Jocelyn Benson Wins Governor’s Race, Abdul El-Sayed Elected to US Senate
By Kyle Kaminski, The ‘Gander
Early election results show Jocelyn Benson will be Michigan’s next governor and Abdul El-Sayed has won the state’s open US Senate seat.
Several other races remained too close to call as of 1 a.m.
This story will be updated as the results are tallied.
US Senate Race
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has defeated Republican Mike Rogers in the race for Michigan’s open US Senate seat, according to the Vote Hub. El-Sayed led Rogers 51.8% to 46.3%, with an estimated 71% of the vote counted at 1 a.m.
El-Sayed, an epidemiologist with a medical degree, previously ran the public health departments for the city of Detroit and Wayne County. He lost to Gretchen Whitmer in the 2018 primary election for governor and won this year’s primary election over US Rep. Haley Stevens.
Rogers, a US Army veteran and former FBI agent, represented Michigan in Congress from 2001 to 2015 and chaired the House Intelligence Committee. He lost the 2024 US Senate race to Elissa Slotkin by fewer than 20,000 votes.
Governor’s Race
Democrat Jocelyn Benson has defeated Republican John James in the race to become Michigan’s next governor, according to the Decision Desk HQ, which called the race at 10:45 p.m. Benson leads James 52.4% to 45.8%, with an estimated 61% of the vote counted at 1 a.m., according to the Associated Press.
Benson has been Michigan’s secretary of state since 2019 and oversaw the state’s elections through the 2020 presidential race and its aftermath. She’s a former dean of Wayne State University Law School and won the primary over Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.
James, a US Army veteran, has represented Michigan’s 10th Congressional District since 2023. He lost his campaigns for US Senate in both 2018 and 2020.
Attorney General’s Race
Early results show Democrat Eli Savit ahead of Republican Doug Lloyd in the race to become Michigan’s next attorney general. With an estimated 59% of the vote counted, the Associated Press had not yet called the race as of 1 a.m.
Savit has been the Washtenaw County prosecutor since 2021. He clerked for two US Supreme Court justices and won the Democratic Party’s nomination at its April convention over Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald.
Lloyd has worked as a prosecutor for three decades and has led the Eaton County prosecutor’s office since 2013. He is president of the state’s county prosecutors association and won the Republican Party’s nomination at its March convention.
Secretary of State’s Race
Democrat Garlin Gilchrist has defeated Republican Anthony Forlini in the race to become Michigan’s next secretary of state, according to MIRS News. Gilchrist led Forlini 52% to 46% with an estimated 62% of the vote counted at 1 a.m., according to the Associated Press.
Gilchrist has been Michigan’s lieutenant governor since 2019 and previously worked as a software engineer. He ended his campaign for governor in January to run for secretary of state.
Forlini, a former state representative, has been the Macomb County clerk since 2021, overseeing elections in the state’s third-largest county.
Gilchrist’s win keeps the office that oversees Michigan’s elections in Democratic hands. Benson, a Democrat, has held it since 2019.
Michigan Supreme Court
Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh and Justice Noah Hood, both nominated by Democrats, won reelection to the Michigan Supreme Court, according to the Detroit Free Press. Cavanagh and Hood had 34% and 29% of the vote, respectively, with an estimated 42% of votes counted at 1 a.m.
Cavanagh, the court’s chief justice, was first elected in 2018 after more than 15 years as an appellate attorney. Hood was appointed by Whitmer in 2025 after serving on the Michigan Court of Appeals and as a circuit judge in Detroit.
Their wins keep the court’s 6-1 Democratic-nominated majority intact.
Michigan Legislature
All 148 seats in the Michigan Legislature are on the ballot, and control of both chambers is up for grabs. Democrats hold the state Senate 20-18, while Republicans hold the state House 58-52.
A party needs 20 seats to control the Senate and 56 to control the House.
Whichever party controls each chamber will shape how much of the next governor’s agenda can pass. This section will be updated as results roll in.
Proposals 1 & 2
Proposal 1 asks voters whether to hold a convention to rewrite Michigan’s constitution. The state constitution automatically puts the question on the ballot every 16 years, and voters last rejected it in 2010. A large bipartisan coalition of groups urged a no vote on this proposal.
Proposal 2, also known as “Mop Up Michigan,” would bar regulated gas and electric utilities, along with companies holding more than $250,000 in state contracts, from making political contributions. It would also expand disclosure rules for political ads, including online ads. Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, a coalition of left-leaning groups, put it on the ballot.
Michigan voters rejected Proposal 1, according to the Associated Press. With an estimated 52% of the vote counted, 74% voted no and 26% voted yes.
Michigan voters approved Proposal 2, according to the Associated Press. With an estimated 56% of the vote counted, 81% voted yes, and 19% voted no.
US House
Democrats won back control of the US House.
Among the most competitive races in Michigan:
MI-04: Republican US Rep. Bill Huizenga, who has served in Congress since 2011, faces Democratic state Sen. Sean McCann of Kalamazoo. With an estimated 35% of the vote counted, Huizenga led McCann, 49.3% to 49.1% at 1 a.m.
MI-07: First-term Republican US Rep. Tom Barrett faces Democrat Will Lawrence, a community organizer, in the state’s most expensive House race. With an estimated 80% of the vote counted, Barrett led Lawrence, 52% to 47% at 1 a.m.
MI-08: First-term Democratic US Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet defeated Republican Thomas J. Smith, MIRS News reports. With an estimated 59% of the vote counted, McDonald Rivet led Smith, 53% to 44.5% at 1 a.m.
MI-10: Republican Mike Bouchard and Democrat Christina Hines are running for the open seat John James is leaving to run for governor. With an estimated 51% of the vote counted, Hines led Bouchard, 50.1% to 47.4% at 1 a.m.
