Michigan’s 2026 General Election: What the Results Mean and What Comes Next

The Election Results

Democrat Jocelyn Benson won the race for governor, defeating Republican U.S. Rep. John James and succeeding term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Winnie Brinks will serve as Lieutenant Governor. Benson is the first Democrat elected to succeed another Democratic governor since John Swainson followed G. Mennen Williams in 1960. Michigan voters have often changed parties when they changed governors, so the result departs from a long-standing pattern. Garlin Gilchrist II was elected Secretary of State, and Eli Savit was elected Attorney General.

With Democratic majorities in both the Michigan House and Senate, one party will again control the governor’s office and the Legislature, as it did in 2023 and 2024. This arrangement is often called a trifecta. The governor’s race drew less spending than the U.S. Senate contest, with about $63 million spent entering the final week compared with roughly a quarter of a billion dollars in the Senate race. Voters identified affordability as their leading concern, including energy costs, housing, healthcare and the effect of tariffs on Michigan manufacturing.

Energy and Gas Costs Shaped the Campaign

Both major candidates for governor pledged to lower energy and gas costs, but they proposed different approaches. James proposed suspending Michigan’s gas tax and phasing out the state income tax. Benson proposed targeted tax breaks and a broader review of the state tax code, and she called for suspending the federal gas tax. The new administration’s approach to fuel and energy costs will be an early indicator of its priorities, although the details will not be known until the governor presents her State of the State address and releases her first budget recommendation.

U.S. Senate and U.S. House Races

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers for the open seat of retiring Sen. Gary Peters, keeping it in Democratic hands. He will be Michigan’s first Muslim senator. The race set a Michigan advertising record, with about $383 million spent on ads. Unofficial reports also give Democrats majorities in both chambers of Congress.

In Michigan’s congressional delegation, Democrats flipped three Republican-held seats and now hold nine of the state’s 13 seats. The flipped seats were:

MI-4 (Southwestern Michigan, including the Holland and Kalamazoo areas): Democrat Sean McCann won the seat previously held by Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga.
MI-7 (Lansing area): Democrat William Lawrence won the seat previously held by Republican Rep. Tom Barrett.
MI-10 (Macomb and Oakland counties): Democrat Christina Hines won the open seat previously held by Republican John James, who ran for governor.

Michigan Senate and House of Representatives

In the Michigan Senate, Democrats expanded their majority to 23-15, up from 20-18. They flipped three Republican-held seats:

District 9 (parts of Macomb and Oakland counties): Democrat Theresa Brooks won the seat previously held by Republican Sen. Michael Webber of Rochester Hills.
District 30 (Northern Grand Rapids and parts of Kent and Ottawa counties): Democrat Carol Glanville won the seat previously held by Republican Sen. Mark Huizenga of Walker.
District 32 (Muskegon, Mason, Oceana and Benzie counties, and part of Manistee County): Democrat Rebecca Amidon won the open seat previously held by Republican Sen. Jon Bumstead of Norton Shores, who was term-limited. Her opponent was Republican Kim Cole.

Democrats also held the competitive 12th, 13th and 35th districts.

District 12 (parts of Macomb, St. Clair and Wayne counties, including St. Clair Shores and the Grosse Pointes): Sen. Kevin Hertel (D)
District 13 (parts of Oakland and Wayne counties, including West Bloomfield): Sean Carlson (D), in the open seat of Sen. Rosemary Bayer
District 35 (parts of Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties, including Saginaw): Sen. Chedrick Greene (D)

Sen. Darrin Camilleri, a Democrat who represents the 4th District in Wayne County’s Downriver communities, including Trenton, Brownstown Township and Southgate, has been elected as the Senate Majority Leader for the 2027 – 2028 session. Senator Roger Hauck, who represents the 34^th district, which covers Osceola, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Mecosta, Gratiot Counties along with part of Midland County, has been elected Senate Minority Leader by the Republican Caucus. Because Democrats retain control, committee assignments should stay largely the same, although new leadership will bring some changes.

In the House, Democrats gained 11 seats to reach a 63-47 majority, up from 52 seats. They unseated 10 Republican incumbents and won one open Republican seat, ending Speaker Matt Hall’s majority. The flipped seats were:

HD 27 (Wyandotte & Trenton): Democrat Jaime Churches defeated Republican Rep. Rylee Linting.
HD 28 (parts of Taylor, Woodhaven & Flat Rock): Democrat Sherry Berecz defeated Republican Rep. Jamie Thompson.
HD 44 (Battle Creek & Albion): Democrat and former Rep. Jim Haadsma defeated Republican Rep. Steve Frisbie in one of the most expensive House races.
HD 46 (parts of Jackson & Chelsea): Democrat Jan Maino defeated Republican Rep. Kathy Schmaltz of Jackson.
HD 54 (Oakland County): Democrat Sarah Pounds won the open seat previously held by Republican Rep. Donni Steele, who ran for the Senate.
HD 55 (Rochester Hills & Oakland County): Democrat Alex Hawkins defeated Republican Rep. Mark Tisdel.
HD 57 (Sterling Heights): Democrat Tom Turner defeated Republican Rep. Tom Kuhn.
HD 58 (Utica & Warren): Democrat Katrina Manetta defeated Republican Rep. Ron Robinson.
HD 68 (Burton & Grand Blanc): Democrat Matt Schlinker defeated Republican Rep. David Martin.
HD 86 (Holland & Ottawa County): Democrat Joseph McClusky defeated Republican Rep. Nancy DeBoer.
HD 109 (Upper Peninsula, including Marquette & Ishpeming): Democrat Anna Aho Rink defeated Republican Rep. Karl Bohnak.

