 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 55.2%  0.2[1] | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
 Whitmer: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Dixon: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Elections in Michigan |
|---|
 |
The 2022 Michigan gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Michigan. Incumbent Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer ran for re-election to a second term and faced former political commentator Tudor Dixon in the general election.[2] Whitmer defeated Dixon by a margin of nearly 11 percentage points, a wider margin than polls indicated as well as a wider margin than Whitmer's first victory four years prior. Whitmer won independent voters by double-digit margins, which contributed to Dixon's defeat.[3]
This was the first gubernatorial election in Michigan history in which both major party candidates for governor were women,[4] and the first since 1990 in which the winner was from the same party as the incumbent president.[5]
In order to appear on a primary ballot for the August 2 Democratic and Republican primaries, candidates must submit between 15,000 and 30,000 signatures in addition to their filing paperwork.[6] These signatures are submitted to the Board of State Canvassers, a bipartisan and independent board that verifies petition signatures. Within seven days of the filing deadline, citizens and organizations can challenge nomination signatures submitted by candidates.[6] Voters are only allowed to sign one nomination petition.[6]
After the filing deadline, the Board of State Canvassers received nearly 30 challenges to nomination petitions. Among them, the Michigan Democratic Party alleged that several Republican candidates engaged in signature fraud with their petitions. This was followed by a report by the Michigan Bureau of Elections which alleged that 36 paid signature circulators faked signatures and engaged in practices that added fraudulent signatures to other candidate's petitions.[6]
An eight-hour meeting of the Board of State Canvassers reached a deadlock on whether to allow the candidates in question to stay on the ballot.[6] Due to the deadlock, the candidates in question were not allowed to appear on the primary ballot. The rushed pace of the proceedings and the decision were criticized by Common Cause of Michigan, whose policy director suggested that the candidates in question had to plead their cases to the Board of Canvassers days after finding out about the alleged fraud themselves.[6][7]
Several candidates filed lawsuits appealing the decision. These suits were rejected in the Michigan Court of Appeals.[8] Three candidates appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court, but these appeals were denied.[6]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Gretchen Whitmer (incumbent) | 938,382 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 938,382 | 100.0% | ||
Fourteen people declared their candidacy for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.[17] At the filing deadline, 10 candidates submitted enough signatures to appear on the ballot, a state record.[17] However, following challenges by the state Democratic party and other organizations, five candidates were deemed ineligible to appear on the ballot due to alleged fraudulent signatures.[18] Several of these candidates, including former Detroit police chief James Craig and Michael Markey, pledged to appeal the decision to the State Supreme Court.[6] Craig also mentioned that, should the appeal fail, he would still plan to run as a write-in candidate for both the primary and the general election.[6] On June 15, 2022, Craig announced he was launching a write-in campaign for the nomination.[19]
On June 9, 2022, candidate Ryan Kelley was arrested by the FBI following numerous tips that he had participated in the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[20] The criminal complaint alleges that Kelley engaged in disorderly conduct on restricted grounds and engaged in acts of violence against a person or property.[20] He agreed in June 2023 to plead guilty on a lesser charge in relation to his participation in the insurrection.[21][22]
