Internal Polling Shows Benson Leads James, Duggan in Race for Michigan Governor

February 23, 2026

A recent poll commissioned by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson's campaign shows her leading the Michigan governor's race with 39% support, followed by Republican John James at 36% and Independent Mike Duggan at 20%. The survey of 800 likely voters, conducted by Impact Research in mid-February, contradicts previous independent polls that showed a tighter race with different configurations of the top three candidates. Duggan's campaign has questioned the credibility of Benson's internal polling, claiming independent surveys show her support closer to 30%.

Who is affected

Jocelyn Benson (Democratic candidate and current Michigan Secretary of State)
John James (Republican candidate and U.S. Representative)
Mike Duggan (Independent candidate and former Detroit Mayor)
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson (also running as Democrat for governor)
Michigan voters, particularly Black voters, voters under 55, and voters with and without college degrees
Governor Gretchen Whitmer (term-limited incumbent)
Michigan Democratic Party and chair Curtis Hertel
Republican House Speaker Matt Hall

What action is being taken

Benson is campaigning and releasing poll results showing her in the lead
Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel is consistently vocalizing opposition to Duggan's campaign in interviews
Duggan's campaign is questioning the legitimacy of Benson's poll results
Democrats and Republicans are praising and criticizing Duggan

Why it matters

This race will determine who leads Michigan after Governor Whitmer's term ends, affecting the political direction of a key swing state. The presence of Duggan as an Independent candidate splits traditional Democratic support and could impact the general election outcome, potentially allowing the Republican candidate to win with a plurality rather than a majority. The differing poll results highlight the uncertainty in the race and the challenge of gauging voter sentiment when internal campaign polls may show different results than independent surveys.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle