Primary Election Aug 4, 2026 Polls open 7AM – 8PM statewide.
General Election Nov 3, 2026 Polls open 7AM – 8PM statewide.
Get Ready Michigan.gov/Vote → Register, check your status, find your clerk & polling place, and track your ballot.

Our 2026 Candidates

These are the candidates Michigan FIRE Action is supporting up and down the 2026 ballot — from Governor to your state representative. Tap into each race to see who's running and why it matters for young Michiganders.

Statewide

Every Michigan voter sees these races on their ballot.

Governor of Michigan
Jocelyn Benson

Jocelyn Benson

Open seat · statewide

  • As Michigan’s 43rd Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson reformed vehicle branch office services and managed record-turnout elections under intense national scrutiny, earning high-profile civilian awards for defending election integrity.
  • Benson’s agenda is centered on affordability: bringing down the cost of housing, healthcare, childcare, and energy while creating good-paying jobs and making sure Michigan’s economy works for working families, not special interests.
  • For young Michiganders, these issues determine whether they can afford to build a future in the state they love, from buying a home and starting a family to finding a good job and managing everyday costs. Benson’s vision is a Michigan where young people can stay, succeed, and thrive, not leave because opportunity has become unaffordable.
Attorney General
Eli Savit

Eli Savit

Open seat · statewide

  • Protect Michiganders’ safety, rights, and communities by prosecuting and preventing serious crime, protecting constitutional freedoms, defending reproductive and civil rights, and ensuring every Michigander is treated with dignity and fairness.
  • Stand up for working people and consumers by cracking down on wage theft, unsafe workplaces, corporate abuse, price gouging, and deceptive business practices.
  • Hold powerful interests accountable, make polluters answer for the harm they cause, protect clean air and water, and partner with residents and local leaders to solve everyday challenges.
Secretary of State
Garlin Gilchrist II

Garlin Gilchrist II

Open seat · statewide

  • Protect our democracy and right to vote by defending voting rights, increasing transparency in politics, and fighting the misuse of personal voter information.
  • Modernize government services so the Secretary of State’s office is faster, more convenient, and more responsive.
  • Stand up for consumers and hold corporations accountable, including companies that take advantage of drivers through unfair auto repair practices.
U.S. Senate
Abdul El-Sayed

Abdul El-Sayed

Statewide

  • Build an economy that works for working people with good-paying union jobs, fair wages, affordable healthcare, support for small businesses, and accountability for corporations, monopolies, and billionaires.
  • Lower the cost of housing, education, healthcare, and energy while investing in manufacturing, innovation, clean energy, technology, and infrastructure.
  • Protect democracy, voting rights, civil liberties, reproductive freedom, clean air and water, and communities affected by powerful interests.
Michigan Supreme Court
Megan Cavanagh

Megan Cavanagh

Nonpartisan section of the November ballot

  • A Lansing-area native raised with a commitment to public service, Cavanagh built a career dedicated to using the law to improve people’s lives.
  • With more than 15 years in appellate law and years of service on the Michigan Supreme Court, she brings deep legal experience and a commitment to fairness.
  • She has worked to make courts more accessible, transparent, and equitable by improving outcomes for families, expanding access to justice, and ensuring every Michigander is treated with dignity.
Michigan Supreme Court
Noah Hood

Noah Hood

Nonpartisan section of the November ballot

  • A Detroit native with deep roots in community leadership, Hood has dedicated his career to serving Michigan through law, public service, and the courts.
  • His experience as a federal prosecutor, trial court judge, Court of Appeals judge, and Michigan Supreme Court justice gives him a broad legal perspective grounded in facts, fairness, and the rule of law.
  • Hood believes the justice system must be efficient and equitable, with every case handled carefully, honestly, and in accordance with Michigan law.

U.S. House

On your ballot if you live in one of these congressional districts. Not sure which district you're in? Look it up at Michigan.gov/Vote.

