Michigan Governor
Gretchen Whitmer (D) · term-limited · Cook PVI EVEN · last result 54.47% D
Jocelyn Benson
Wikipedia bio
Jocelyn Michelle Benson is an American politician and attorney who has served as the 43rd secretary of state of Michigan since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as dean of Wayne State University Law School from 2012 to 2016.
Source: Jocelyn Benson
John James
Wikipedia bio
John Edward James is an American politician, businessman, and former military officer serving as the U.S. representative for Michigan's 10th congressional district since 2023.
Source: John James (Michigan politician)Desk notes
Generated from the sourced figures on this page. Not a separate report.
Gretchen Whitmer (D) is the incumbent, term-limited. The ratings consensus is Lean D. Cook’s cell is dated Oct. 13, 2026. 7 forecaster cells are stored. The polling average is led by Jocelyn Benson +7.7. Kalshi Jocelyn Benson 92¢ (mid). Polymarket Jocelyn Benson 93¢ (mid). The poll’s Democratic edge is 78.6 points smaller than the market’s. The 2024 presidential margin in this state was R+1.4. The 2020 presidential margin in this state was D+2.8.
Polling average
- Jocelyn Benson (D)50%
- John James (R)42.3%
mean of 5 published aggregator averages, equal-weighted. The Wikipedia 'Average' row is not included, so this is not a double count. Undecided is left as published and is not allocated.
Published aggregator averages
- 270toWinBenson +7.2% · updated September 30, 2026
- Decision Desk HQBenson +7.4% · updated October 10, 2026
- FiftyPlusOneBenson +7.7% · updated October 10, 2026
- RealClearPoliticsBenson +8.2% · updated October 6, 2026
- Silver BulletinBenson +7.9% · updated October 10, 2026
Ratings
- Cook Political ReportOct. 13, 2026Lean D
- Sabato's Crystal BallOct. 6, 2026Lean D
- Inside ElectionsOct. 15, 2026Tilt D
- Decision Desk HQOct. 15, 2026Likely D
- RealClearPoliticsOct. 12, 2026Lean D
- Silver BulletinOct. 13, 2026Likely D
- Fox NewsOct. 6, 2026Lean D
Quoted from the Wikipedia predictions table, not scraped from the raters.
Markets
Raw yes-prices. Not vig-adjusted. Contracts under 1¢ are omitted.
- Jocelyn Benson92¢mid · spread 1¢
- John James9¢mid · spread 1¢
- Jocelyn Benson (D)93¢mid · spread 1¢
- John James (R)7¢mid · spread 1¢
PredictIt is off. Its terms limit the feed to non-commercial use.
Price history
Scale is fixed at 0–100¢. Hourly closes. A dashed line is a rating date or a poll end date stored on this race. Times are US Eastern.
Money
n/a (governors file with states, not the FEC)
Recent polls
- Wedgewood PollsOctober 8–9, 2026607 (LV) ± 4.0%Jocelyn Benson 55 · John James 45
- YouGovSeptember 22 – October 4, 20263,949 (LV) ± 2.5%Jocelyn Benson 48 · John James 45
- Mitchell Research & CommunicationsOctober 1, 2026682 (LV) ± 3.8%Jocelyn Benson 46 · John James 39
- Z to A Research (D)September 28 – October 1, 2026483 (LV) —Jocelyn Benson 50 · John James 40
- Beacon Research (D)/ Shaw & Co. Research (R)September 24–28, 20261,203 (RV) ± 3.0%Jocelyn Benson 54 · John James 45
- Marist UniversitySeptember 24–27, 20261,235 (RV) ± 3.8%Jocelyn Benson 53 · John James 41
Table via Wikipedia.
Latest news
What changed
- marketMichigan Governor: the stored prices were compared and no contract moved by a full cent.
- marketMichigan Governor: the stored prices were compared and no contract moved by a full cent.
- marketMichigan Governor: the stored prices were compared and no contract moved by a full cent.
- marketMichigan Governor: the stored prices were compared and no contract moved by a full cent.
Results
Official results are not being treated as returns yet. Election Day is November 3, 2026.
Results appear here once official returns start on election night, November 3, 2026.
· snapshot Oct 19, 8:23 PM EDT · mode live