On August 19, 2022, Dixon announced former state representative Shane Hernandez as her running mate. However, shortly after, former gubernatorial candidates Ralph Rebandt and Garrett Soldano both announced that they were exploring the possibility of launching their own campaigns for lieutenant governor to contest Hernandez at the August 27 state GOP convention for not being conservative enough.[23] On August 22, 2022, Soldano announced that he would not seek the position of lieutenant governor at the convention.[24] Later that same day, Rebandt announced that he would seek the nomination at the convention.[25] Hernandez secured his party's nomination at the convention, despite heated opposition from supporters of Rebandt.[26]
On June 22, 2023, charges were filed against three individuals regarding the fraudulent signatures that disqualified five of the candidates in the Republican primary.[27][28][29]
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Graphical summary
 | This graph was using the legacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to the new Chart extension. |
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Tudor Dixon |
Ryan Kelley |
Kevin Rinke |
Garrett Soldano |
Other [a] |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Clear Politics[95] | July 28 – August 1, 2022 | August 1, 2022 | 40.7% | 11.7% | 20.3% | 14.7% | 12.6% | Dixon +20.4 |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Mike Brown |
James Craig |
Tudor Dixon |
Perry Johnson |
Ryan Kelley |
Kevin Rinke |
Garrett Soldano |
Other | Undecided | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Trafalgar Group (R)[96] | July 31 – August 1, 2022 | 1,074 (LV) | ± 2.9% | – | – | 41% | – | 10% | 19% | 18% | 2%[c] | 11% | ||||
| Mitchell Research (R)[97] | July 31, 2022 | 443 (LV) | ± 4.7% | – | – | 37% | – | 12% | 23% | 12% | 2%[c] | 15% | ||||
| Emerson College[98] | July 28–30, 2022 | 869 (LV) | ± 3.3% | – | – | 41% | – | 12% | 17% | 12% | 9%[d] | 9% | ||||
| The Trafalgar Group (R)[99] | July 26–28, 2022 | 1,098 (LV) | ± 2.9% | – | – | 28% | – | 14% | 17% | 19% | 3%[e] | 19% | ||||
| co/efficient (R)[100][A] | July 24–26, 2022 | 1,000 (LV) | ± 3.1% | – | – | 21% | – | – | 22% | – | – | – | ||||
| Mitchell Research (R)[101] | July 24–25, 2022 | 436 (LV) | ± 5.0% | – | – | 28% | – | 14% | 22% | 11% | 1%[f] | 25% | ||||
| Mitchell Research (R)[102] | July 17–18, 2022 | 501 (LV) | ± 4.4% | – | – | 28% | – | 15% | 20% | 10% | 1%[f] | 26% | ||||
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[103] | July 13–15, 2022 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | – | – | 19% | – | 13% | 15% | 12% | 2%[c] | 38% | ||||
| Mitchell Research (R)[104] | July 7–8, 2022 | 683 (LV) | ± 3.8% | – | – | 26% | – | 15% | 13% | 13% | 1%[f] | 33% | ||||
| Mitchell Research (R)[105] | June 21–22, 2022 | 588 (LV) | ± 4.0% | – | – | 15% | – | 13% | 15% | 8% | 3%[e] | 46% | ||||
| EPIC-MRA[106] | June 10–13, 2022 | 398 (LV) | ± 4.9% | – | – | 5% | – | 17% | 12% | 13% | 8%[g] | 45% | ||||
| Target Insyght[107] | May 26–27, 2022 | 400 (LV) | ± 5.0% | – | – | 9% | – | 19% | 15% | 6% | 1%[f] | 49% | ||||
| Board of Elections announces Brandenburg, Brown, Craig, Johnson, and Markey did not file enough valid signatures to appear on the ballot | ||||||||||||||||
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[108] | April 29 – May 1, 2022 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 2% | 23% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 8% | 3%[h] | 44% | ||||
| The Trafalgar Group (R)[109] | March 29–31, 2022 | 1,072 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 2% | 34% | 3% | 16% | 7% | 2% | 15% | 8% | 12% | ||||
| Chenge withdraws from the race | ||||||||||||||||
| Mitchell Research (R)[110] | February 17–19, 2022 | 539 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 3% | 32% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 10% | 3% | 37% | ||||
| Strategic National (R)[111][B] | September 18–19, 2021 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | – | 38% | 1% | – | 1% | 0% | 8% | 2%[i] | 50% | ||||
