Portage, Michigan sample ballot 2026

Vinales is a public defender with extensive courtroom experience described on the campaign site as representing some of society's most vulnerable and marginalized individuals, per the campaign site. Based in Kalamazoo, Vinales is running for Judge of the 8th District Court, per the campaign site.

Abdul El-Sayed is a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, per the campaign site. He is a physician who rebuilt Detroit's Health Department after the city's bankruptcy and then restructured Wayne County's Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services, which serves 1.8 million residents, per the campaign site. The campaign site says the campaign is funded by individual donors and takes no corporate money, per the campaign site.

Mike Rogers is a candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, per the campaign site. He was raised in Livingston County, graduated from Adrian College, served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army and then as an FBI special agent, per the campaign site. He ran for the Michigan Senate in 1994 and, as a state senator, wrote the legislation that created Michigan's 529 College Savings Program, per the campaign site. The campaign site says he later led the House Intelligence Committee. The campaign site publishes a Housing Plan and a Healthcare Plan page, per the campaign site.

Lydia Christensen is the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Michigan Secretary of State's November 3 sample ballot (What's on the ballot, State General 2026).

Douglas P. Marsh is the Green candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Michigan Secretary of State's November 3 sample ballot (What's on the ballot, State General 2026). He describes himself as a community journalist, per the campaign site.

Jocelyn Benson is the Democratic nominee for Michigan governor and has been Michigan's secretary of state since 2019. Running to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, she took roughly 83% of the August 4 Democratic vote, a race the Associated Press called the moment polls closed. Her campaign site frames her agenda as rooting out corruption and building a government that makes life more affordable, and lists five priorities: affordable health care, housing for all, lower electricity costs, quality education, and jobs and economic growth.

John James is the Republican nominee for Michigan governor and the U.S. representative for Michigan's 10th district, a West Point graduate, combat veteran and businessman. He took about 50% of the August 4 Republican vote in a four-way field. His campaign platform, which he calls the Freedom Agenda, centers on an anti-corruption package, a phased elimination of the state income tax, education reform, a parents' bill of rights, and a health plan built around price transparency and direct primary care.

• Voted yes on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the 2025 tax-and-spending package, which passed the House 218-214 in July 2025. Supported
• Voted yes on the Laken Riley Act, expanding federal detention of certain immigrants charged with theft or violent crimes, which passed the House 263-156 in January 2025. Supported

Eli Savit is the Democratic nominee for Michigan attorney general, chosen at the party's April 2026 endorsement convention (Michigan attorney general nominees are selected at party conventions, not in the August 4 primary). Washtenaw County's elected prosecutor since 2020 and a former U.S. Supreme Court clerk, he campaigns on prosecuting serious crime, protecting voting rights, and holding polluters accountable. The seat is open, and the race appears on the November 3 ballot.

Doug Lloyd is the Republican nominee for Michigan attorney general, chosen at the party's March 2026 endorsement convention (Michigan attorney general nominees are selected at party conventions, not in the August 4 primary). Eaton County's elected prosecutor for 13 years and president of the Michigan Prosecutors Association, he campaigns on fair prosecution and protecting constitutional rights. The seat is open, and the race appears on the November 3 ballot.

Garlin Gilchrist II is the Democratic nominee for Michigan secretary of state, chosen at the party's April 2026 endorsement convention (Michigan secretary of state nominees are selected at party conventions, not in the August 4 primary). Michigan's lieutenant governor since 2019, he campaigns on modernizing licensing and registration services and consumer protection. The seat is open with Secretary Jocelyn Benson running for governor; the race appears on the November 3 ballot.

Anthony Forlini is the Republican nominee for Michigan secretary of state, chosen at the party's March 2026 endorsement convention (Michigan secretary of state nominees are selected at party conventions, not in the August 4 primary). Macomb County's elected clerk since 2021 and a former state representative, he campaigns on election integrity and improving customer service. The race appears on the November 3 ballot.

Michael Warren has served as an Oakland County Circuit Court judge for more than two decades, presiding over hundreds of jury trials, per his campaign site. He also teaches business law at Wayne State University and constitutional law at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, and previously served on the State Board of Education, per his campaign site. He holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. from Wayne State University.

Casandra Morse-Bills is the presiding judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit, elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2024, presiding over probate, district and circuit courts across four counties, per her campaign site. She previously served as Oscoda County Prosecuting Attorney and holds a J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, per her campaign site.