Poll Shows Democrats Leading in Michigan Senate and Governor Races
Democratic candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Jocelyn Benson lead their Republican opponents in new polling for Michigan's U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races.
A WDIV/Detroit News poll conducted between October 19 and October 22, 2026, shows Democratic candidates leading in two key Michigan races. In the contest for the U.S. Senate, Abdul El-Sayed leads Republican Mike Rogers with 51.4% of likely voters compared to 45.1%, while 3.6% remain undecided. El-Sayed holds a 42.2% favorability rating and 98.7% name recognition, while Rogers has a 32.2% favorability rating and 96.8% name recognition.
In a hypothetical race for Governor of Michigan, Democratic candidate Jocelyn Benson leads Republican John James. According to the survey, 51.4% of likely voters would support Benson, while 44.5% would vote for James, with 4.0% undecided.
Favorability ratings for the gubernatorial candidates are more closely aligned. Benson holds a 36.9% favorable and 30.3% unfavorable rating. James holds a 34.6% favorable and 37.4% unfavorable rating. Both surveys sampled 600 likely voters and carried a margin of error of +/-4.0%.