| – | 40% | 1% | – | – | 0% | 10% | – | 49% | ||||||||
John James vs. James Craig
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
John James |
James Craig |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target Insyght[112] | May 9–11, 2021 | 304 (RV) | ± 3.5% | 36% | 21% | 42% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tudor Dixon | 436,350 | 39.69% | |
| Republican | Kevin Rinke | 236,306 | 21.50% | |
| Republican | Garrett Soldano | 192,442 | 17.51% | |
| Republican | Ryan Kelley | 165,587 | 15.06% | |
| Republican | Ralph Rebandt | 45,046 | 4.10% | |
| Write-in | 23,542 | 2.14% | ||
| Total votes | 1,099,273 | 100.0% | ||
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[115] | Lean D | October 28, 2022 |
| Inside Elections[116] | Tilt D | March 4, 2022 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[117] | Lean D | November 7, 2022 |
| Politico[118] | Lean D | May 23, 2022 |
| RCP[119] | Tossup | October 21, 2022 |
| Fox News[120] | Lean D | August 22, 2022 |
| 538[121] | Likely D | November 8, 2022 |
| Elections Daily[122] | Lean D | November 7, 2022 |
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Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
Tudor Dixon (R) |
Other [j] |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Clear Politics[163] | October 30 – November 7, 2022 | November 8, 2022 | 48.3% | 47.3% | 4.4% | Whitmer +1.0 |
| FiveThirtyEight[164] | January 3 – November 8, 2022 | November 8, 2022 | 49.9% | 45.1% | 5.0% | Whitmer +4.8 |
| 270toWin[165] | November 3–7, 2022 | November 8, 2022 | 50.4% | 46.4% | 3.2% | Whitmer +4.0 |
| Average | 49.5% | 46.3% | 4.2% | Whitmer +3.2 | ||
Graphical summary
| This graph was using the legacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to the new Chart extension. |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
Tudor Dixon (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Trafalgar Group (R)[166] | November 5–7, 2022 | 1,097 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 48% | 49% | 1%[k] | 2% |
| Cygnal (R)[167] | November 1–4, 2022 | 1,603 (LV) | ± 2.5% | 50% | 47% | 2%[l] | 1% |
| Mitchell Research[168] | November 3, 2022 | 658 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 50% | 48% | 1%[m] | 2% |
| Cygnal (R)[169] | October 31 – November 2, 2022 | 1,754 (LV) | ± 2.3% | 51% | 46% | 2%[n] | 2% |
| EPIC-MRA[170] | October 28 – November 1, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 54% | 43% | 1%[o] | 2% |
| Emerson College[171] | October 27–31, 2022 | 1,584 (LV) | ± 2.5% | 50% | 45% | 3%[p] | 3% |
| 51% | 46% | 3%[q] | – | ||||
| Cygnal (R)[172] | October 27–31, 2022 | 1,584 (LV) | ± 2.5% | 51% | 45% | 2%[r] | 3% |
| InsiderAdvantage (R)[173][C] | October 30, 2022 | 550 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 45% | 45% | 5%[s] | 5% |
| Wick Insights[174] | October 26–30, 2022 | 1,137 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 49% | 47% | 2%[t] | 2% |
| KAConsulting (R)[175][D] | October 27–29, 2022 | 501 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 48% | 41% | 5%[u] | 7% |
| Cygnal (R)[176] | October 25–29, 2022 | 1,543 (LV) | ± 2.5% | 51% | 44% | 2%[v] | 3% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[177] | October 26–28, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 52% | 43% | 3% | 2% |
| Cygnal (R)[178] | October 23–27, 2022 | 1,822 (LV) | ± 2.3% | 51% | 44% | 3%[w] | 2% |
| Cygnal (R)[179] | October 21–25, 2022 | 1,378 (LV) | ± 2.6% | 51% | 45% | 3%[x] | 2% |
| Cygnal (R)[180] | October 19–23, 2022 | 1,459 (LV) | ± 2.6% | 50% | 44% | 3%[y] | 3% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R)[181] | October 18–21, 2022 | 1,022 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 48% | 48% | 2%[z] | 2% |
| Cygnal (R)[182] | October 17–21, 2022 | 1,904 (LV) | ± 2.3% | 50% | 44% | 3%[aa] | 4% |
| Mitchell Research[183] | October 19, 2022 | 541 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 49% | 47% | 1%[ab] | 3% |
| Cygnal (R)[184] | October 15–19, 2022 | 1,793 (LV) | ± 2.3% | 49% | 44% | 3%[ac] | 4% |
| CNN/SSRS[185] | October 13–18, 2022 | 901 (RV) | ± 4.2% | 55% | 41% | 4%[ad] | 1% |
