Michigan 2026 live primary election results

Voters are heading to the polls on Aug. 4, 2026.

Voters flocked to the polls Tuesday to choose candidates in races for governor, senator and several competitive House races across Michigan.

Governor

In Michigan's governor's race, ABC News projects Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican Rep. John James will win their respective primaries and will face off in November.

James would be the first elected Black Republican governor in the state's history.

In Michigan's 7th Congressional District, ABC News projects progressive activist and Democratic Socialists of America member William Lawrence will defeat two more moderate candidates to be the Democratic nominee.

He will take on Republican incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett in November.

Lawrence was backed by political heavyweights Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Many party figures expressed concern that he could cost him the seat in November with his progressive views. There were calls for either Brink or Maasdam to drop out and consolidate the vote, but that didn't happen.

Lawrence made opposition to data centers the center of his campaign, which helped him win over voters in this central Michigan community. He becomes the fifth national DSA-backed candidate to win so far this year.

The state’s Democratic Senate primary has been the highest-profile race in the state, with moderate Rep. Haley Stevens and progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed competing to face off with Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in November’s general election.

Term limits prevent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from running again, leaving a wide-open race. On the Democratic side, Benson racked up the cash advantage against Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. On the Republican side, James had the advantage of a Trump endorsement to bring him to victory over millionaire businessman Perry Johnson.

In House races, incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar faces a strong Democratic Socialists of America-backed primary challenger in his Detroit-area 13th District and could join the six democratic incumbents to lose their primaries so far this year.

Another race to watch is the Democratic primary for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, which faces its own progressive vs. moderate showdown to take on first-term Republican Rep. Tom Barrett.

Michigan's primary has had very high turnout in early and absentee voting, according to state voter data.

As of Tuesday morning, 18% of registered voters had cast a ballot before election day. In 2024, total primary turnout was 25% of registered voters.

Voting via absentee ballot was up significantly, with requests for absentee ballots up 68.5% compared to 2022.

Early in-person turnout is up 88.6% compared with 2024, which was the first election with early voting in the state of Michigan.

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