Congressman John James and 2022 gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon lead potential Republican candidates for governor, while it’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for Democrats.
A MIRS poll of 688 general election voters conducted by Michell Research & Communications on March 13 found multiple Republicans effectively tied with Benson, the Democratic frontrunner, with 20 months to go before the 2026 contest.
“At this time, the three top Republicans in the GOP primary are all statistically tied with Democratic front runner Jocelyn Benson,” Steve Mitchell, MRC president, said in a statement. “As we look toward the important 2026 elections, it looks at this time that the Republicans have three strong candidates to run against Benson.”
James and Dixon are statistically tied at 31% and 30% support, respectively, for the Republican nomination, followed by former Attorney General Mike Cox with 10%, 2022 gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson with 8%, Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt with 5%, former Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard at 1%, and 15% undecided.
A breakdown of the polling shows James leads Dixon 44% to 31% in Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties, the result of $50 million in spending in the 10th Congressional District over the last two election cycles. Dixon leads James in the rest of the state with 29% to James’ 25%.
Benson leads in support for the Democratic primary with 46%, well ahead of Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist at 13% and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson with 11%.
For the general election, the poll shows 16% of voters back Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who announced in December he’s ditching the Democratic Party to run as an Independent. Benson holds a statistically insignificant lead of 2% over Dixon and Cox in the general election, while it’s a 3% lead in a matchup against James.
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About 10% to 12% of voters remain undecided about the general election. The poll has a margin of error of 3.7% for the general election, 5.6% for the Democratic primary, and 5.8% for the GOP primary.
According to Mitchel Research, “the close battle … in the governor’s race is consistent with the Generic Congressional Ballot Question where Republicans and Democrats are tied at 45%.”
For Republicans, deciding on the nominee could ultimately hinge on the 47th POTUS.
More than three-quarters (77%) of Republican primary voters told pollsters they are “very likely” (46%) or “somewhat likely” (31%) to vote for a Trump-endorsed candidate, even if it’s not who they currently support.
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Other polling results show 47% of Michiganders approve of President Trump’s efforts since taking office in January, compared to 50% who disapprove. About 45% have a favorable impression of the president, while 49% have an unfavorable impression.
It’s a similar situation with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, whose job approval also exceeds her favorability. About 52% of voters polled approve of Whitmer’s job performance, versus 48% who have a favorable impression.
Twenty percent of voters polled identified the economy and jobs as the “single most important issue facing the State of Michigan,” followed by 14% who pointed to “honesty in government,” 12% who said “taxes/government lending/debt.” All other issues polled in single digits, and 4% were undecided.
All candidates in the poll have declared their candidacy for governor with the exception of Dixon, James, Leonard, and Cox.
Cox said in December he’s “seriously looking at” a run and has created a fundraising committee, according to The Detroit News. Cox previously lost a bid for governor in 2010, coming in third in the Republican primary.
In a statement posted to X on Tuesday, Dixon said she’s considering both the gubernatorial race and a run for U.S. Sen. Gary Peters’ U.S. Senate seat.
“I want to do the most good for our beloved state. That’s why I’m considering a run for governor or U.S. Senate. Both races present unique opportunities and different ways to benefit Michigan,” Dixon wrote.
“In the coming weeks, I will continue to reach out to those in our state who can help turn it around and discuss our future and what it can be,” the statement read. “I appreciate the encouragement and outpouring of support in favor of doing more to bring Michigan back from Gretchen Whitmer’s lost decade. I will decide soon where my experience and talents would most benefit the state we love so dearly.”
This story has been updated to clarify the list of declared candidates.