| 651 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 52% | 46% | 2%[ae] | – | ||
| Emerson College[186] | October 12–14, 2022 | 580 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 49% | 44% | 3%[af] | 4% |
| Cygnal (R)[187][E] | October 12–14, 2022 | 640 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 49% | 44% | 4%[ag] | 4% |
| Wick Insights (R)[188] | October 8–14, 2022 | 1,136 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 47% | 48% | 2%[ah] | 3% |
| InsiderAdvantage (R)[189][C] | October 12, 2022 | 550 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 44% | 44% | 6%[ai] | 7% |
| EPIC-MRA[190] | October 6–12, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 49% | 38% | 4%[aj] | 9% |
| YouGov/CBS News[191] | October 3–6, 2022 | 1,285 (RV) | ± 3.6% | 53% | 47% | – | – |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[192] | September 26–29, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 50% | 32% | 9%[ak] | 9% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R)[193] | September 24–28, 2022 | 1,075 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 51% | 45% | 4%[al] | 1% |
| EPIC-MRA[194][F] | September 15–19, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 55% | 39% | – | 6% |
| EPIC-MRA[195][G] | September 7–13, 2022 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 51% | 40% | 7%[am] | 2% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[196] | August 29 – September 1, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 48% | 35% | 4% | 13% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R)[197] | August 22–25, 2022 | 1,080 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 49% | 45% | 3%[an] | 2% |
| EPIC-MRA[198] | August 18–23, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 50% | 39% | – | 11% |
| Blueprint Polling (D)[199] | August 15–16, 2022 | 611 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 51% | 39% | 3% | 8% |
| Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D)[200] | August 8–14, 2022 | 1,365 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 51% | 46% | – | 3% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[201] | July 5–8, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 51% | 40% | – | 9% |
| Target Insyght[202] | May 26–27, 2022 | 600 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 58% | 21% | – | 21% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[203] | January 3–7, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 50% | 31% | – | 19% |
| Strategic National (R)[204][B] | September 18–19, 2021 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 46% | 41% | – | 13% |
Gretchen Whitmer vs. Ryan Kelley
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
Ryan Kelley (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[201] | July 5–8, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 50% | 41% | 9% |
| Target Insyght[202] | May 26–27, 2022 | 600 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 57% | 23% | 19% |
Gretchen Whitmer vs. Ralph Rebandt
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
Ralph Rebandt (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[201] | July 5–8, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 52% | 37% | 10% |
| Target Insyght[202] | May 26–27, 2022 | 600 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 58% | 19% | 23% |
Gretchen Whitmer vs. Kevin Rinke
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
Kevin Rinke (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[201] | July 5–8, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 52% | 40% | 8% |
| Target Insyght[202] | May 26–27, 2022 | 600 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 58% | 24% | 18% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[203] | January 3–7, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 50% | 33% | 17% |
Gretchen Whitmer vs. Garrett Soldano
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
Garrett Soldano (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[201] | July 5–8, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 52% | 38% | 10% |
