Democrat Jocelyn Benson leads Republican John James by about 7 points in Michigan's race for governor, according to recent public polls, after the two clashed in a pair of debates over health care, gas taxes, data centers and President Trump. The open seat is being vacated by term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Benson is Michigan's secretary of state; James is a U.S. congressman from the Detroit suburbs.
What do the Michigan governor polls show?
| Poll | Dates | Benson (D) | James (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Research, 682 likely voters | Oct. 1 | 46% | 39% |
| SSRS, 843 likely voters | Aug. 31–Sept. 6 | 50% | 41% |
| Glengariff Group, 600 likely voters | Aug. 31–Sept. 3 | 47% | 43% |
| EPIC-MRA, 600 likely voters | Aug. 22–28 | 48% | 44% |
| MSU/YouGov, 779 likely voters | Aug. 10–20 | 52% | 43% |
In the Mitchell Research poll, 9% were undecided, and third-party candidates — Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers), Douglas Campbell (Green) and Libertarian Anthony Hudson — took 2% each. Among respondents who said they were definitely voting, the race was much closer: Benson 45%, James 44%. Among those who had already voted, Benson led 66% to 22%.
Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who had launched an independent bid, is listed as withdrawn, and recent polls test only Benson against James and the minor-party candidates.
What happened in the debates?
First debate (October 6). Benson worked to link James to Trump's tariffs and the war with Iran; James pointed to times he stood up to the president, Michigan Public reported. Benson said she would suspend Michigan's gas tax, a position she had not previously taken publicly, and proposed a sub-national trade agreement with Canada to shield Michigan from tariffs. James questioned whether a state has the authority to do that.
Final debate (October 15). In a WDIV Local 4 debate moderated by Jason Colthorp, the candidates clashed over:
- Health care. Benson said James went to Washington to "raise your healthcare costs." James replied, "Yeah, that's real cute," and cited his Patients Deserve Price Tags Act.
- Trump. Benson said that "every lie that Donald Trump tells, he repeats." James said Trump has two years left, while the next governor could serve up to eight.
- Education. James noted that Michigan ranks 44th in fourth-grade literacy. Benson, a former teacher, said a teacher in the governor's office would get things done.
- Data centers. Benson accused James of profiting from data center stocks while in Congress; James said Benson and her husband backed a Saline project that local residents opposed.
Asked whether they agreed with any of their opponent's positions, neither named one.
Where do they stand on key issues?
| Issue | Benson (D) | James (R) |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | Broad review of state revenue | Cut the 4.25% flat rate to the 3% range in year one |
| Gas tax | Would suspend it | — |
| Tariffs | Proposes a Michigan–Canada trade deal | Questioned whether a state can do that |
| Data centers | Supports a moratorium in some form | Backs local choice: "a moratorium on Lansing" |
What about Michigan's Senate race?
Michigan is also electing a senator to replace retiring Democrat Gary Peters. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers held a heated debate at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids on October 8. A Fox News poll reported October 2 had El-Sayed at 50% and Rogers at 49%, Forbes reported. For more on El-Sayed, see our report on his watchlist lawsuit.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Most of Michigan closes polls at 8 p.m. Eastern; four western Upper Peninsula counties in the Central time zone close at 9 p.m. Eastern.
