The Scramble to Replace Whitmer Is Heating Up in Michigan – RedState

The race to replace Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is in full swing.

We’re already halfway through February, which means spring and March are just around the corner. Here in the semi-great white north, we get excited about simple things like this.

Of course, that means the calendar is moving forward and we’ll soon be into summer and heading into the August primaries, where the Michigan GOP and Democratic Party will decide who leads them into the November 2026 general election.

How exciting this all is.

In fact, this year will be more exciting than most I’ve seen in the past, and I’ll explain why in a moment.

Things are officially starting to heat up in the race to replace Whitmer. Below I do a brief analysis of who is where and perhaps what we can expect.

The Detroit News gives some details on who raised what.

Democrat Jocelyn Benson raised the most money among the candidates vying to become Michigan’s next governor in the final two months of 2025, while Republican Mike Cox had the most money to spend, according to reports expected Monday.

The new reports detail fundraising from Oct. 21 to Dec. 31 and show an evolving race for Michigan’s top political office, with some candidates building up financial reserves, a sign of strength, and others now spending more money than they bring in, a potential signal of weakness.

As his only opponent in the Democratic primary…

Benson’s only primary opponent, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson of Fenton, raised $87,412 and spent $202,227 — double what he brought in — during the reporting period.

I know people who are big supporters of the sheriff, and they are still enthusiastic about him, but the path to victory seems a little steep for him.

On the Republican side, they seem to have some challenge ahead.

For political observers and writers like me, this is exactly what we look for to keep us from falling asleep during the winter months. We like candidates to discuss the issues of the day and see who most aligns not only with what we think, but what will be the best thing for the state.

Hopefully.

Former Attorney General Mike Cox raised nearly $4.1 million, creating the largest war chest to date. However, of that sum, $3.5 million was a loan he invested in the campaign to prepare for the upcoming battle.

One of the Republican Party’s SEVEN remaining contenders (Anthony Hudson gave up his Republican mandate a few days ago) includes current Congressman John James (MI-10), who is not running for re-election, instead focusing on becoming governor of the state.

U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township said he raised the most among Republican contenders in the new disclosures: $838,505. The James campaign spent $661,297 and had $2.4 million to start 2026.

Also running are a former state senator, Aric Nesbitt, and a former state representative and House Speaker, Tom Leonard.

Also Pastor Ralph Rebandt and a knowledgeable conservative person, Karla Wagner. Plus, for the second time, millionaire Perry Johnson has decided to jump in and try to win the GOP nomination.

This certainly makes a lot of noise on the GOP side and should (fingers crossed) wake up people who happen to be a little more conservative and motivate them to vote.

What intrigues or confuses me, however, is the guy running on the independent ballot, former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. Duggan has a somewhat positive record as the former chief executive of Michigan’s largest city, and even though the latest polls have Benson leading James by 3 points, Duggan gets nearly 20 percent of the vote.

Former Detroit News columnist and someone I’ve quoted here many times before, Charlie LeDuff of course has a different opinion of the former mayor, and it’s funny and also intriguing.

More polling will need to be done to try to determine whether Duggan will hurt fellow natural Democrat Jocelyn Benson or distance himself from whoever wins the GOP nomination. I know regular RedState readers already know this, but Michigan is not a red state.

Michigan is going to have one hell of a journey between now and November, and I’m here for all of it.

Unless it gets boring… Then maybe I’ll find a Trump speech to amuse myself until after November.

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