1 points.

Garlin GilchristDemocrat · winner

53.7%2,536,648

Anthony ForliniRepublican

43.5%2,057,142

Christine SloanLibertarian

1.6%77,091

Scott E. AughneyConstitution

0.6%28,125

Eric BorregardGreen

0.5%23,318

Write-inOther party

0.1%3,235

4,725,559 votes

Source: civicAPI unofficial results and race callsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:34 PM 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 Gilchrist compared with the 2024 presidential vote; 83 of 83 did. The largest shift among the bigger counties: Wayne, +17.6 points.

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

The seat's recent races

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

By county

CountyShareMarginShift

WayneD+46.6+17.6

OaklandD+19.8+9.2

MacombD+0.2+13.9

KentD+14.8+9.4

WashtenawD+52.4+8.1

GeneseeD+16.8+12.6

OttawaR+14.3+6.2

InghamD+41.1+11.4

Show 75 more

KalamazooD+27.0+9.3

LivingstonR+17.1+6.8

SaginawD+6.7+9.9

St. ClairR+25.5+9.1

MuskegonD+8.7+10.5

MonroeR+16.3+10.9

BerrienR+0.3+7.6

JacksonR+10.7+10.6

AlleganR+18.6+8.6

EatonD+7.5+10.6

CalhounR+2.1+11.9

Grand TraverseD+8.2+9.9

BayR+1.1+13.6

LapeerR+31.3+8.5

LenaweeR+11.9+11.1

ClintonD+0.8+9.4

MidlandR+6.6+8.6

Van BurenR+4.1+11.0

MarquetteD+23.2+14.5

ShiawasseeR+11.7+11.4

BarryR+25.0+9.4

MontcalmR+28.7+10.2

IoniaR+21.7+10.2

IsabellaD+4.9+12.4

TuscolaR+32.8+10.2

NewaygoR+35.0+7.8

St. JosephR+22.2+11.7

CassR+24.7+9.2

EmmetR+4.3+6.5

HillsdaleR+43.1+8.2

MecostaR+22.4+7.7

SanilacR+40.6+7.1

DeltaR+19.3+11.1

BranchR+29.3+13.1

HoughtonR+5.5+11.6

LeelanauD+12.7+4.9

GratiotR+20.9+10.4

WexfordR+24.3+10.4

HuronR+33.1+7.5

MasonR+13.0+8.3

ChippewaR+14.4+9.8

CharlevoixR+9.7+7.2

AntrimR+16.3+7.4

ClareR+29.5+8.0

AlpenaR+16.1+12.5

CheboyganR+23.9+7.2

RoscommonR+25.4+7.5

ManisteeR+7.3+8.6

OtsegoR+25.9+9.4

IoscoR+20.8+9.7

OceanaR+21.3+8.7

GladwinR+32.5+8.2

DickinsonR+24.3+12.0

BenzieD+0.6+9.3

OsceolaR+40.3+7.6

OgemawR+32.3+9.7

MenomineeR+25.0+8.7

KalkaskaR+32.5+10.4

MissaukeeR+49.3+6.7

ArenacR+29.0+11.6

Presque IsleR+19.0+10.0

CrawfordR+22.3+11.5

GogebicR+4.6+12.5

AlconaR+35.2+6.5

MackinacR+17.8+7.1

IronR+17.7+11.6

LakeR+25.8+6.4

MontmorencyR+38.8+6.6

AlgerR+9.0+10.8

OscodaR+36.4+7.9

SchoolcraftR+18.7+13.2

BaragaR+19.2+10.6

OntonagonR+19.7+10.6

LuceR+38.5+8.4

KeweenawR+3.5+9.3

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 Gilchrist ahead by 12.6. Gilchrist won by 10.1: a 2.5-point miss toward Democrats.

Poll with Gilchrist ahead
Poll with Forlini ahead
Final polling average
Result

Pollster	Dates	Sample	Gilchrist	Forlini	Margin	Adjusted	Miss vs result	Grade	Release
Glengariff Group	Oct 19–Oct 22	600 LV	51	39	D+12	D+14.3	+1.9	B	Wikipedia
Cygnal/Beacon Research for Michigan Enjoyer	Sep 18–Sep 21	600 LV	41	38	D+3	D+4.8	−7.1	C	enjoyer.com ↗
Glengariff Group for The Detroit News and WDIV-TV	Aug 31–Sep 3	600 LV	42	36	D+6	D+9.5	−4.1	B	detroitnews.com ↗

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 Wikipedia poll listsUpdated Oct 22, 2026

Pre-election forecast (final, Nov 3)

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

Garlin Gilchrist: 96%
Anthony Forlini: 4%
Projected margin: D+10.3

How the forecast works →

The candidates

Garlin Gilchrist (D)
Lieutenant governor of Michigan (2019–present) (previously ran for governor)Anthony Forlini (R)
Macomb County clerk (2020–present)

Also on the ballot: Christine Sloan (Libertarian), 1.6%; Scott E. Aughney (Constitution), 0.6%; Eric Borregard (Green), 0.5%; Write-in (Other party), 0.1%

Also on this ballot here

U.S. Senate	D+7.0
Governor	D+10.8
Attorney General	D+8.2

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