The 2026 Michigan primary election is taking place Tuesday, Aug. 4. Due to Michigan being an open primary state, Michiganders will have the opportunity to vote for which candidates will make the midterm election ballot later this year on Nov. 3. A full list of the statewide candidates can be found here.
This primary election sees Democratic candidates U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, and Abdul Al-Sayed vying for the nomination to be a U.S. senator.
Both candidates spent the last few days making their final pitches in the lead-up to the election. The winner of the primary will then be up against the presumptive republican nominee, Mike Rogers.
Republican candidates Rep. John James, Perry Johnson, and Mike Cox, along with Democratic candidates Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, are vying for the nomination to be state governor.
The primary election impacts more than just statewide offices; it will also determine who serves as local officials, including township clerks, commissioners, trustees, and other non-partisan offices.
In Kent County, the major partisan race is currently the Allendale Township trustee position, with Democratic candidate Thomas Wiles and Republican candidates Stephanie Ginsberg, Raechel Macqueen, and Lisa Mayo all vying for the seat. Other Kent County partisan races only have one candidate.
The non-partisan races are for Grand Rapids City Commissioner 1st Ward, being between Jordoun T. Eatman, Lindsey Perez-Plescher, and Steve Tibbe.
The primaries in Ottawa County have county-wide proposals for improved parks and mental health care on the ballot, and other proposals for each township in addition to their own clerks, trustees, and officials.
If you aren’t already registered to vote, Michigan residents who have remained a resident of a city or township for 30 days can register in person at any Secretary of State branch, armed forces recruitment location, clerk’s office, and select other locations and voter drives.
For more information on how to cast your vote and find your polling location, click here. To see your personalized ballot and learn more about where candidates stand on the issues, click here.
