Benson is tasked with the difficult goal of breaking Michigan’s 65-year streak of Democratic candidates failing to win their general election bids to replace outgoing, term-limited Democratic governors. The state has not elected a Democrat to replace an outgoing Democratic governor since 1960, according to Sabato’s Crystal Ball. The election forecaster, however, ranks the state as “Leans Democratic.”

Benson ran her campaign on 2026’s campaign buzzword, affordability, offering voters her “Affordable Michigan agenda” focused on lowering costs on big-ticket items, including housing, healthcare, and childcare. Benson, backed by many state legislators throughout the Wolverine State, boasts over $6.4 million in the bank, per her July reporting numbers.

Swanson had run on what he called a “working class playbook,” also targeting political corruption in the state capitol as part of his agenda. He pinned Benson as the establishment candidate, writing on X ahead of the election, “the establishment has had its chance. It’s time for a different playbook.”

Benson and James will now go head-to-head in the purple state’s general gubernatorial election in November, as former Detroit mayor Mike Duggan ditched his independent bid for the seat.

On the GOP side, James’s path to the general election became clearer when former state Attorney General Mike Cox withdrew his bid for the nomination in July. Cox and Johnson ran a tough race against James in a heated GOP primary laced with racially charged rhetoric against James, who is black, and a lawsuit over campaign advertising, despite President Donald Trump’s June endorsement of the congressman.

James remained the double-digit front-runner throughout the primary, but Johnson’s self-funded campaign still hit him hard with negative advertising throughout the race.

THE RACE TO REPLACE GRETCHEN WHITMER IN MICHIGAN

Eyes will be locked on Michigan to see whether Benson can break the incumbent gubernatorial party’s historic losing trend, or whether James can eliminate Whitmer’s 10-percentage-point lead from her 2022 reelection victory.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin congratulated Benson in a statement: “Congratulations to Jocelyn Benson on earning the Democratic nomination to be the next governor of Michigan. As Michigan’s Secretary of State, Jocelyn has dedicated her career to serving the people of Michigan, protecting the right to vote, and delivering results for families across the state. Her record of leadership has earned the trust of Michigan voters, and Democrats are united behind her as we work together to lower prices, protect healthcare, and build on our progress in order to keep Michigan moving forward.”