The primary election in Michigan is nearly two months away, and two candidates are running for secretary of state.
Current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is term-limited and cannot run again. She is, however, running for governor in the 2026 election.
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The primary election in Michigan is on Aug. 4, 2026. The general election is on Nov. 3, 2026.
Here’s a look at the candidates running for Michigan secretary of state in the 2026 election:
Garlin Gilchrist (D)
Garlin Gilchrist II has served as Lt. Governor alongside Governor Gretchen Whitmer since 2018.
He was initially running for governor in the 2026 election, but ended his campaign and instead announced his bid for secretary of state.
According to Gilchrist’s campaign website, his priorities, if elected, include modernizing licensing and registration, holding companies accountable for auto repair scams and “standing tall” against big tech companies.
Gilchrist is running as a Democratic candidate for secretary of state.
Anthony Forlini (R)
Anthony Forlini has been serving as the Macomb County Clerk since 2021.
Before working as a county clerk, he represented Michigan’s 24th District in the State House of Representatives and served as Supervisor of Harrison Township.
According to his campaign website, his priority, if elected as secretary of state, is to “protect election integrity, strengthen transparency, enforce the rule of law and run a high-performing office that respects the public.”
Forlini is running as a Republican candidate for secretary of state.