Congress · 7th District
William Lawrence

William Lawrence

Michigan’s 7th Congressional District

  • Lower the cost of living by protecting Social Security, expanding affordable housing and universal healthcare, curbing corporate price gouging, and stabilizing prices and markets.
  • Protect Michigan’s water, farmland, wildlife, and communities from corporate harm while shifting federal priorities away from endless war and toward families, diplomacy, healthcare, childcare, and education.
  • Restore accountability and the rule of law by holding powerful people and corporations accountable, addressing alleged constitutional violations by ICE, and banning stock trading by members of Congress and executive-branch officials.
Congress · 10th District
Christina Hines

Christina Hines

Michigan’s 10th Congressional District

  • Lower costs and create good-paying jobs by making housing, healthcare, childcare, groceries, and energy more affordable; protecting Social Security; raising the federal minimum wage; expanding paid family leave; and supporting unions, small businesses, manufacturing, transportation, and innovation.
  • Invest in Michigan families and communities through K–12 and career education, Great Lakes protection, mental-health and addiction resources, action on fentanyl and harmful social media, and support for seniors aging safely and independently.
  • Strengthen accountability and workers’ rights by rejecting corporate PAC money, banning congressional stock trading, strengthening labor protections and the NLRB, holding corporations and scammers accountable, and defending constitutional rights and an independent justice system.

State Senate

Every Michigan Senate seat is on the ballot in 2026. These are our priority districts.

State Senate · District 4
Darrin Camilleri

Darrin Camilleri

Michigan Senate District 4

  • Invest in roads, bridges, rail crossings, lead-pipe removal, waterfronts, and Michigan’s economy while attracting businesses and creating jobs.
  • Support working families, education, and reproductive rights by strengthening unions and wages, expanding tax credits, investing in public schools and teachers, providing free school meals, and protecting reproductive healthcare.
  • Protect the Great Lakes and natural resources, expand clean energy, hold polluters accountable, and strengthen public safety through support for first responders, police training, mental-health resources, and community policing.
State Senate · District 9
Theresa Brooks

Theresa Brooks

Michigan Senate District 9

  • Make life more affordable by expanding property-tax and family tax relief, lowering prescription and healthcare costs, making childcare and long-term care more affordable, and supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs.
  • Strengthen education and healthcare through literacy and dyslexia screening, investments in schools and teacher pay, stronger Medicaid and rural healthcare, lower prescription and insurance costs, and a Michigan-based health insurance exchange.
  • Support affordable, reliable clean energy; protect the Great Lakes and green spaces; hold polluters accountable; and defend access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare.
State Senate · District 12
Kevin Hertel

Kevin Hertel

Michigan Senate District 12

  • Lower costs and expand opportunity through tax relief for working families and retirees; more affordable childcare, housing, healthcare, and prescription drugs; support for small businesses and workers; and tuition-free skills training.
  • Protect communities and essential services by investing in first responders, veterans, schools, Pre-K, mental health, and healthcare while protecting access to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.
  • Protect Lake St. Clair by strengthening water infrastructure, addressing pollution and invasive species, holding polluters accountable, and safeguarding the lake’s drinking water, recreation, and local economic activity.
State Senate · District 13
Sean Carlson

Sean Carlson

Michigan Senate District 13

  • Lower prescription and healthcare costs, expand housing and childcare assistance, support seniors and caregivers, reduce medical debt, and strengthen access to affordable care.
  • Create good-paying jobs through advanced manufacturing and clean energy, support small businesses and workers, invest in schools and career training, and improve roads, utilities, broadband, water systems, and other infrastructure.
  • Support veterans and first responders, protect reproductive rights and voting access, strengthen civil-rights protections, increase government transparency, and hold polluters and companies accountable.
State Senate · District 24

Edlira Sako

Michigan Senate District 24

  • Healthcare as a Right: Making healthcare more accessible and keeping decisions in the hands of doctors and patients.
  • Economic Growth: Investing in education, small businesses, and good paying jobs.
  • Stronger Families and Communities: Protecting neighborhoods and first responders and supporting working families, seniors, and children.

State House

Your state representative is on the ballot every two years. These are our priority districts.

State House · District 26
Dylan Wegela

Dylan Wegela

Michigan House District 26

  • Tax the wealthy to invest in public education, infrastructure, housing, and transportation.
  • Guarantee healthcare and strengthen workers through universal healthcare, reproductive and mental healthcare, stronger unions, higher wages, prevailing-wage laws, and AI regulation.
  • Limit corporate power, end corporate political influence and tax handouts, hold polluters accountable, restrict large AI data centers, and expand civil and voting rights.
State House · District 28
Sherry Berecz

Sherry Berecz

Michigan House District 28

  • A lifelong Downriver resident, Brownstown Township Supervisor, mother of three, and experienced local public servant with more than 25 years in township government.
  • More than 20 years of Wayne County service focused on helping families, protecting taxpayer dollars, and delivering effective public services.
  • Running for State Representative to lower costs, protect workers’ rights and unions, and build a stronger local economy for Downriver families.
State House · District 29
Darian Counts

