Races · Governor · 2026 · MI
Governor · open seat
Jocelyn Benson vs John James
Where this race stands
Verified Lean D · model 52% R · market gap 16pp
lean-d · high-tipping · stable · uncertainty-high · market-disagreement-large
Forecast · poliagg-v8
Predicted final margin
R +0.8
80% CI: R +18.3 → D +16.7 · win prob 48%
R+30R+15TIEDD+15D+30
Quality · inputs
Data quality · medium
| Polls used | 18 |
| Days to election | 181 |
| Residual σ | 13.66pt |
| Generated | 5/6/2026 |
▼ Compare with other models3 models
qgbt-v1GBT (qgbt)
D +5.3
80% CI D +0.2 → D +5.4
CV MAE 7.21
bayes-v1Bayes / Kalman
D +2.9
80% CI D +1.4 → D +4.3
CV MAE 1.13
poliagg-v8Ensemble (production)
R +0.8
80% CI R +18.3 → D +16.7
CV MAE 13.66
Polling average
Simple Weighted House-corrected Trimmed LOESS Kalman
Method:Weighted, plus each pollster's measured bias subtracted before averaging.
|Toggle:
All polls · 18 results
18 of 18 polls
| End | Pollster | Weight | Lean | Sample | MoE | Pop | Trust signals | Results | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/29/2026 | Impact Research | 1.00 | L | 800 | ±3.5 | LV | commissioned by D-aligned: Internal D-alignedno scored polls+3
| Jocelyn Benson 40.0 · John James 36.0 · Mike Duggan 20.0 | pollarch |
| 3/24/2026 | Michigan State University/YouGov | 1.00 | — | 1000 | ±3.4 | A | no scored pollsadult sample+1
| Jocelyn Benson 27.0 · John James 19.0 · Mike Duggan 16.0 | pollarch |
| 2/16/2026 | Impact Research | 1.00 | L | 800 | ±3.5 | LV | commissioned by D-aligned: Internal D-alignedno scored polls+4
| Jocelyn Benson 39.0 · John James 36.0 · Mike Duggan 20.0 | pollarch |
| 2/2/2026 | Glengariff Group | 0.81 | L(D+4.6) | — | — | unknown | 97d old✓ verified 5d ago+2
| Jocelyn Benson 28.0 · John James 29.0 · Mike Duggan 30.0 | pollarch |
| 1/6/2026 | Glengariff Group | 0.81 | L(D+4.6) | 600 | ±4.0 | LV | 124d old✓ verified 5d ago+2
| Jocelyn Benson 32.0 · John James 34.0 · Mike Duggan 26.0 | pollarch |
| 1/6/2026 | Glengariff Group | 0.81 | L(D+4.6) | 600 | ±4.0 | LV | 124d old✓ verified 5d ago+2
| Jocelyn Benson 34.0 · Mike Cox 28.0 · Mike Duggan 31.0 | pollarch |
| 1/6/2026 | Glengariff Group | 0.81 | L(D+4.6) | 600 | ±4.0 | LV | 124d old✓ verified 5d ago+2
| Jocelyn Benson 35.0 · Aric Nesbitt 24.0 · Mike Duggan 32.0 | pollarch |
| 1/6/2026 | Glengariff Group | 0.81 | L(D+4.6) | 600 | ±4.0 | LV | 124d old✓ verified 5d ago+2
| Jocelyn Benson 34.0 · Tom Leonard 24.0 · Mike Duggan 33.0 | pollarch |
| 11/21/2025 | Mitchell Research | 1.09 | neutral(R+0.0) | 616 | ±3.7 | LV | 170d old✓ verified 5d ago+2
| Jocelyn Benson 31.0 · John James 37.0 · Mike Duggan 18.0 | pollarch |
| 11/11/2025 | EPIC MRA | 1.00 | —(D+0.8) | 600 | ±4.0 | RV | 180d old✓ verified 5d ago+3
| Jocelyn Benson 33.0 · John James 34.0 · Mike Duggan 20.0 | pollarch |
| 10/25/2025 | Rosetta Stone Communications | 1.00 | R | 637 | ±3.9 | LV | commissioned by R-aligned: Internal R-alignedno scored polls+3
| Jocelyn Benson 34.0 · John James 39.0 · Mike Duggan 18.0 | pollarch |
| 10/25/2025 | Rosetta Stone Communications | 1.00 | R | 637 | ±3.9 | LV | commissioned by R-aligned: Internal R-alignedno scored polls+3
| Jocelyn Benson 37.0 · Mike Cox 33.0 · Mike Duggan 19.0 | pollarch |
