The Democratic primary for governor of Michigan appears to feature Jocelyn Benson and Chris Swanson on the ballot, with Benson widely seen as the front-runner. A Ballotpedia entry also notes Kim Thomas in the Democratic primary, so the field may be larger than the main media coverage suggests.

What’s on the ballot

  • Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State.
  • Chris Swanson, Genesee County Sheriff.
  • Kim Thomas, listed by Ballotpedia as running in the Democratic primary.

What the reporting says

Recent local coverage says Benson is “virtually assured” of the nomination, while Swanson is also officially on the Democratic primary ballot. Another roundup of Michigan governor candidates likewise lists Benson and Swanson as the Democratic contenders, with the primary set for Aug. 4, 2026.

TL;DR

The main Democratic primary race is Jocelyn Benson vs. Chris Swanson , with Kim Thomas also listed as a candidate in at least one election database.