John James (Michigan politician)

Michigan voters head to the polls Nov. 3, with early voting running through Nov. 1. Top of the ballot: an open U.S. Senate seat pitting Democrat Abdul El-Sayed against Republican Mike Rogers, and a governor's race to succeed term-limited Gretchen Whitmer, featuring Democrat Jocelyn Benson against Republican John James. Down-ballot contests include attorney general (Eli Savit vs. Doug Lloyd) and secretary of state (Garlin Gilchrist II vs. Anthony Forlini), plus two statewide proposals — one on calling a constitutional convention, another limiting corporate political contributions.

Detroit voters also pick five school board members, and Wayne and Oakland counties weigh a museum funding millage.

Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel, who has held the office since 2009, announced Oct. 8 that he no longer identifies as a Democrat. The move follows his endorsements of Republican gubernatorial candidate John James and U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers ahead of Michigan's 2026 election, and comes after local Democratic Party leaders publicly called for him to switch affiliations.

Federspiel cited disagreements over juvenile sentencing reforms, abortion rights, transgender athletes in women's sports, and opposition to "socialist policies" as reasons for his departure. He specifically criticized a recent Miller hearing for a man convicted as a juvenile in a 1997 Saginaw murder. Saginaw County Democratic Party Chairman Brandell Adams said he was not surprised and respected the decision, noting the sheriff had "behaved like a Republican" for years.

Federspiel did not say whether he would join another party or seek re-election when his term ends in two years. James faces Democrat Jocelyn Benson for governor, while Rogers faces Democrat Abdul El-Sayed for Senate, both in competitive 2026 races.

Some Michigan Republican officials and candidates are voicing concern about their party's prospects in the November election, citing surging gas and diesel prices linked to the war in Iran and signs of flagging GOP voter enthusiasm. Former state Rep. Pam Hornberger called the fight to keep the state House majority a "huge struggle" and said Republicans have little chance of flipping a key state Senate seat in suburban Detroit. A Marquette County GOP chairman described local volunteer enthusiasm as at "all time lows," and a former 5th District GOP chairman estimated a fifth of Trump's base may sit out the election or vote Democratic.

Republicans currently hold a narrow 58-52 state House majority, while Democrats control the state Senate 20-18. GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers has proposed suspending fuel taxes to ease costs. Other Republicans, including Rep. Mark Tisdel and former Rep. Rocky Raczkowski, offered more mixed assessments, acknowledging a difficult political environment tied to affordability concerns and the desire among voters for checks on unified Republican control in Washington.

A new Detroit News/WDIV-TV poll of 600 likely Michigan voters, conducted by the Glengariff Group Aug. 31-Sept. 3, found only 29% approve of President Trump's 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods, including cement, wine, dairy and hockey sticks, while 64% disapprove. Opposition was strong among Democrats (93%) and independents (73%), with even a quarter of Republicans disapproving. About 62% said the tariffs hurt Michigan's economy, and 72% expect higher prices. Trump's approval among Michigan voters fell to 35%, the lowest recorded in either of his terms by this pollster.

The findings carry political weight ahead of November elections, with Republicans like Rep. Tom Barrett and Senate nominee Mike Rogers treading carefully—criticizing aspects of the trade dispute while avoiding direct attacks on Trump—as Democrats including Sen. Elissa Slotkin and gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson use the tariffs' costs to attack GOP opponents. Business groups and voters interviewed cited rising consumer costs and strain on Michigan's auto, dairy, agriculture and tourism sectors tied to trade with Canada.

Republican U.S. House candidate Michael Bouchard released his first general election video ad, "Jump," in which the former Army paratrooper leaps from a plane while pledging to fight socialism if elected to represent Michigan's 10th District. The Rochester Hills candidate's campaign says the ad is part of a seven-figure television and social media push, funded entirely with campaign money, in a race political handicappers rate as a toss-up.

Bouchard will face Democratic nominee Christina Hines, a former Wayne County special victims prosecutor, in November. The winner succeeds GOP Rep. John James, who is running for Michigan governor instead of seeking reelection. The 10th District covers southern Macomb County and Rochester/Rochester Hills in Oakland County.

The ad is set to air during major sports broadcasts and prime programming, with some slots costing tens of thousands of dollars. Bouchard holds an early fundraising edge, reporting roughly $960,000 on hand versus Hines's approximately $160,000, though her campaign has yet to release its first ad.

Federal emergency orders keeping the J.H. Campbell coal plant in west Michigan running have emerged as a campaign issue in the state's 4th District U.S. House race. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has repeatedly extended 90-day directives forcing the plant to stay open past its planned closure, citing electricity supply concerns, despite Consumers Energy's earlier deal with state officials to shut it down.

Democratic challenger Sean McCann is attacking GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga over the plant's continued operation, arguing it has raised Consumers Energy customers' bills by more than $200 million and pledging to push for its closure if elected. Huizenga counters that Michigan's clean-energy mandates, championed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Democrats including McCann, are driving up utility costs and threatening reliable power. Rep. Hillary Scholten joined McCann in criticizing the administration's intervention as an unprecedented move against a private utility's decision. The dispute reflects a broader national fight over fossil fuel plant closures versus renewable energy transitions, playing out in a district expected to be closely contested this November.

Michigan Democrats officially nominated Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for governor and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks for lieutenant governor at the party's nominating convention in Lansing. Brinks faced no challengers and was confirmed by voice vote, setting up a Benson-Brinks ticket that would make history as the state's first all-woman governor-lieutenant governor pairing if elected. The ticket will face Republican nominee U.S. Rep. John James and running mate state Rep. Jay DeBoyer in the November general election.

Brinks used her acceptance speech to tie James to President Trump's tariff policies, while James's campaign called the Democratic slate the "most radical" in state history. Delegates also finalized previously endorsed nominees, including Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist for secretary of state and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit for attorney general. Attorney General Dana Nessel skipped the event, citing concerns about antisemitism within the party. The general election is set for Nov. 3, 2026.