2026 Michigan General Election

2026 Michigan Primary Election

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

Christopher Robert Swanson is from Grand Blanc, Michigan. He has a bachelor 27s degree and a master 27s degree in public administration from the University of Michigan.

LinkedIn

Christopher Robert Swanson is originally from Grand Blanc, Michigan. He earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Mott Community College, a bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Michigan, and a master of public administration in criminal justice from the University of Michigan. He lives with his family in Fenton, Michigan.

Christopher serves as Undersheriff of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office and as Sheriff of Genesee Count. He also founded Swanson Leadership, a life coaching and national speaking practice. He previously served as Detective Lieutenant and Detective Sergeant at the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.


Chris Swanson, Flint-based sheriff and primetime DNC speaker, launches bid for governor of Michigan

Chris Swanson, prominent sheriff and Democrat, announces run for Michigan governor

Christopher currently serves as Sheriff of Genesee County, Michigan. He was first elected in 2020 and is serving his second term.


For Candidate Christopher Robert Swanson on Issue economy:  
Supports auditing and restructuring the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to benefit all citizens, not just political insiders.

Supports auditing and restructuring the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to benefit all citizens, not just political insiders.

Advocates for reducing FOIA exemptions for government officials and increasing transparency regarding tax dollars.

Supports creating a "cooling off" period for elected officials before they can become lobbyists.

Supports growing the economy by bringing good-paying, union jobs to Michigan and protecting prevailing wage and worker safety.

Promotes growing the economy by bringing good-paying, union jobs to Michigan and protecting prevailing wage and worker safety.

Supports entrepreneurship through an Office of Innovation to assist startups and small business owners, aiming to make Michigan the best state for starting and owning a business.

Supports entrepreneurship through an Office of Innovation to assist startups and small business owners.

- Supports auditing and restructuring the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to benefit all citizens, not just political insiders.
- Advocates for reducing FOIA exemptions for government officials and increasing transparency regarding tax dollars.
- Supports creating a "cooling off" period for elected officials before they can become lobbyists.
- Promotes growing the economy by bringing good-paying, union jobs to Michigan and protecting prevailing wage and worker safety.
- Supports entrepreneurship through an Office of Innovation to assist startups and small business owners.

Economy

Supports expanding the I.G.N.I.T.E. program to jails statewide to reduce violence, recidivism, and improve community relations with law enforcement.

Wants to expand the I.G.N.I.T.E. program to jails statewide to reduce violence, recidivism, and improve community relations with law enforcement.

Supports creating the Governor’s Human Oppression Strike Team (GHOST) to combat human trafficking and predator attacks, modeled after the successful Genesee County initiative.

Supports creating the Governor’s Human Oppression Strike Team (GHOST) to combat human trafficking and predator attacks.

Supports enforcing Extreme Risk Protection Orders.

- Wants to expand the I.G.N.I.T.E. program to jails statewide to reduce violence, recidivism, and improve community relations with law enforcement.
- Supports creating the Governor’s Human Oppression Strike Team (GHOST) to combat human trafficking and predator attacks.
- Supports enforcing Extreme Risk Protection Orders.

Public Safety

As of May 1, 2026, Christopher Robert Swanson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

Supports Career and Technical Education and trades programs in middle and high schools to help students graduate with skilled labor for the workforce.

Wants to increase literacy ratings by 10 points within 18 months through Reading, Financial, and Digital Literacy using the EBLI model and incentivizing home reading.

Wants to increase literacy ratings by 10 points within 18 months through reading, financial, and digital literacy using the EBLI model and incentivizing home reading.

Supports funding for school infrastructure upgrades to enhance safety, including bulletproof glass, metal detectors, and secure entry points.

Wants to expand GED and high school completion programs to provide adults and returning citizens with opportunities to complete their education, reduce re-incarceration, and strengthen communities across Michigan.

Supports continuing free breakfast and lunch programs for all public school students in Michigan to ensure every student has access to nutritious meals.

Supports continuing free breakfast and lunch programs for all public school students in Michigan.

Supports prioritizing early education and literacy by expanding access to preschool, supporting Universal Young 5s programs, focusing on essential elementary standards, and ensuring every child receives the early support needed for success in school and beyond.

Supports prioritizing early education and literacy by expanding access to preschool, supporting Universal Young 5s programs, and. focusing on essential elementary standards.

Supports attracting and retaining high-quality educators and investing in their support to prepare students for a technology-driven future.

Wants to attract and retain high-quality educators by investing in their support to prepare students for a technology-driven future.

Supports protecting K-12 education funding for its intended purpose, establishing a bipartisan task force to review the school funding model, and ensuring it reflects student needs and district costs.

Supports protecting K-12 education funding for its intended purpose and establishing a bipartisan task force to review the school funding model.

- Supports Career and Technical Education and trades programs in middle and high schools to help students graduate with skilled labor for the workforce.
- Wants to increase literacy ratings by 10 points within 18 months through reading, financial, and digital literacy using the EBLI model and incentivizing home reading.
- Supports funding for school infrastructure upgrades to enhance safety, including bulletproof glass, metal detectors, and secure entry points.
- Wants to expand GED and high school completion programs to provide adults and returning citizens with opportunities to complete their education, reduce re-incarceration, and strengthen communities across Michigan.
- Supports continuing free breakfast and lunch programs for all public school students in Michigan.
- Supports prioritizing early education and literacy by expanding access to preschool, supporting Universal Young 5s programs, and. focusing on essential elementary standards.
- Wants to attract and retain high-quality educators by investing in their support to prepare students for a technology-driven future.
- Supports protecting K-12 education funding for its intended purpose and establishing a bipartisan task force to review the school funding model.