Darian Counts

Michigan House District 29

  • Lower costs and strengthen Downriver by expanding affordable housing, protecting renters and seniors, controlling utility and prescription costs, and cracking down on corporate price gouging.
  • Build a stronger middle class and community by supporting unions, prevailing wages, apprenticeships, small businesses, public education, parks, arts, and local infrastructure while protecting residents from data-center and surveillance overreach.
  • Fight for seniors by providing property-tax relief and stronger protections, and oppose endless war.
State House · District 55
Alex Hawkins

Alex Hawkins

Michigan House District 55

  • Support strong schools and safe communities by investing in teachers, public schools, mental health, violence prevention, and community safety.
  • Build a fair economy for working families by lowering everyday costs, challenging powerful special interests, and fixing systems that leave working people behind.
  • Bring pragmatic leadership, transparency, and follow-through to Lansing while putting residents ahead of lobbyists and political insiders.
State House · District 57
Tom Turner

Tom Turner

Michigan House District 57

  • Expand access to quality healthcare while investing in teachers, schools, and affordable childcare from Pre-K through college and the trades.
  • Lower costs and strengthen the economy by cutting taxes and utility costs for working families and seniors, supporting Michigan businesses, preventing jobs from moving overseas, and ensuring corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share.
  • Support first responders, community policing, and mental-health resources while protecting Michigan’s clean air, water, parks, and natural resources.
State House · District 58
Katrina Manetta

Katrina Manetta

Michigan House District 58

  • Lower the cost of healthcare, housing, utilities, groceries, infrastructure, and caregiving while investing in schools, job training, and reliable public services.
  • Support safe, strong, and independent communities through balanced public safety, mental-health and addiction services, individual rights and privacy, and stronger neighborhood resources.
  • Promote accountability and responsible growth by increasing government transparency, opposing corporate welfare, protecting workers, investing in durable infrastructure, and supporting environmentally responsible development and clean energy.
State House · District 60

Amy Gray

Michigan House District 60

  • Economic Growth: Champion tax relief for local small businesses and streamline permitting to keep Macomb competitive.
  • Education & Healthcare: Invest in public schools, vocational training, affordable mental health services, and local clinics.
  • Infrastructure & Safety: Improve roads and modernize water systems to support safe, reliable, and growing communities.
State House · District 61
Denise Mentzer

Denise Mentzer

Michigan House District 61

  • Lower healthcare and prescription costs, simplify access to care, protect reproductive freedom, and ensure access to fertility treatments such as IVF.
  • Strengthen public schools, expand college and trade opportunities, provide school meals, lower taxes and utility costs, and protect good-paying Michigan jobs.
  • Invest in modern water systems and treatment plants, protect Michigan’s waterways, and hold corporate polluters financially responsible for environmental damage.

On Your November Ballot

Two statewide ballot proposals will shape who has power in Michigan for a generation — one gets big money out of our politics, and one makes it harder for eligible Michiganders to vote. Here's where we stand.

Vote YES ✓

Money Out of Politics

Billionaires, public utility companies like DTE and Consumers Energy, and dark-money groups spend millions to drown out our voices in Lansing and Washington. This initiative fights back:

  • Requires political ads to disclose who's actually paying for them — no more hiding behind shell nonprofits.
  • Cracks down on dark money and pay-to-play politics so elected officials answer to voters, not mega-donors.
  • Puts everyday Michiganders back in charge of our democracy.

Final ballot language and proposal number pending certification by the Board of State Canvassers — this copy will be updated to match.

Vote NO ✗

Proof-of-Citizenship Voting Restriction

Voting by noncitizens is already illegal and vanishingly rare. This proposal wouldn't make our elections safer — it would just make voting harder for eligible Michiganders:

  • Forces you to produce a passport or birth certificate just to register — documents many students, seniors, and working people don't have on hand.
  • Hits women who changed their name at marriage, young voters registering for the first time, and low-income Michiganders hardest.
  • Adds red tape and cost to a system that already works — Michigan's elections are secure.

Final ballot language and proposal number pending certification by the Board of State Canvassers — this copy will be updated to match.

Don't wait.
Get vote-ready now.

Two minutes on Michigan.gov/Vote and you're set: register or check your registration, find your clerk and polling place, request an absentee ballot, and see exactly what will be on your ballot.

Michigan.gov/Vote →

Every campus. Every community. One Michigan.