| Target Insyght[202] | May 26–27, 2022 | 600 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 58% | 22% | 20% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[203] | January 3–7, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 50% | 33% | 17% |
Gretchen Whitmer vs. James Craig
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
James Craig (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blueprint Polling (D)[205] | February 1–4, 2022 | 632 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 44% | 44% | 12% |
| EPIC-MRA[206] | January 15–20, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 46% | 41% | 13% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[203] | January 3–7, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 49% | 39% | 12% |
| ARW Strategies (R)[207][B] | January 4–6, 2022 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 46% | 46% | 8% |
| Strategic National (R)[204][B] | September 18–19, 2021 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 47% | 46% | 7% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R)[208] | September 13–15, 2021 | 1,097 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 44% | 50% | 5% |
| EPIC-MRA[209] | August 9–15, 2021 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 45% | 44% | 11% |
| Competitive Edge Research & Communication (R)[210][H] | May 26 – June 4, 2021 | 809 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 38% | 45% | 17% |
| Target Insyght[112] | May 9–11, 2021 | 800 (RV) | ± 3.5% | 48% | 42% | 10% |
Gretchen Whitmer vs. John James
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
John James (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competitive Edge Research & Communication (R)[210][H] | May 26 – June 4, 2021 | 809 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 50% | 45% | 5% |
| Target Insyght[112] | May 9–11, 2021 | 800 (RV) | ± 3.5% | 49% | 39% | 12% |
Gretchen Whitmer vs. Candice Miller
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
Candice Miller (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPIC-MRA[211] | February 19–25, 2021 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 46% | 45% | – | 9% |
| Denno Research[212] | December 14–15, 2020 | 600 (V) | ± 4.0% | 46% | 42% | 13%[ao] | – |
Gretchen Whitmer vs. generic Republican
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
Generic Republican |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPIC-MRA[213] | May 11–17, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 45% | 46% | 9% |
| ARW Strategies (R)[214][I] | April 18–20, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 45% | 46% | 8% |
| Cygnal (R)[215] | June 2–6, 2021 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 41% | 52% | 7% |
Gretchen Whitmer vs. generic opponent
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
Generic Opponent |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Glengariff Group, Inc.[216] | February 3–6, 2021 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 39% | 41%[ap] | 20%[aq] |
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Republican |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key:
P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn |
||||||
| Whitmer | Dixon | |||||
| 1 | Oct. 13, 2022 | WOOD-TV | Rick Albin | WOOD-TV[217] | P | P |
| 2 | Oct. 25, 2022 | WXYZ-TV[218] | P | P | ||
The first debate was held on Thursday, October 13 in Grand Rapids hosted by local TV station WOOD-TV. The two clashed on various issues such as abortion, the economy and COVID-19.[219] Analysts determined this debate to be a draw.[220]
The second debate was held on Tuesday, October 25 on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester. The debate was co-sponsored by Oakland University's Center for Civic Engagement and E.W. Scripps owned TV stations WXYZ-TV in Detroit, WXMI-TV in Grand Rapids and WSYM-TV in Lansing.[221] News stories about the debate specifically noted a question Whitmer gave Dixon when they argued on school safety and library books: "Do you really think books are more dangerous than guns?"[222]
| Campaign finance reports as of October 23, 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Gretchen Whitmer (D) | $36,375,114 | $30,507,077 | $4,017,640 |