| 10/25/2025 | Rosetta Stone Communications | 1.00 | R | 637 | ±3.9 | LV | commissioned by R-aligned: Internal R-alignedno scored polls+3
| Jocelyn Benson 35.0 · Tudor Dixon 38.0 · Mike Duggan 18.0 | pollarch |
| 3/13/2025 | Mitchell Research | 1.09 | neutral(R+0.0) | 688 | ±3.7 | LV | 423d old✓ verified 5d ago+3
| Jocelyn Benson 37.0 · John James 34.0 · Mike Duggan 16.0 | pollarch |
| 3/13/2025 | Mitchell Research | 1.09 | neutral(R+0.0) | 688 | ±3.7 | LV | 423d old✓ verified 5d ago+3
| Jocelyn Benson 37.0 · Mike Cox 35.0 · Mike Duggan 16.0 | pollarch |
| 3/13/2025 | Mitchell Research | 1.09 | neutral(R+0.0) | 688 | ±3.7 | LV | 423d old✓ verified 5d ago+3
| Jocelyn Benson 38.0 · Tudor Dixon 36.0 · Mike Duggan 16.0 | pollarch |
| 2/8/2025 | Target Insyght | 1.00 | — | 600 | ±4.0 | unknown | no scored polls456d old+1
| Jocelyn Benson 42.0 · John James 30.0 · Mike Duggan 21.0 | pollarch |
| 2/8/2025 | EPIC MRA | 1.00 | —(D+0.8) | 600 | ±4.0 | LV | 456d old✓ verified 5d ago+3
| Jocelyn Benson 31.0 · Dick DeVos 31.0 · Mike Duggan 23.0 | pollarch |
Trust signals are deterministic flags computed from the pollster scorecard (track-record size, historical bias, aggregation weight) and the poll itself (sample size, population, age, citation availability). No interpretation; click any row to see the cited numbers behind each flag.
Endorsements
Source · Wikipedia · 77 total Jocelyn Benson (D)
77 endorsements · source
Elected officials (8)
- Christopher Taylor — mayor of Ann Arbor (2014–present) [ 26 ]
- David LaGrand — mayor of Grand Rapids (2025–present) [ 28 ]
- Gretchen Whitmer — incumbent governor (2019–present) [ 55 ]
- James Blanchard — former governor of Michigan (1983–1991) [ 21 ]
- John Cherry — former lieutenant governor of Michigan (2003–2011) [ 42 ]
- Mark Schauer — former MI-7 (2009–2011) and nominee for governor in 2014 [ 20 ]
- Virgil Bernero — former SD-23 (2003–2006) and former mayor of Lansing (2006–2018) [ 42 ]
- Winnie Brinks — majority leader of the Michigan Senate (2023–present) from SD-29 (2019–present) [ 19 ]
Organizations / unions (12)
- Association of Flight Attendants — CWA [ 31 ]
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees — Local 26 [ 32 ]
- International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers — Local 25 [ 43 ]
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers — Michigan and Local 948 [ 45 ] [ 43 ]
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters — Locals 243, 247, 283, 406, and 1038 [ 33 ]
- International Union of Operating Engineers — Local 324 [ 43 ]
- Laborers' International Union of North America — Michigan District Council and Locals 355 and 499 [ 31 ]
- Michigan Association for Justice — [ 39 ]
- Nurses Association — sociation [ 34 ]
- United Association — Local 174 [ 31 ]
- United Food and Commercial Workers — Local 876 [ 31 ] and 951 [ 35 ]
- [ 34 ] — an Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Michigan [ 34 ]
Individuals / celebrities (3)
- George Takei — actor [ 30 ]
- Hill Harper — actor [ 26 ]
- Horace Sheffield III — pastor and talk show host [ 29 ]
Other (54)
- Adam Zemke — former HD-55 (2013–2019) [ 20 ]
- Amos O'Neal — HD-94 (2021–present) [ 53 ]
- Betsy Coffia — HD-103 (2023–present) [ 20 ]
- Brenda Carter — HD-53 (2019–present) [ 53 ]
