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Benson leads James by 6.9 points in the Michigan governor polling average.

Michigan Governor 2026 polling average as of Oct 19, 2026, based on 37 published polls from Apr 22, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

The question pollsters ask

If the 2026 Michigan governor's election were held today, who would you vote for?

37 published polls in the average

Poll endedPollsterSampleResult
Oct 9, 2026Wedgewood Polls607 likely votersBenson 55%, James 45%
Oct 4, 2026YouGov3,949 likely votersBenson 48%, James 45%
Oct 1, 2026Mitchell Research & Communications682 likely votersBenson 46%, James 39%
Oct 1, 2026Z to A Research for Rust Belt Rising (D)483 likely votersBenson 50%, James 40%
Sep 28, 2026Beacon Research/Shaw & Company Research for Fox News1,028 likely votersBenson 54%, James 45%
Sep 27, 2026Marist University1,235 registered votersBenson 53%, James 41%
Sep 27, 2026Guidant Polling and Strategy for Public First Action800 likely votersBenson 50%, James 45%
Sep 23, 2026co/efficient843 likely votersBenson 47%, James 44%
Sep 22, 2026The New York Times/Siena University605 likely votersBenson 48.5%, James 42.8%
Sep 21, 2026Cygnal/Beacon Research for Michigan Enjoyer600 likely votersBenson 45%, James 38%
Sep 20, 2026Suffolk University500 likely votersBenson 50.6%, James 34.4%
Sep 14, 2026Emerson College for Nexstar1,000 likely votersBenson 48.6%, James 41.9%
Sep 14, 2026The Washington Post/George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government803 likely votersBenson 53%, James 41%
Sep 6, 2026CNN/SSRS843 likely votersBenson 50%, James 41%
Sep 3, 2026Glengariff Group, Inc. for Detroit News | WDIV-TV600 likely votersBenson 47%, James 43%
Aug 28, 2026EPIC-MRA600 likely votersBenson 45%, James 41%
Aug 20, 2026Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Social Research/YouGov779 likely votersBenson 52%, James 43%
Aug 11, 2026Fabrizio Ward/Impact Research for AARP877 likely votersBenson 49%, James 44%
Aug 10, 2026TIPP Insights for League of American Workers (R)1,215 likely votersBenson 53%, James 36.6%
Aug 10, 2026Beacon Research/Shaw & Company Research for Fox News1,006 registered votersBenson 52%, James 47%
Jul 31, 2026EPIC-MRA for MIRS News Service600 likely votersBenson 47%, James 38%
Jul 29, 2026Mitchell Research & Communications672 likely votersBenson 46%, James 44%
Jul 24, 2026Glengariff Group, Inc. for Business Leaders for Michigan | Michigan Education Association600 likely votersBenson 43.7%, James 38.7%
Jun 13, 2026Mitchell Research & Communications for MIRS News Service827 likely votersBenson 51%, James 40%
May 23, 2026TIPP Insights for League of American Workers (R)1,163 likely votersBenson 48.9%, James 38%
May 7, 2026Mitchell Research & Communications for MIRS News Service606 likely votersBenson 42%, James 30%
May 1, 2026Glengariff Group, Inc. for Detroit Regional Chamber600 likely votersBenson 34.2%, James 29.2%
Mar 29, 2026Impact Research (D)800 likely votersBenson 40%, James 36%
Feb 16, 2026Impact Research (D)800 likely votersBenson 39%, James 36%
Feb 2, 2026Glengariff Group, Inc. for Detroit Regional Chamber likely votersBenson 45%, James 40.8%
Jan 6, 2026Glengariff Group, Inc. for Detroit News | WDIV-TV600 likely votersBenson 47%, James 45%
Nov 21, 2025Mitchell Research & Communications for MIRS News Service616 likely votersBenson 31%, James 37%
Nov 11, 2025EPIC-MRA for ABC 12600 likely votersBenson 33%, James 34%
Oct 25, 2025Rosetta Stone637 likely votersBenson 34%, James 39%
May 8, 2025Glengariff Group, Inc. for Detroit Regional Chamber600 registered votersBenson 34.5%, James 34%
Mar 13, 2025Mitchell Research & Communications for MIRS News Service688 likely votersBenson 37%, James 34%
Mar 6, 2025Target Insyght for MIRS News Service600 registered votersBenson 42%, James 30%

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Polls compiled by The New York Times, used under CC BY 4.0. Averages calculated by People’s Poll (Methods). Updated Oct 19, 2026. Published by Onward Media LLC.