| Tudor Dixon (R) | $6,764,321 | $3,799,440 | $2,964,881 |
| Source: Michigan Department of State[223] | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |
|
2,430,505 | 54.47% | +1.16% | |
| Republican | 1,960,635 | 43.94% | +0.19% | ||
| Libertarian |
|
38,800 | 0.87% | −0.46% | |
| Constitution |
|
16,246 | 0.36% | −0.33% | |
| Green |
|
10,766 | 0.24% | −0.44% | |
| Natural Law |
|
4,973 | 0.11% | −0.13% | |
| Write-in | 47 | 0.00% | ±0.0% | ||
| Total votes | 4,461,972 | 100.0% | |||
| Turnout | 4,500,400 | 55.19% | |||
| Registered electors | 8,154,832 | ||||
| Democratic hold | |||||
| County[225] | Gretchen Whitmer Democratic |
Tudor Dixon Republican |
Other Votes | Margin | Total votes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | ||
| Alcona | 34.71% | 2,076 | 63.57% | 3,802 | 1.72% | 103 | −28.86% | −1,726 | 5,981 |
| Alger | 45.86% | 1,984 | 52.20% | 2,258 | 1.94% | 84 | −6.34% | −274 | 4,326 |
| Allegan | 39.76% | 22,802 | 58.58% | 33,590 | 1.66% | 950 | −18.82% | −10,788 | 57,342 |
| Alpena | 41.34% | 5,779 | 56.65% | 7,920 | 2.01% | 281 | −15.31% | −2,141 | 13,980 |
| Antrim | 42.36% | 5,937 | 55.85% | 7,827 | 1.78% | 250 | −13.49% | −1,890 | 14,014 |
| Arenac | 37.78% | 2,709 | 60.17% | 4,314 | 2.05% | 147 | −22.39% | −1,605 | 7,170 |
| Baraga | 38.59% | 1,329 | 59.70% | 2,056 | 1.71% | 59 | −21.11% | −727 | 3,444 |
| Barry | 37.63% | 11,552 | 60.42% | 18,547 | 1.95% | 598 | −22.79% | −6,995 | 30,697 |
| Bay | 50.36% | 24,783 | 47.65% | 23,448 | 1.99% | 978 | 2.71% | 1,335 | 49,209 |
| Benzie | 50.95% | 5,446 | 47.38% | 5,064 | 1.67% | 179 | 3.57% | 382 | 10,689 |
| Berrien | 46.55% | 29,803 | 51.79% | 33,157 | 1.66% | 1064 | −5.24% | −3,354 | 64,024 |
| Branch | 35.19% | 5,676 | 62.81% | 10,132 | 2.00% | 322 | −27.62% | −4,456 | 16,130 |
| Calhoun | 48.31% | 24,916 | 49.82% | 25,694 | 1.87% | 966 | −1.51% | −778 | 51,576 |
| Cass | 36.11% | 7,350 | 62.23% | 12,666 | 1.66% | 337 | −26.12% | −5,316 | 20,353 |
| Charlevoix | 45.87% | 6,728 | 52.27% | 7,667 | 1.87% | 274 | −6.40% | −939 | 14,669 |
| Cheboygan | 40.18% | 5,357 | 57.80% | 7,707 | 2.02% | 270 | −17.62% | −2,350 | 13,334 |
| Chippewa | 43.36% | 6,303 | 54.36% | 7,902 | 2.28% | 332 | −11.00% | −1,599 | 14,537 |
| Clare | 38.32% | 5,057 | 59.48% | 7,850 | 2.20% | 291 | −21.16% | −2,793 | 13,198 |
| Clinton | 50.15% | 20,664 | 48.31% | 19,904 | 1.54% | 636 | 1.84% | 760 | 41,204 |
| Crawford | 40.65% | 2,655 | 57.08% | 3,728 | 2.27% | 148 | −16.43% | −1,073 | 6,531 |
| Delta | 39.73% | 6,890 | 58.23% | 10,097 | 2.04% | 354 | −18.50% | −3,207 | 17,341 |
| Dickinson | 35.96% | 4,310 | 62.12% | 7,446 | 1.92% | 230 | −26.16% | −3,136 | 11,986 |
| Eaton | 53.78% | 28,806 | 44.49% | 23,828 | 1.73% | 924 | 9.29% | 4,978 | 53,558 |
| Emmet | 48.37% | 9,285 | 49.96% | 9,590 | 1.67% | 320 | −1.59% | −305 | 19,195 |
| Genesee | 58.47% | 100,325 | 39.79% | 68,282 | 1.74% | 2,987 | 18.68% | 32,043 | 171,594 |
| Gladwin | 36.77% | 4,422 | 61.18% | 7,357 | 2.05% | 246 | −24.41% | −2,935 | 12,025 |
| Gogebic | 45.47% | 2,940 | 52.78% | 3,413 | 1.75% | 113 | −7.31% | −473 | 6,466 |
| Grand Traverse | 52.38% | 27,396 | 45.90% | 24,005 | 1.72% | 901 | 6.48% | 3,391 | 52,302 |
| Gratiot | 41.01% | 6,285 | 56.51% | 8,659 | 2.48% | 380 | −15.50% | −2,374 | 15,324 |
| Hillsdale | 29.89% | 5,575 | 67.80% | 12,644 | 2.31% | 431 | −37.91% | −7,069 | 18,650 |
| Houghton | 45.41% | 7,030 | 52.51% | 8,128 | 2.08% | 322 | −7.10% | −1,098 | 15,480 |
| Huron | 35.39% | 5,310 | 62.61% | 9,395 | 2.01% | 301 | −27.22% | −4,085 | 15,006 |
| Ingham | 69.23% | 82,408 | 29.29% | 34,869 | 1.48% | 1,765 | 39.94% | 47,539 | 119,042 |
| Ionia | 39.86% | 10,845 | 58.02% | 15,786 | 2.12% | 577 | −18.16% | −4,941 | 27,208 |
| Iosco | 41.69% | 5,266 | 56.30% | 7,111 | 2.01% | 254 | −14.61% | −1,845 | 12,631 |
| Iron | 39.79% | 2,236 | 58.40% | 3,282 | 1.81% | 102 | −18.61% | −1,046 | 5,620 |
| Isabella | 52.51% | 12,581 | 45.61% | 10,927 | 1.87% | 449 | 6.90% | 1,654 | 23,957 |
| Jackson | 44.84% | 29,011 | 53.22% | 34,439 | 1.94% | 1,255 | −8.38% | −5,428 | 64,705 |
| Kalamazoo | 62.10% | 72,516 | 36.34% | 42,436 | 1.56% | 1,824 | 25.76% | 30,080 | 116,776 |
