Democrat Jocelyn Benson has won the race for governor of Michigan, defeating Republican Congressman John James in one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 US midterm elections. The Associated Press declared Benson the winner at 1:45am Eastern time on Wednesday, according to Michigan Public.
Her victory keeps the governorship of the key swing state in Democratic hands as Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who is barred by term limits from running again, prepares to leave office.
The results
According to results compiled by MultiState from AP data on Wednesday morning, Benson had 54.5% of the vote (about 2.57 million votes) to James’s 43.8% (about 2.07 million). Libertarian Anthony Hudson, the US Taxpayers Party’s Donna Brandenburg and the Green Party’s Douglas Campbell each took less than 1%. Counting continues, so the final figures may shift slightly.
The margin of around ten points is wider than pre-election polls suggested. Polling averages in late October gave Benson a lead of about seven points, and some forecasters rated the race only “Tilt” or “Lean” Democratic.
Former Detroit mayor Mike Duggan, who had launched an independent bid that many expected to split the vote, withdrew from the race before election day.
Who is Jocelyn Benson?
Benson has served as Michigan’s Secretary of State, the official responsible for running elections, since 2019. She oversaw the 2020 and 2024 elections in the state and gained national attention for defending the 2020 result after President Donald Trump and his allies repeatedly questioned it, Michigan Public reported.
She won the Democratic primary in August with more than 83% of the vote, defeating Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. During the campaign she focused on affordability and improving public schools, according to CBS Detroit. James, a businessman and army veteran who has twice run for the US Senate, campaigned on support for small businesses, academic standards and public safety.
A historic pairing
Benson’s running mate, State Senator Winnie Brinks, will become lieutenant governor. CBS Detroit noted that this is the first time two women will hold Michigan’s governor and lieutenant governor offices at the same time.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association, was quick to congratulate her: “Congratulations to Jocelyn Benson on being elected the next governor of Michigan,” he said.
The effects: why Michigan matters
Michigan is one of the handful of states that decide US presidential elections. Holding the governor’s office gives Democrats control of the state’s executive heading into the 2028 presidential race, including influence over how elections are run, and the power to veto legislation from a Republican-controlled chamber if the legislature is divided.
The result also matters for the economy. Michigan is the heart of the US car industry and has been hit hard by debates over tariffs and the shift to electric vehicles. Benson’s focus on costs for families and schools will be tested quickly as she drafts her first budget.
For President Trump, losing Michigan’s governorship on the same night his party lost control of Congress adds to a difficult picture. Trump won Michigan in 2024, and Republicans had hoped James could take advantage of an open seat.
Michigan also has an active Nigerian and wider African community, especially around Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids, where state policies on jobs, schools and licensing for professionals such as nurses and doctors directly affect immigrants.
What happens next
Benson will be sworn in as Michigan’s next governor in January 2027. Before then she is expected to set up a transition team and name key members of her administration. Her successor as Secretary of State was also chosen on Tuesday’s ballot.
Sources: Michigan Public, CBS Detroit, Associated Press (via MultiState), Wikipedia.
