#20 trendingMichigan Election

Michigan Election Results 2026: Senate, Governor and Proposals 1 and 2 Pending as Polls Close at 8 p.m.

Illustration: A row of voting booths in a school gym at dusk, a ballot drop box beside a window overlooking a Great Lakes shoreline
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Michigan voters are choosing a new governor, a new U.S. senator and a new attorney general on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and deciding two statewide ballot proposals. No results have been reported yet. Polls are open until 8 p.m., and no race has been called.

Most of Michigan closes at 8 p.m. Eastern. Four Upper Peninsula counties on Central Time (Dickinson, Gogebic, Iron and Menominee) close at 9 p.m. Eastern, Michigan Public reported. Anyone in line at closing time can still vote.

For official numbers as they come in, use the Michigan Secretary of State’s election results page at michigan.gov/sos and the Michigan Voter Information Center. Early returns are partial and can shift as more ballots are counted.

U.S. Senate race: El-Sayed vs. Rogers

Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat, is retiring after two terms, leaving an open seat. The main candidates are:

  • Abdul El-Sayed (D), a physician and former director of the Detroit Health Department
  • Mike Rogers (R), a former congressman who represented Michigan’s 8th District and was the GOP’s 2024 Senate nominee

Libertarian Lydia Christensen, Natural Law Party candidate Walter Kristy, Tim Long of the U.S. Taxpayers Party and Green Party candidate Douglas Marsh are also on the ballot, WZZM reported. National analysts see the race as one of a handful that could decide control of the U.S. Senate.

Governor’s race: Benson vs. James

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, so Michigan will elect its first new governor in eight years. The race is between:

  • Jocelyn Benson (D), Michigan’s secretary of state
  • John James (R), who represents the 10th Congressional District in the U.S. House

Minor-party candidates Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers), Douglas Campbell (Green) and Anthony Hudson (Libertarian) are also running. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ended his independent campaign in May, WZZM reported.

Other statewide races

  • Attorney general: Democrat Eli Savit, the Washtenaw County prosecutor, vs. Republican Doug Lloyd, the Eaton County prosecutor
  • Secretary of state: Democrat Garlin Gilchrist, the lieutenant governor, vs. Republican Anthony Forlini, the Macomb County clerk
  • Michigan Supreme Court: two seats, with no party labels on the ballot
  • State Legislature: all 38 state Senate seats and all 110 state House seats. Democrats hold the Senate and Republicans hold the House, and both chambers are considered competitive.

Closely watched U.S. House races include the 7th District, where Republican Rep. Tom Barrett faces Democrat Will Lawrence, and the 3rd and 4th districts in West Michigan.

Michigan Proposal 1 and Proposal 2

Proposal 1 is the constitutional convention question, which Michigan’s constitution puts on the ballot every 16 years. A yes vote would start the process of electing delegates in 2027 to draft a general revision of the state constitution; any new constitution would still need voters’ approval in a separate vote. A no vote keeps the current constitution. Voters rejected the question roughly 2-to-1 in 2010.

Proposal 2, the “Money Out of Politics” initiative, would bar regulated electric and gas utilities and contractors with more than $250,000 a year in government contracts, along with closely connected people and groups, from contributing to candidates for offices that affect them. It would also extend disclosure rules to more political communications, including online ads.

FAQ

When will Michigan election results come in?

Counting begins after polls close at 8 p.m. ET (9 p.m. ET in four western Upper Peninsula counties). Close races may take longer to call.

Who won the Michigan Senate race?

No winner has been declared. Check back after polls close, and rely on official state results and race calls from major news organizations.

Where can I find official Michigan election results?

The Michigan Secretary of State’s election results page and the Michigan Voter Information Center.

Can I still vote in Michigan today?

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and anyone in line by 8 p.m. can vote. Michigan also offers same-day registration at your local clerk’s office.

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