| Kalkaska | 33.98% | 3,009 | 63.43% | 5,616 | 2.59% | 229 | −29.45% | −2,607 | 8,854 |
| Kent | 54.32% | 162,899 | 44.08% | 132,172 | 1.60% | 4,801 | 10.24% | 30,727 | 299,872 |
| Keweenaw | 47.91% | 666 | 50.43% | 701 | 1.65% | 23 | −2.52% | −35 | 1,390 |
| Lake | 39.56% | 2,081 | 58.08% | 3,055 | 2.36% | 124 | −18.52% | −974 | 5,260 |
| Lapeer | 36.49% | 15,983 | 61.50% | 26,940 | 2.01% | 879 | −25.01% | −10,957 | 43,802 |
| Leelanau | 55.19% | 8,540 | 43.63% | 6,752 | 1.18% | 182 | 11.56% | 1,788 | 15,474 |
| Lenawee | 42.58% | 18,248 | 55.52% | 23,796 | 1.90% | 813 | −12.94% | −5,548 | 42,857 |
| Livingston | 42.75% | 46,524 | 55.58% | 60,494 | 1.67% | 1,821 | −12.83% | −13,970 | 108,839 |
| Luce | 33.22% | 786 | 64.24% | 1,520 | 2.54% | 60 | −31.02% | −734 | 2,366 |
| Mackinac | 42.79% | 2,567 | 55.43% | 3,325 | 1.78% | 107 | −12.64% | −758 | 5,999 |
| Macomb | 51.82% | 199,277 | 46.62% | 179,258 | 1.56% | 6,009 | 5.20% | 20,019 | 384,544 |
| Manistee | 47.65% | 6,026 | 50.32% | 6,364 | 2.02% | 256 | −2.67% | −338 | 12,646 |
| Marquette | 60.19% | 18,880 | 38.15% | 11,967 | 1.66% | 522 | 22.04% | 6,913 | 31,369 |
| Mason | 43.49% | 6,419 | 54.32% | 8,018 | 2.19% | 324 | −10.83% | −1,599 | 14,761 |
| Mecosta | 39.22% | 6,867 | 58.61% | 10,262 | 2.18% | 381 | −19.39% | −3,395 | 17,510 |
| Menominee | 34.59% | 3,347 | 63.34% | 6,129 | 2.07% | 200 | −28.75% | −2,782 | 9,676 |
| Midland | 47.30% | 19,497 | 50.85% | 20,964 | 1.85% | 763 | −3.55% | −1,467 | 41,224 |
| Missaukee | 26.79% | 1,995 | 71.24% | 5,306 | 1.97% | 147 | −44.45% | −3,311 | 7,448 |
| Monroe | 42.73% | 29,482 | 55.53% | 38,312 | 1.74% | 1,203 | −12.80% | −8,830 | 68,997 |
| Montcalm | 36.45% | 9,622 | 61.24% | 16,165 | 2.30% | 608 | −24.79% | −6,543 | 26,395 |
| Montmorency | 33.23% | 1,701 | 64.49% | 3,301 | 2.29% | 117 | −31.26% | −1,600 | 5,119 |
| Muskegon | 53.19% | 39,269 | 44.86% | 33,121 | 1.95% | 1,443 | 8.33% | 6,148 | 73,833 |
| Newaygo | 32.59% | 7,417 | 65.37% | 14,879 | 2.04% | 465 | −32.78% | −7,462 | 22,761 |
| Oakland | 60.92% | 383,895 | 37.84% | 238,448 | 1.25% | 7,862 | 23.08% | 145,447 | 630,205 |
| Oceana | 39.88% | 4,820 | 58.02% | 7,012 | 2.10% | 254 | −18.14% | −2,192 | 12,086 |
| Ogemaw | 35.71% | 3,532 | 62.18% | 6,151 | 2.11% | 209 | −26.47% | −2,619 | 9,892 |
| Ontonagon | 40.47% | 1,319 | 57.13% | 1,862 | 2.39% | 78 | −16.66% | −543 | 3,259 |
| Osceola | 30.58% | 3,174 | 67.00% | 6,954 | 2.43% | 251 | −36.42% | −3,780 | 10,379 |
| Oscoda | 33.77% | 1,355 | 63.63% | 2,553 | 2.59% | 104 | −29.86% | −1,198 | 4,012 |
| Otsego | 38.53% | 4,818 | 59.35% | 7,422 | 2.12% | 265 | −20.82% | −2,604 | 12,505 |
| Ottawa | 40.26% | 58,952 | 58.29% | 85,361 | 1.45% | 2,119 | −18.03% | −26,409 | 146,432 |
| Presque Isle | 40.85% | 2,981 | 57.07% | 4,165 | 2.08% | 152 | −16.22% | −1,184 | 7,298 |
| Roscommon | 40.80% | 5,284 | 57.07% | 7,391 | 2.13% | 276 | −16.27% | −2,107 | 12,951 |
| Saginaw | 53.00% | 43,219 | 45.37% | 37,002 | 1.63% | 1,329 | 7.63% | 6,217 | 81,550 |
| Sanilac | 31.73% | 5,967 | 66.33% | 12,473 | 1.94% | 364 | −34.60% | −6,506 | 18,804 |
| Schoolcraft | 39.27% | 1,527 | 58.23% | 2,264 | 2.49% | 97 | −18.96% | −737 | 3,888 |
| Shiawassee | 45.46% | 14,730 | 52.37% | 16,969 | 2.17% | 703 | −6.91% | −2,239 | 32,402 |
| St. Clair | 40.49% | 30,170 | 57.35% | 42,731 | 2.15% | 1,604 | −16.86% | −12,561 | 74,505 |
| St. Joseph | 38.35% | 8,402 | 59.60% | 13,059 | 2.05% | 449 | −21.25% | −4,657 | 21,910 |
| Tuscola | 35.06% | 8,418 | 62.81% | 15,078 | 2.13% | 511 | −27.75% | −6,660 | 24,007 |
| Van Buren | 48.08% | 15,347 | 50.04% | 15,974 | 1.88% | 601 | −1.96% | −627 | 31,922 |
| Washtenaw | 75.15% | 135,904 | 23.67% | 42,804 | 1.18% | 2,140 | 51.48% | 93,100 | 180,848 |
| Wayne | 70.86% | 457,601 | 27.95% | 180,487 | 1.18% | 7,651 | 42.91% | 277,114 | 645,739 |
| Wexford | 37.37% | 5,645 | 60.45% | 9,131 | 2.18% | 329 | −23.08% | −3,486 | 15,105 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
Whitmer won nine of 13 congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans.[226]
| District | Whitmer | Dixon | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 44% | 54% | Jack Bergman |
