Democrat Jocelyn Benson won the Michigan gubernatorial race with 53.8% of the vote against John James’s 44.5%, fending off the latest Republican attempt to retake the statewide office.
Benson’s victory marks the third consecutive Democratic victory in Michigan’s gubernatorial elections, with term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) having won the previous two. The results were in line with polling, which consistently gave Benson a lead over James, with the RealClearPolitics average at the end of October putting her at 48.5% and James at 42.7%.
Benson, Michigan’s secretary of state, won the Democratic primary on Aug. 4 in a landslide, taking 83.2% of the vote. James didn’t have it as easy, ultimately winning over businessman Perry Johnson with just 50.1% of the vote after scoring President Donald Trump’s coveted endorsement.
Benson’s victory was assisted by former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who was running as an independent, dropping out in May. While he stood almost no chance of winning, Democrats feared that, as a former Democrat who leans more left, he would siphon votes away from the Democratic nominee. His exit from the race caused the Cook Political Report to shift its rating from “toss-up” to “lean Democrat.”
Democrats also ran laps around the Republicans in spending — Democrats poured $23 million in TV ads going into October, compared to just $1 million for James, according to AdImpact data.
Benson’s victory is also historic in another way, making her the first Democrat to succeed a Democrat as Michigan governor since 1960.
While some Michigan-specific factors played into the race, such as the unpopularity of the trade war with Canada, on which much of the border state’s economy relies, the race was dominated by national concerns. The war in Iran, high gas prices, the stubbornly high cost of living, and blows to Trump’s popularity all contributed against the Republicans.
The Michigan gubernatorial race was overshadowed by the much closer and more contentious Senate race, pitting Democrat Abdul el-Sayed against Republican Mike Rogers.
Democrats ran laps around the Republicans in spending — Democrats poured $23 million in TV ads going into October, compared to just $1 million for James, according to AdImpact data. Outside help was rare — James said earlier in the race that he was relying on grassroots support and donations.
James’s victory blocked Benson from becoming the first Democrat to succeed a Democrat as Michigan governor since 1960, maintaining the seesaw nature of politics in the Wolverine State.
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While some Michigan-specific factors played into the race, such as the unpopularity of the trade war with Canada, on which much of the border state’s economy relies, the race was dominated by national concerns. The war in Iran, high gas prices, the stubbornly high cost of living, and blows to Trump’s popularity all contributed against the Republicans, making it an uphill battle for James. The Michigan Republican was able to rise above these factors and ultimately defeat his rival.
The Michigan gubernatorial race was overshadowed by the much closer and more contentious Senate race, pitting Democrat Abdul el Sayed against Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers.