A complete guide to everything on Michigan’s ballot

September 16, 2026

Michigan's November 2026 midterm elections will determine leadership across multiple levels of government, with no incumbents able to run for several key positions due to term limits. Voters will choose a new governor between Democrat Jocelyn Benson and Republican John James, a new U.S. senator between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, and fill numerous legislative and judicial seats that could shift party control. The ballot also includes two significant statewide measures: one asking whether to convene a constitutional convention to potentially rewrite the state constitution, and another seeking to ban political donations from utility companies and large government contractors.

Who is affected

Michigan voters and residents
Current officeholders: Governor Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Senator Gary Peters, Attorney General Dana Nessel (all term-limited)
Gubernatorial candidates: Jocelyn Benson (Democrat), John James (Republican), and minor party candidates
U.S. Senate candidates: Mike Rogers (Republican), Abdul El-Sayed (Democrat), and minor party candidates
All members of the U.S. House from Michigan
All Michigan state senators and representatives
Michigan Supreme Court justices Megan Cavanagh and Noah Hood (seeking reelection)
University governing board members at University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University
Utility companies and government contractors (affected by the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics proposal)
Business groups, voting rights organizations, and progressive groups involved in ballot measure campaigns

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The article is a preview guide to an upcoming election rather than reporting on current activities.

Why it matters

These elections will determine Michigan's political direction after years of Democratic leadership, with the gubernatorial race ending eight years under Whitmer and the Senate race concluding 12 years with Peters. Control of both the U.S. House and Michigan's state legislature hangs in the balance, with Democrats currently holding the state Senate and Republicans controlling the state House. The secretary of state race is particularly significant because this position manages statewide elections and voter rolls. The constitutional convention question could lead to a complete rewriting of Michigan's fundamental governing document, while the campaign finance reform measure would restrict political donations from utilities and contractors who do business with officials overseeing their contracts. The Michigan Supreme Court races could also shift the ideological balance of the state's highest court.

What's next

Voters will cast ballots in November 2026
If the constitutional convention is approved, elected delegates would convene in 2027 to draft a revised state constitution, which would then require another voter approval before taking effect
Winners of various races will assume office according to their respective terms
If the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics measure passes, it would become law without requiring the governor's signature and would require three-quarters of each legislative chamber to amend or overturn

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com