Michigan Midterm Elections Underway With High-Stakes Senate and Governor Races
Michigan voters head to the polls for the midterm elections, deciding crucial contests that include an open U.S. seat in the U.S. Senate, a race for governor, and several major statewide and local ballot proposals. State officials reported on Monday that approximately 1.2 million residents had already cast their ballots, representing an early turnout rate of 16.5% of active registered voters. This total includes more than 138,000 votes cast at early voting sites and over one million absentee ballots submitted by mail.
Polls open across Michigan at 7 a.m. local time and close at 8 p.m., though some counties in the Upper Peninsula operate on Central Time. State law permits anyone who receives a ballot and is standing in line by 8 p.m. to vote. Registered voters can cast ballots at their designated polling places, while unregistered individuals or those needing to update their registration must visit their local clerk’s office. Michigan law requires voters possessing a photo ID to present it at the polls, but those without one may sign an affidavit to receive a ballot. Within 100 feet of a polling place, campaign materials, clothing, and accessories are prohibited.
The race for governor features term-limited Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer’s successor. Democratic candidate Jocelyn Benson, currently serving as Secretary of State, is running alongside Michigan state Sen. Winnie Brinks against Republican candidate John James, a U.S. Representative from the 10th District running with state Rep. Jay DeBoyer. The contest carries historic possibilities: a victory by James would make him Michigan’s first African-American governor, while a win for Benson and Brinks would establish the state’s first all-female executive ticket and produce back-to-back women governors for the first time in state history.
Meanwhile, the contest for the open U.S. Senate seat—created by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters—has drawn national attention as both parties vie for control of the chamber. The Democratic candidate, Abdul El-Sayed, faces Republican Mike Rogers. The race took a sharp turn late in the campaign when Democratic U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens publicly endorsed Rogers following a Sunday campaign stop at a Detroit church. El-Sayed, a former director of the Wayne and Detroit health departments and a progressive candidate endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is the first Muslim candidate to secure a major party U.S. Senate nomination. Rogers, a political veteran who served 14 years in the U.S. House, aims to become the first Republican U.S. Senator from Michigan since 1994.
Voters are also deciding other statewide executive offices, including the Attorney General race between Democrat Eli Savit and Republican Doug Lloyd, and the Secretary of State contest matching Democrat Garlin Gilchrist II against Republican Anthony G. Forlini.
Two statewide proposals appear on the ballot. Proposal 1 asks voters if Michigan should hold a constitutional convention to rewrite the state constitution. Proposal 2 asks whether regulated utility companies and government contractors should be prohibited from making political contributions.
Local millage renewals are also before voters in metro Detroit. Residents in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties are deciding whether to renew a 10-year, 0.1-mill tax for the Detroit Zoo, which would generate approximately $8.8 million in its first year for park maintenance and animal care. Additionally, voters in Oakland and Wayne counties are considering a 0.2-mill tax over ten years to support institutions including the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and the Detroit Historical Society. To assist turnout, the Detroit Department of Transportation is offering free rides on fixed routes and paratransit services on Election Day.
