2026 Michigan Election Results and Voting Information
In the fall of 2026, Michigan voters weighed in on statewide offices, a U.S. Senate seat, and a wide range of local and education decisions. This guide consolidates final statewide results, outlines the outcomes of judicial and education boards, and provides practical voting information and key dates to help readers understand what happened and what to expect going forward.
Statewide results at a glance
| Race | Winner | Party | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | Democratic | 2,613,747 | 55% | |
| John James | Republican | 2,094,689 | 44% |
Senate winner: Abdul El-Sayed (D) with 2,520,388 votes (53%) over Mike Rogers (R) with 2,180,541 votes (45%).
| Race | Winner | Party | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senate | Democratic | 2,520,388 | 53% | |
| Mike Rogers | Republican | 2,180,541 | 45% |
| Race | Winner | Party | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State | Democratic | 2,550,236 | 54% | |
| Anthony Forlini | Republican | 2,064,652 | 44% |
| Race | Winner | Party | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney General | Democratic | 2,470,702 | 53% | |
| Doug Lloyd | Republican | 2,103,393 | 45% |
Other statewide candidates and notable totals include: Jason Dye (L) 58,726 (1%), John Ludtke (U) 32,130 (1%), Jeff Polonowski (G) 25,147 (1%), Doug Dern (N) 14,097 (0%) in the Attorney General race; Christine Sloan (L) 77,434 (2%), Scott Aughney (U) 28,289 (1%), Eric Borregard (G) 23,442 (0%) in the Secretary of State race; and additional minor candidates in other races as listed in the official results.
Judiciary, education boards, and related posts
The 2026 results included key judicial and education board outcomes that shape Michigan’s governance. The Michigan Supreme Court maintains a Democratic-majority, with two seats up and won by Democratic nominees, preserving the court’s current balance. The specific results for the two seats were reported as follows: Megan Cavanagh earned 2,242,050 votes (34%), and Noah Hood earned 1,937,168 votes (30%), with additional candidates receiving smaller shares (Michael Warren 900,540 (14%), Casandra Morse-Bills 828,987 (13%), Jody White 347,889 (5%), Thomas Howe 306,336 (5%); incumbents and party labels noted in official tallies).
Michigan State Board of Education saw Democratic incumbents Tiffany Tilley and Judith Pritchett win reelection, maintaining a Democratic majority on the board. The vote totals were reported across multiple candidates, with Democrat Tiffany Tilley at 2,351,997 (26%) and Democrat Judith Pritchett at 2,377,440 (26%), followed by Republican Terence Collins 1,978,066 (22%) and Republican Bree Moeggenberg 1,928,900 (21%), among others.
Michigan State University Board of Trustees results kept the Democratic majority, with Brianna Scott and Kelly Tebay Zemke winning reelection against Republican challengers. Scott received 2,353,815 (27%) and Zemke 2,252,523 (26%), while Julie Maday 1,941,080 (22%) and Roger Victory 1,935,786 (22%) were the leading Republican contenders.
The University of Michigan Board of Regents elections produced Democratic incumbents in the top slots, with Paul Brown 2,385,149 (27%) and Amir Makled 2,244,256 (26%) winning seats, defeating Republican nominees Michael Schostak 1,980,243 (23%) and Lena Epstein 1,948,811 (22%).
Wayne State University Board of Governors also remained under Democratic governance, with Shereef Akeel and Richard Mack securing seats (Akeel 2,235,636 (26%), Mack 2,288,904 (26%)) against Republican challengers Andy Anuzis 1,879,977 (22%) and Christa Murphy 1,962,048 (23%).
Ballot measures
Two statewide ballot measures were decided in 2026:
- Proposal 1: Constitutional convention — Rejected.
- Proposal 2: Campaign finance restrictions — Approved.
Senate special election
A May 2026 special election was held in Michigan’s 35th Senate district. Democrat Chedrick Greene won the race, preserving Democratic control of the Michigan Senate.