Rep. Ranjeev Puri is expected to become the next Speaker, and every House committee will have new leadership. Because committee chairs shape which bills receive hearings, those assignments will matter for many organizations.

Rep. Tom Kunse will replace Speaker Matt Hall as Republican leader as they head into the minority next term after losing 11 seats Tuesday. This is a notable choice after Kunse challenged Hall two years ago.

Ballot Proposals

Voters rejected Proposal 1, which asked whether to hold a convention to rewrite the Michigan Constitution. Michigan voters are asked this question automatically every 16 years, and this was the fourth consecutive time they declined. Existing constitutional provisions on abortion, voting rights and education funding remain in place for now, though changes can still come through individual amendments proposed by the Legislature or by citizen petition. The proposal will return to the ballot in 2042.

Voters approved Proposal 2, a voter-initiated law, by about 81% in unofficial returns. It prohibits contributions to state and local candidates and officeholders from regulated electric and natural gas utilities, from businesses with more than $250,000 in annual government contracts, and from people and organizations with substantial ties to them. The law also extends donor disclosure requirements (rules requiring political ads to identify who paid for them) to online and streaming ads. It does not cap ad spending, does not restrict independent expenditure committees (often called super PACs), and does not apply to federal elections.

A lawsuit challenging two of the measure’s disclosure provisions, but not its contribution ban, was filed in federal court on Election Day by the Mackinac Center, and its outcome will shape how the law applies in practice. The Citizens Research Council has questioned whether the donor restrictions are too broad to survive First Amendment review. The law includes a severability clause (a provision meant to keep the remaining parts of a law in effect if a court strikes down one part), which is intended to keep the rest of the law in effect if a court invalidates any part of it. The Michigan Supreme Court’s Democratic-nominated majority remains intact, and that court would hear any state-court challenge.

Results Await Certification

The results are not final until certified, which is the formal process by which election officials confirm the official vote totals. County boards of canvassers (the local bodies that review and certify results) must certify by November 17, and the Board of State Canvassers must certify statewide results by November 23. Recount requests may be filed after certification.

What Happens Next

Governor Whitmer and the current Legislature remain in office through December 31, but the remainder of the year is expected to be quiet. Because Democrats will assume full control in January, they have little reason to move major legislation now. Any bill not enacted by December 31 expires and must be reintroduced. The new Governor takes office January 1, and the new Legislature convenes January 13.

Benson’s Transition and the Executive Branch

Governor-elect Benson will have about eight weeks between the election and her January 1 inauguration to build her administration and restructure state government to reflect her policy initiatives. During that time, she is expected to name department directors, senior staff and other appointees, and she may change how some departments are organized.

The overall landscape is expected to look similar to the current one, but organizations should anticipate changes in department heads and staffing, and the overall framework of some departments could change. Organizations that work with agencies on permits, licenses, grants, regulation or procurement should watch for new leadership and new points of contact.

At the same time, state government will keep operating during the transition. Existing laws, administrative rules and regulations remain in effect until they are changed through the normal legislative or rulemaking process, and agencies’ internal processes for reviewing applications, issuing permits and enforcing requirements are expected to continue. Change is more likely to come gradually, through new priorities, guidance and enforcement emphasis, than overnight.

The first major test for the new government will be the budget. The Governor’s first budget recommendation will be presented in early February and will be the clearest statement of 2027 priorities. The Legislature then faces a statutory July 1 deadline. The agenda is likely to reflect the themes of the campaign, including lower energy, gas and utility costs, data center policy, tax and incentive reform, and education and healthcare spending, although the specific proposals remain to be seen. Organizations should also watch for tension between progressive and moderate Democrats and for federal-state conflicts over litigation and tariffs.

Where to Focus Now

The coming weeks are better used for preparation than reaction. The following steps can help organizations position themselves for 2027.

Prepare for the New Legislature

Confirm the status of any pending legislation that matters to your organization, and plan for reintroduction in January rather than action before year-end.
Plan to build relationships with new legislative leaders and committee chairs once committee assignments are announced in late January.

Prepare for the New Administration

Identify the agencies and programs that matter to your organization, and watch announcements of department directors and senior staff, which will signal the new administration’s priorities.
Plan for possible changes in agency structure, staffing and points of contact, and confirm that existing permits, licenses, grants and pending rulemaking continue on their current schedules.

Address Proposal 2 and Regulatory Exposure

If your organization is a regulated utility or holds or seeks government contracts above $250,000 a year, review Proposal 2’s provisions now and monitor the status of the legal challenge.
Review political giving, PAC and lobbying activity, and digital advertising practices to confirm they comply with the new contribution and disclosure rules.
Anticipate a more active Attorney General, particularly in matters involving regulated industries and consumer protection.

Conclusion

The 2026 election has changed the political landscape in Michigan. Organizations that understand what the new landscape could mean for education, energy, housing and other tax incentives, environmental regulations and healthcare policy can prepare now for the 2027 legislative session and the first budget under unified Democratic control.

Contact a member of our Government Affairs team to discuss how these results may affect your organization. We will continue to track certification, the implementation of Proposal 2, and the transition.

The information provided by Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice on any specific facts and circumstances.