| 2nd | 40% | 58% | John Moolenaar |
| 3rd | 55% | 43% | Peter Meijer (117th Congress) |
| Hillary Scholten (118th Congress) | |||
| 4th | 50% | 49% | Bill Huizenga |
| 5th | 41% | 57% | Tim Walberg |
| 6th | 66% | 32% | Debbie Dingell |
| 7th | 54% | 44% | Elissa Slotkin |
| 8th | 55% | 43% | Dan Kildee |
| 9th | 41% | 57% | Lisa McClain |
| 10th | 55% | 43% | John James |
| 11th | 64% | 35% | Haley Stevens |
| 12th | 76% | 23% | Rashida Tlaib |
| 13th | 77% | 22% | Shri Thanedar |
Whitmer led Dixon in most of the polls. Most Republican donors chose not to fund campaign ads for Dixon, causing the TV airwaves to be dominated by ads for Whitmer, which included negative ads against Dixon.[161][227] Whitmer also spent a lot more in digital advertising compared to Dixon.[228] Abortion rights, which were on the ballot in the same election, were the subject of negative ads against Dixon, who opposed abortion rights.[229] Although aggregate polling had Whitmer up by about 3%, and a last-minute poll by Trafalgar Group had Dixon ahead by 1%, the election was not close. Whitmer defeated Dixon at the same time Michigan voters approved a ballot measure that would guarantee abortion rights in the Michigan constitution.[230] Democrats swept the other statewide partisan races and won control of both the state House and state Senate.[231] This marked the first time Democrats took control of both houses of the Michigan legislature since 1984.[232]
Exit polls found that Whitmer won nearly 70% of college-educated White women and 94% of Black voters.[233]
Despite Dixon's loss, she managed to flip Gogebic County in the Upper Peninsula (which had voted for Whitmer in 2018), making this the first election since 1932 where a Democrat won the Michigan governor's mansion without carrying Gogebic County.[234] Conversely, Whitmer flipped the counties of Benzie and Grand Traverse; the last time the Democratic candidate won these counties were 2006 and 1986, respectively.[235]
| Demographic subgroup | Whitmer | Dixon | % of total vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideology | |||
| Liberals | 97 | 2 | 27 |
| Moderates | 67 | 31 | 39 |
| Conservatives | 9 | 90 | 34 |
| Party | |||
| Democrats | 98 | 2 | 35 |
| Republicans | 7 | 92 | 32 |
| Independents | 55 | 42 | 33 |
| Gender | |||
| Men | 48 | 51 | 50 |
| Women | 62 | 36 | 50 |
| Marital status | |||
| Married | 49 | 51 | 63 |
| Unmarried | 64 | 34 | 37 |
| Gender by marital status | |||
| Married men | 43 | 57 | 32 |
| Married women | 55 | 44 | 31 |
| Unmarried men | 50 | 47 | 15 |
| Unmarried women | 74 | 24 | 21 |
| Race/ethnicity | |||
| White | 49 | 50 | 80 |
| Black | 94 | 6 | 12 |
| Latino | 72 | 25 | 4 |
| White voters by gender | |||
| White men | 43 | 56 | 41 |
| White women | 55 | 43 | 39 |
| Age | |||
| 18–29 years old | 65 | 33 | 10 |
| 30–44 years old | 62 | 36 | 21 |
| 45–64 years old | 50 | 48 | 39 |
| 65 and older | 52 | 47 | 30 |
| 2020 presidential vote | |||
| Biden | 98 | 2 | 50 |
| Trump | 7 | 91 | 43 |
| First time midterm election voter | |||
| Yes | 58 | 39 | 11 |
| No | 56 | 43 | 89 |
| Education | |||
| Never attended college | 43 | 56 | 16 |
| Some college education | 56 | 42 | 30 |
| Associate degree | 54 | 44 | 14 |
| Bachelor's degree | 59 | 40 | 16 |
| Advanced degree | 65 | 34 | 18 |
| Education by race | |||
| White college graduates | 60 | 39 | 32 |
| White no college degree | 42 | 57 | 48 |
| Non-white college graduates | 74 | 26 | 6 |
| Non-white no college degree | 82 | 17 | 14 |
| Education by gender/race | |||
| White women with college degrees | 69 | 30 | 16 |
| White women without college degrees | 46 | 52 | 23 |
| White men with college degrees | 51 | 47 | 17 |
| White men without college degrees | 38 | 61 | 25 |
| Non-white | 80 | 20 | 20 |
| Issue regarded as most important | |||
| Crime | 55 | 42 | 6 |
| Abortion | 77 | 22 | 45 |
| Inflation | 29 | 69 | 28 |
| Feelings about Roe v. Wade being overturned | |||
| Enthusiastic/satisfied | 16 | 84 | 41 |
| Dissatisfied/angry | 83 | 16 | 56 |
| Abortion should be | |||
| Legal | 81 | 17 | 63 |
| Illegal | 10 | 89 | 34 |
Partisan clients
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