How to Vote in Michigan

Michigan makes voting easier than almost any state — same-day registration, nine days of early voting, and no-excuse absentee ballots with prepaid postage. Here's everything you need for the August 4 primary and the November 3 general.

01

Check you're eligible

You can vote in Michigan if you are:

  • A U.S. citizen
  • 18 or older on Election Day (you can register at 17½)
  • A resident of your Michigan city or township for at least 30 days by Election Day
  • Not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison. On probation or parole? You CAN vote in Michigan. Your rights come back automatically the day you're released.

College students: you can register at your campus address OR your home address — one or the other, not both.

02

Register — 3 ways

  • Online at Michigan.gov/Vote — needs a Michigan driver's license or state ID
  • By mail — form postmarked at least 15 days before the election
  • In person at your city or township clerk's office — with proof of residency, all the way through 8PM on Election Day. Michigan has same-day registration: register and vote in one trip.
Online / Mail · Primary Mon, Jul 20
Online / Mail · General Mon, Oct 19
At the Clerk · Primary Thru Aug 4 · 8PM
At the Clerk · General Thru Nov 3 · 8PM
Register Now →
03

Proof of residency

Registering in the last 14 days before an election (or on Election Day)? Bring one document with your name and current address. A digital copy on your phone counts. Any of these works:

  • Michigan driver's license or state ID
  • Utility bill (gas, electric, water, phone, internet)
  • Bank or credit card statement
  • Paycheck or government check
  • Any other official government document with your name and address
  • Students: current utility bill or official mail at your campus address works too
04

Bring ID — or just sign

Michigan asks for a photo ID at the polls. Acceptable IDs:

  • Michigan driver's license or state ID (any state's license works too)
  • U.S. passport
  • Military ID with photo
  • Student ID with photo from a high school or accredited college/university
  • Tribal ID with photo

No ID? You can still vote. Sign a simple affidavit at the polls and your ballot counts like everyone else's — no follow-up required.

Heads up: the proof-of-citizenship ballot proposal we're voting NO on in November would take this affidavit option away.

05

Vote early or by mail

Early in person: every community gets at least 9 days of early voting, the Saturday before through the Sunday before Election Day (many offer more). Same machines, same ballot, shorter lines. Find your early voting site at Michigan.gov/Vote.

By mail (absentee): any Michigan voter can vote absentee — no excuse needed. Request online at Michigan.gov/Vote, return it by mail (postage prepaid), at a drop box, or at your clerk's office by 8PM on Election Day. Track it online. You can also join the permanent list and get a mail ballot for every election automatically.

Mail Request · Primary Fri, Jul 31 · 5PM
Mail Request · General Fri, Oct 30 · 5PM
Early Voting · Primary Jul 25 – Aug 2
Early Voting · General Oct 24 – Nov 1
Request Absentee Ballot →
06

Vote on Election Day

Polls are open 7AM to 8PM statewide. If you're in line by 8PM, you get to vote — stay in line.

  • Find your polling place at Michigan.gov/Vote — it can change, so double-check
  • Not registered yet? Go to your city/township clerk's office (not your polling place) with proof of residency — register and vote right there until 8PM
  • The August primary is open — Michigan has no party registration. Your ballot has each party's primary in its own column, but you can only vote in ONE party's column.
  • Every polling place must have an accessible voting station.

Problems at the polls? Election Protection hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Michigan Bureau of Elections: Michigan.gov/Vote.

Find Your Polling Place →

Key Dates

Primary Election

Aug 4

Tuesday · Polls 7AM – 8PM

Jul 20 Registration deadline — online & by mail (after this, register in person at your clerk)
Jul 25 Early voting begins statewide — through Sunday, Aug 2 (sites & hours vary)
Jul 31 Absentee ballot request deadline — 5PM online or by mail (you can still request in person at your clerk)
Aug 2 Last day of early voting
Aug 4 ELECTION DAY — vote 7AM–8PM · same-day registration at your clerk until 8PM · absentee ballots due back by 8PM

General Election

Nov 3

Tuesday · Polls 7AM – 8PM

Oct 19 Registration deadline — online & by mail (after this, register in person at your clerk)
Oct 24 Early voting begins statewide — through Sunday, Nov 1 (sites & hours vary)
Oct 30 Absentee ballot request deadline — 5PM online or by mail (you can still request in person at your clerk)
Nov 1 Last day of early voting
Nov 3 ELECTION DAY — vote 7AM–8PM · same-day registration at your clerk until 8PM · absentee ballots due back by 8PM