Michigan voters chose their candidates for the state’s governor race Tuesday night, as Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson captured the Democratic nomination and U.S. Rep. John James won the Republican primary, according to multiple media reports.
Benson was establishment-backed and had long been expected to win the race, coming in with 85% of the vote as of 10 p.m. eastern time.
She won the Democrat primary over Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, who received 15%. That is with 21% of the votes in. Decision Desk HQ called the race as soon as the polls closed.
On the Republican side, James garnered 51% of the state’s Republican vote as of 10 p.m. eastern with 17% of the votes in. Decision Desk HQ called the race at 9:14 p.m.
He faced off against businessman Perry Johnson, who received 36% of the vote.
Benson campaigned to rally support from many key groups in Michigan, including union workers, Black communities, and the Muslim community in and around Dearborn.
She has served as secretary of state since her election in 2018. Prior to that, she worked as an attorney and as dean of Wayne State University Law School.
In her role as Michigan’s chief elections official, Benson has been vocal in her opposition to the Trump administration.
James was first elected to the U.S. House in 2022, after two unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020, and for governor in 2022.
A veteran and businessman, James is running on a “Freedom Agenda.” His platform prioritizes ethics reform and transparency, ending fraud and waste, and passing a parents’ bill of rights. He has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
Both former state Attorney General Mike Cox and state Sen. Aric Nesbitt appeared on the primary ballots for Republican voters in the state, despite suspending their campaigns.
Cox received 12% of the vote.
In just 91 days, James and Benson will face off against Douglas Campbell of the Green Party, Anthony Hudson of the Libertarian Party, Donna Brandenburg of the U.S. Taxpayers Party and write-in candidate Evan Space.