Early voting patterns and turnout context
Early voting statistics show that 2,632,524 mail-in and early in-person votes had been cast, while 2,192,122 mail-in ballots had been requested. Overall, about 31% of Michigan’s 8.37 million registered voters had cast an early ballot at the time referenced. The total early voting figure includes both mail-in ballots that were returned and in-person early votes, which explains why the number of votes cast exceeds the number of ballots requested.
The data also point toward turnout dynamics ahead of Election Day, with a substantial portion of votes cast before November 3. Additional analysis of early voting by party and voting history is available in the voting-history section of the full results, which breaks down whether early voters had participated in 2022, 2024, both, or were new voters.
Michigan in past presidential elections
Presidential outcomes in Michigan have varied in recent cycles. In 2024, Michigan voted for Donald Trump by a 1.4-point margin, earning 15 electoral votes. Final tallies showed Trump at 49.7% and Harris (Joe Biden’s running mate) at 48.3%, contributing to the national result where Trump carried Michigan by 1.5 percentage points overall. This context helps explain how statewide offices opened up and how incumbency and term limits shaped the 2026 races.
Summary of the 2024 presidential margin by state indicates Michigan’s margin stood at +1.4 for Trump, illustrating a swing relative to national trends and highlighting Michigan’s status as a battleground state.
For reference, the 2024 presidential results list Michigan as having 15 electoral votes, with Trump at 49.7% and Harris at 48.3% among the vote shares.
How NBC News projects races
The NBC News Decision Desk provides real-time, accurate election results as soon as officials release them and offers independent analyses to decide when a race can be projected. A projection is made when it is determined that trailing candidates cannot catch the leader and the leading candidate will win the race. This determination rests on a rigorous, multi-source data analysis process.
How are votes counted and how is accuracy ensured?
In the 2026 cycle, vote data were collected from statewide offices, the U.S. Senate and House, and other races through multiple sources on Election Day. The Associated Press distributes data to major outlets, while state and county websites provide official tallies. Data reporters and interviewers call county- and precinct-level results in a rolling fashion to maintain timely updates. All vote data are cross-checked across sources and compared to past election results as part of quality control. Projections are made only after careful analysis and independent verification.
Practical voting information and resources
Important dates and guidance for the November 3, 2026 election include:
- Move deadline: September 19, 2026
- Absentee ballots available: September 24, 2026
- Constitutionally-mandated early voting period: October 24 – November 1, 2026
- Last day to register to vote by mail or online: October 19, 2026
- New voter registrations in person (Oct 20 – Nov 3, 2026)
- Last day to return most ballots by mail: October 20, 2026 (in many cases). From October 21, return in person or to a secure drop box
- First day of statewide in-person early voting: October 24, 2026
- Last day of statewide in-person early voting: November 1, 2026
- Election Day: November 3, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. local time
For voters facing problems, the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline is available at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Multilingual assistance is provided. In addition, for assistance in Spanish, call 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682); for Arabic, call 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287); and for other languages, call 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683). Questions can also be emailed to questions@michiganvoting.org. Michigan voters can access personalized information at Michigan.gov/Vote.
The official Michigan Secretary of State contact information is available for additional assistance, including general inquiries and clerk-specific questions. The Bureau of Elections Ombudsperson for Accessible Elections can assist voters with disabilities at 517-335-2730.
Key voting supports include: registering to vote, finding polling places, viewing sample ballots, checking registration status, requesting and tracking absentee ballots, and learning about early voting options. All of these resources are accessible through Michigan.gov/Vote.
What this means for readers
The 2026 Michigan results show open statewide offices due to term limits, a Democratic lean in several statewide offices, and a diversified set of outcomes across judiciary and education boards. Ballot measures shaped the state’s political landscape, and ongoing turnout analysis—especially around early voting and mail-in ballots—provides insight into future campaigns and election planning. Readers should use the provided data to compare with past cycles, understand turnout trends, and plan for future elections using the practical dates and resources listed above.
For a concise, quickly referenceable snapshot, this article preserves the final statewide outcomes, highlights the open-seat dynamics, and integrates practical voting information and hotlines to support informed participation in Michigan’s elections.