Education

Energy & the Environment

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Voting & Elections

Facebook

Twitter

Christopher Robert Swanson

Pavel Tantchev

Graham Shirley

Supports reducing FOIA exemptions for government officials.

Linkedin

Jocelyn Benson is from Detroit, Michigan. She earned her bachelor's degree in political science from Wellesley College, her master's degree in philosophy and sociology from the University of Oxford, and her law degree from Harvard Law School. She lives with her husband and their family. 

Jocelyn previously worked as the dean of the Wayne State University Law School, the co-founder of the Military Spouses of Michigan, a law clerk in the sixth circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and a summer associate at the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. 

Jocelyn Benson - Ballotpedia

Jocelyn currently serves as the Secretary of State for Michigan. She was first elected in 208 and is in her second term. 

Plans to increase housing availability and affordability by streamlining regulations, incentivizing development of starter homes and affordable units, and cracking down on corporate investors who buy up properties and drive up rents.

Plans to reduce healthcare costs by improving medical billing transparency, advocating for a $5,000 caregiver tax credit, and preventing pharmaceutical companies from "price gouging" Michigan families.

Supports reducing healthcare costs by improving medical billing transparency, advocating for a $5,000 caregiver tax credit, and preventing pharmaceutical companies from "price gouging" Michigan families.

Plans to make childcare more accessible and affordable by bringing Rx Kids statewide and removing barriers for qualified providers.

Advocates for making childcare more accessible and affordable by bringing Rx Kids statewide and removing barriers for qualified providers.

- Plans to increase housing availability and affordability by streamlining regulations, incentivizing development of starter homes and affordable units, and cracking down on corporate investors who buy up properties and drive up rents.
- Supports reducing healthcare costs by improving medical billing transparency, advocating for a $5,000 caregiver tax credit, and preventing pharmaceutical companies from "price gouging" Michigan families.
- Advocates for making childcare more accessible and affordable by bringing Rx Kids statewide and removing barriers for qualified providers.

As of May 1, 2026, Jocelyn Benson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Plans to promote "transparency and accountability" in prescription drug pricing by establishing an independent board to review manufacturing practices and approve price increases.

- Plans to promote "transparency and accountability" in prescription drug pricing by establishing an independent board to review manufacturing practices and approve price increases.

Said, "That’s why as a candidate for governor I will not take campaign contributions from energy companies and other corporate PACs."

- Said, "That’s why as a candidate for governor I will not take campaign contributions from energy companies and other corporate PACs."
- Prioritizes reducing energy costs.

Supports the Michigan Voting Rights Act to guarantee free and fair elections for all citizens.

- Supports the Michigan Voting Rights Act to guarantee free and fair elections for all citizens.

Instagram

Youtube

Jocelyn Benson

Emileigh Crouch

Plans to increase housing availability and affordability by streamlining construction regulations, incentivizing development of starter homes and affordable units, and cracking down on corporate investors who buy up properties and drive up rents.

Kim Thomas earned her master's in business administration from Spring Arbor University. 

Kim is a federal auditor. She has spent her career finding hidden spending in government budgets and spotting administrative bloat.

Kim currently works as a federal auditor. She previously worked at the U.S. Department of Defense. 

Kim Thomas's campaign for Michigan Governor, Democratic Primary, is her first entry into politics.

Kim Thomas's campaign for governor of Michigan is her first entry into politics.

Supports small businesses and local entrepreneurs, understanding the challenges they face.

Supports revitalizing the Motor-Mile community to transform underused areas into profitable centers.

Advocates for revitalizing the Motor-Mile community to transform underused areas into profitable centers.

For Candidate Kim Thomas on Issue economy: Supports a return to living working wages to ensure Michigan families thrive.

Calls for a return to living, working wages to ensure Michigan families thrive.

Prioritizes eliminating generational debt.

- Supports small businesses and local entrepreneurs, understanding the challenges they face.
- Advocates for revitalizing the Motor-Mile community to transform underused areas into profitable centers.
- Calls for a return to living, working wages to ensure Michigan families thrive.
- Prioritizes eliminating generational debt.

As of May 1, 2026, Kim Thomas’s website did not contain information on this issue.

For Candidate Kim Thomas on Issue education:  
Supports expanding classrooms to enhance educational capacity.

Supports expanding classrooms to enhance educational capacity.

For Candidate Kim Thomas on Issue Education: Advocates for a school food program overhaul to improve nutrition and access for students.

Advocates for a school food program overhaul to improve nutrition and access for students.

- Supports expanding classrooms to enhance educational capacity.
- Advocates for a school food program overhaul to improve nutrition and access for students.

Kim Thomas

- The governor is the highest-ranking executive official in Michigan and serves as the head of the executive branch of state government.
- The governor enforces state laws, oversees executive agencies, and supervises all principal departments of the state government.
- The governor has the power to sign or veto legislation, including a line-item veto to reject specific parts of spending bills.
- The governor is elected statewide to serve a four-year term and is limited to two terms in a lifetime. Candidates must be at least 30 years old and a registered voter in Michigan for at least four years before the election.
- The governor receives a salary of approximately $159,300 per year.

The state’s chief executive who leads government and enforces state laws.

Governor

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