- Brenda Lawrence — former MI-14 (2015–2023) [ 19 ]
- Carrie Rheingans — HD-47 (2023–present) [ 20 ]
- Cynthia Neeley — HD-70 (2020–present) [ 53 ]
- Darrin Camilleri — SD-4 (2023–present) [ 23 ]
- Denise Mentzer — HD-61 (2023–present) [ 20 ]
- Donavan McKinney — HD-11 (2023–present) [ 53 ]
- Dylan Wegela — HD-26 (2023–present) [ 20 ]
- EMILY's List — [ 36 ]
- Elissa Slotkin — Michigan (2025–present) [ 54 ]
- Emily Dievendorf — HD-77 (2023–present) [ 26 ]
- End Citizens United — [ 37 ]
- Felicia Brabec — former HD-33 (2021–2024) [ 25 ]
- Giffords — [ 38 ]
- Hillary Scholten — MI-3 (2023–present) [ 10 ]
- Ilhan Omar — MN-5 (2019–present) [ 50 ]
- International Brotherhood of Boilermakers — [ 44 ]
- Jasmine Crockett — TX-7 (2023–present) [ 49 ]
- Jason Hoskins — HD-18 (2023–present) [ 25 ]
- Jason Morgan — HD-23 (2023–present) [ 20 ]
- Jeff Irwin — SD-15 (2019–present) [ 21 ]
- Jennifer Conlin — HD-48 (2023–present) [ 20 ]
- Jeremy Moss — SD-7 (2019–present) [ 24 ]
- Jimmie Wilson Jr. — HD-32 (2023–present) [ 20 ]
- Joey Andrews — HD-38 (2023–present) [ 20 ]
- Julie Brixie — HD-73 (2019–present) [ 20 ]
- Kelly Breen — HD-21 (2019–present) [ 20 ]
- Kimberly Edwards — HD-12 (2023–present) [ 53 ]
- Kym Worthy — Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney (2004–present) [ 27 ]
- Laurie Pohutsky — HD-17 (2019–present) (previously endorsed Gilchrist) [ 23 ]
- Mai Xiong — HD-13 (2024–present) (previously endorsed Gilchrist) [ 22 ]
- Morgan Foreman — HD-33 (2025–present) (previously endorsed Gilchrist) [ 25 ]
- Natalie Price — HD-6 (2023–present) [ 20 ]
- Noah Arbit — HD-20 (2023–present) [ 20 ]
- Paul Wojno — SD-10 (2019–present) (previously endorsed Gilchrist) [ 23 ]
- Penelope Tsernoglou — HD-75 (2023–present) [ 20 ]
- Peter Herzberg — HD25 (2024–present) [ 53 ]
- Phil Skaggs — HD-80 (2023–present) [ 20 ]
- Pramila Jayapal — WA-7 (2017–present) [ 50 ]
- Ranjeev Puri — minority leader of the Michigan House of Representatives (2025–present) from HD-24 (2021–present) [ 23 ]
- Rashida Tlaib — MI-12 (2019–present) [ 51 ]
- Reproductive Freedom for All — [ 40 ]
- Sam Singh — SD-28 (2023–present) [ 21 ]
- Sarah Anthony — SD-21 (2023–present) [ 22 ]
- Sean McCann — SD-19 (2019–present) [ 20 ]
- Stephanie Chang — SD-3 (2019–present) [ 22 ]
- Stephen Wooden — HD-81 (2025–present) [ 25 ]
- Tonya Myers Phillips — HD-7 (2025–present) [ 27 ]
- Veronica Klinefelt — SD-11 (2023–present) [ 52 ]
- Veronica Paiz — HD-10 (2023–present) [ 21 ]
- Vote Mama — [ 41 ]
Editorial ratings · poll-vs-rater
3 raters| Rater | Rating | Updated | Poll D-marg. | Rater marg. | Δ poll−rater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report | Tossup | Sep 11 | +3.2 | 0.0 | +3.2 |
| Inside Elections | Tossup | Aug 28 | +3.2 | 0.0 | +3.2 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Tossup | Sep 4 | +3.2 | 0.0 | +3.2 |
Δ POLL−RATER = polling-consensus margin minus the rater's implied bucket midpoint. Positive = polls more D than rater; negative = rater more D than polls. |Δ| < 0.6 well-aligned · 0.6–1.5 mild divergence · ≥1.5 contested call.
last poll 6 weeks ago (3/29/2026) last market quote 4 days ago rating computed 1 day ago
Rating history (1 change)
- 5/3/2026 Lean D D+3.2 via polls
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