Benson, James, Duggan grow money momentum in Michigan governor race

February 3, 2026

Michigan's gubernatorial race has identified clear fundraising leaders as primary elections approach, with Democrat Jocelyn Benson raising nearly $1 million in the final quarter of 2025 and Republican John James collecting approximately $839,000 during the same period. Independent candidate Mike Duggan, Detroit's former mayor who left the Democratic Party in late 2024, demonstrated strong financial support by raising the most money overall in his first campaign year at roughly $5 million. The campaign finance disclosures reveal significant disparities in donor bases, with James attracting nearly twice as many individual contributors as Benson, while Duggan received substantially larger average donations from far fewer donors.

Who is affected

**Gubernatorial candidates:** Jocelyn Benson (Democrat), John James (Republican), Mike Duggan (Independent), Mike Cox (Republican), Perry Johnson (Republican), Aric Nesbitt (Republican), Tom Leonard (Republican), Ralph Rebandt (Republican), and Chris Swanson (Democrat)
**Secretary of State candidates:** Garlin Gilchrist (Democrat), Adam Hollier (Democrat), Barb Byrum (Democrat), Anthony Forlini (Republican), Monica Yatooma (Republican), and Amanda Love (Republican)
**Attorney General candidates:** Karen McDonald (Democrat), Eli Savit (Democrat), Doug Llod (Republican), and Kevin Kijewski (Republican)
**Political donors:** Members of Van Andel, Secchia, Haworth, Ford, and DeVos families, Jon Stryker, Jeff Dean, Marjorie Buckley, and various PACs
**Political parties:** Michigan Democrats and Republicans competing for legislative control
**Michigan voters:** Who will make decisions in the August 4 primary and general election
**Political action committees:** Mission Michigan Super PAC, United Food and Commercial Workers Active Ballot Club, Emily's List Michigan Chapter, Michigan Health Access Alliance, and Michigan Association of Health Plans

What action is being taken

Jocelyn Benson is raising campaign funds (raised nearly $1 million from Oct. 20 through year-end)
John James is raising campaign funds (raised about $839,000 in the same period)
Mike Duggan is running as an independent candidate and raising funds (raised about $644,000 in the final reporting period)
Mike Cox is running a largely self-funded campaign
Mission Michigan Super PAC is spending money on consulting and related fees (spent more than $350,000 since late October)
Chris Swanson's campaign is spending more than it's taking in (spent about $202,000 while raising $87,000)
GOP caucuses are fundraising for legislative elections
Candidates are vying for the 35th district special election seat with a primary scheduled for Tuesday

Why it matters

This fundraising data matters because it reveals the competitive landscape and viability of candidates ahead of Michigan's gubernatorial primary election. The financial disclosures provide insight into candidate support bases, with James demonstrating broader grassroots appeal through his higher donor count while Duggan shows ability to attract high-dollar contributors despite being an independent. The timing is particularly significant since Michigan's campaign finance law doesn't require another disclosure until just eight days before the August 4 primary, meaning voters will have limited updated financial transparency for nearly six months during a critical campaign period. Additionally, the substantial fundraising advantage held by Republican caucuses over Democratic ones in legislative races could impact control of the Michigan Legislature, with Democrats currently holding a narrow Senate majority that could shift based on the upcoming 35th district special election.

What's next

Michigan's gubernatorial primary election is scheduled for August 4
The next campaign finance disclosure is due July 27 (eight days before the primary election)
The 35th district special election primary is scheduled for Tuesday (the week of the article's publication)
Republican Party endorsement convention for attorney general is scheduled for March 28
Democratic Party convention for secretary of state is scheduled for April 19

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com