Governor
August 4, 2026 · Michigan · Statewide · primary
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 32 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 10,077,761 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(39,287,377 ÷ 10,077,761) ÷ ln(39,287,377 ÷ 582,397) = 32.31, comparing all statewide districts nationwide (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
Governor is responsible for:
- Running the state government and its agencies
- Proposing the state budget
- Signing state bills into law, or vetoing them
- Appointing state officials and, in many states, judges
- Commanding the state National Guard during emergencies
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Aric Nesbitt
Republican · declared
Aric Nesbitt is a Republican Michigan state senator representing District 20 and serving as Senate Republican Leader. Michigan's official August 4, 2026 primary listing continued to show him for Governor without a withdrawn or disqualified status on July 9, 2026, while Michigan Advance reported that he suspended his campaign and endorsed John James on June 22, 2026.
Records: Anti-Corruption 3 for, Civil Rights 1 for, 1 against, Corporate Accountability 1 for, 2 against, Data Privacy 2 for, Environment and Public Health 1 for, 5 against, Government Efficiency 10 for, Government Spending Reduction 5 for, Healthcare Affordability 2 against, Housing Affordability 1 for, 1 against, Personal Income Tax Reduction 1 for, Public Education Quality 6 for, Public Infrastructure 2 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 1 against, Social Programs and Welfare 1 for, Women's Reproductive Rights 4 against
Christopher Robert Swanson
Democratic · declared
Christopher Robert Swanson is a Democratic candidate for Governor of Michigan in the August 4, 2026 primary. The Michigan Bureau of Elections official candidate listing shows Swanson filed for Governor as a Democratic candidate on April 17, 2026. His campaign site identifies him as the Sheriff of Genesee County, says he grew up in Grand Blanc, and describes his public-safety and service career as the basis for his gubernatorial campaign.
Records: Civil Rights 5 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 9 for, Social Programs and Welfare 4 for
Jocelyn Benson
Democratic · declared
Jocelyn Benson is a Democratic candidate for Governor of Michigan in the August 4, 2026 primary. The Michigan Bureau of Elections official candidate listing shows Benson filed for Governor as a Democratic candidate on April 16, 2026. Her campaign site identifies her as Michigan Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate, and describes her record as transforming government systems, saving Michiganders time and money, and protecting rights and freedoms.
Records: Anti-Corruption 5 for, Civil Rights 10 for, Data Privacy 1 for, Government Efficiency 11 for
John James
Republican · declared
John James is a Republican candidate for Governor of Michigan in the August 4, 2026 primary and the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 10th congressional district. Michigan's official candidate listing shows James filed for Governor on April 20, 2026. His official House biography says he previously served eight years as a Ranger-qualified U.S. Army aviation officer and later led two Michigan logistics businesses; his campaign biography identifies him as a gubernatorial candidate.
Records: Anti-Corruption 1 for, Civil Rights 1 for, 3 against, Corporate Accountability 2 for, 1 against, Data Privacy 2 for, Environment and Public Health 2 against, Government Efficiency 3 for, Government Spending Reduction 1 for, Gun Control 1 against, Healthcare Affordability 3 for, Housing Affordability 1 for, Personal Income Tax Reduction 1 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Public Infrastructure 3 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 6 for, Social Programs and Welfare 3 for, 2 against, Women's Reproductive Rights 2 against
Mike Cox
Republican · declared
Mike Cox is a Republican candidate for Governor of Michigan in the August 4, 2026 primary. The Michigan Bureau of Elections official candidate listing shows Cox filed for Governor as a Republican candidate on April 20, 2026. His campaign biography describes him as a former U.S. Marine Corps infantry rifleman and former Michigan Attorney General, and his law-firm biography says he founded The Mike Cox Law Firm after serving as Attorney General and as a Wayne County prosecutor.
Records: Anti-Corruption 1 for, Civil Rights 1 for, 3 against, Corporate Accountability 3 for, Data Privacy 1 for, Environment and Public Health 1 for, Gun Control 1 against, Healthcare Affordability 2 for, Public Infrastructure 1 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 2 for, Social Programs and Welfare 3 for, Women's Reproductive Rights 1 against
Perry Johnson
Republican · declared
Perry Johnson is a Republican candidate for Governor of Michigan in the August 4, 2026 primary. The Michigan Bureau of Elections official candidate listing shows Johnson filed for Governor as a Republican candidate on April 21, 2026. His campaign website describes him as a self-made businessman and problem solver and says he is running for Governor of Michigan.
Election sources
Source: mi-boe.entellitrak.com
Source: michigan.gov