Jocelyn Benson, the Michigan Secretary of State, has announced that her gubernatorial campaign has raised over $3.5 million since kicking off in January, as detailed in information shared with Hill on Thursday.
Her campaign has attracted more than 27,000 individual donations from 83 counties across Michigan, with about 95% of contributions being less than $100. Currently, Benson reports having over $2.4 million in available funds.
This fundraising achievement is notably more than the $1.5 million that Gretchen Whitmer raised by this point in 2017, following the launch of her own gubernatorial campaign.
With this financial support, Benson leads the pack in the Democratic primary for governor. Garlin Gilchrist’s campaign has disclosed a fundraising total of over $750,000, while Chris Swanson, a former sheriff, claims his campaign has secured more than $1 million. Gilchrist entered the primary race in March, while Swanson declared his candidacy in February.
“The numbers speak for themselves. Jocelyn Benson is well-positioned to take on any Republican or independent challenger in November 2026,” stated Nikki Goldshein, Benson’s campaign manager. “This exceptional fundraising shows not just our campaign’s strength but also highlights the movements we are cultivating.”
A poll from the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, published in May, indicated that Benson is leading the Democratic candidates with support from 59.3% of registered Democratic voters. Gilchrist and Swanson are trailing, with 6.9% and 8.1% support respectively, while nearly 26% remain undecided.
The Republican side of the gubernatorial primary is also quite competitive, featuring candidates like Rep. John James, state Sen. Arik Nesbitt, former state Sen. Tom Leonard, and ex-state attorney general Mike Cox, who recently reported raising $2.4 million with $1.9 million in the bank.
Additionally, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has announced that he will run for governor as an independent.
The race for governor in Michigan is gearing up to be intensely competitive in 2026, with nonpartisan analysts rating it as a “toss-up.”
