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Here’s a look at the candidates in Michigan’s governor race so far

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Here’s a look at the candidates in Michigan’s governor race so far


DETROIT – Some high-profile names have already launched their campaigns in the race for Michigan’s governor in 2026.

Current Governor Gretchen Whitmer has reached her term limits and is ineligible to run again.

Here’s a look at the candidates running for Whitmer’s position as of Feb. 7, 2025:

Jocelyn Benson (D)

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 11: Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks during a House Administration Committee hearing in the Longworth House Office Building at the U.S. Capitol on September 11, 2024 in Washington, DC. The hearing examined “American Confidence in Elections” while looking forward to the 2024 Presidential Election in just under two months. (Photo by Bonnie Cash/Getty Images) (2024 Getty Images)

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson threw her hat in the ring for the state’s governor race in mid-January.

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Benson was elected as Michigan’s Secretary of State in 2018. During her time in this role, she improved the customer service operations of the Secretary of State’s Office by doubling the number of services available online, installing more than 100 self-service stations across the state, and launching mobile offices to bring services to residents who couldn’t easily reach offices or access the internet, according to the department’s website.

In an interview with Local 4’s Jason Colthorp on Jan. 22, 2025, she said she decided to run for governor to improve the education system in the state.

She was the first candidate in the 2026 gubernatorial race to run as a Democrat.

Read more –> Why Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, is running for governor

Chris Swanson (D)

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson talks in the detectives office, Jan. 28, 2025 in Flint, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson recently announced his bid for governor as a Democratic candidate.

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Elected in 2019, he helped create the Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team (GHOST) in 2019, when he was first appointed sheriff, aiming to arrest criminals involved in human trafficking and sexual assault.

In September 2020, he also helped create Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education (IGNITE), which is a program that helps inmates find full-time employment once released and helps improve reading, comprehension, and math skills while they are in jail.

He gained national attention in 2020 following the killing of George Floyd when he joined a group of Black Lives Matter protesters in a march in Flint.

Read more –> Chris Swanson, prominent sheriff and Democrat, announces run for Michigan governor

Aric Nesbitt (R)

Michigan state Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton speaks at a then-Republican presidential candidate President Donald Trump campaign event in Freeland, Mich., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Michigan Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt announced in early January his bid for governor.

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He was elected to serve as a state senator in 2018. He currently serves Michigan’s 20th Senate District, which represents portions of Berrien, Van Buren, Allegan and Kent counties.

According to his campaign website, he aims to “Make Michigan Great Once Again” as governor and claims a conservative leadership is needed to restore the state’s government that puts Michigan families and workers first.

The Lawton native earned his economics degree from Hillsdale College and later earned his master’s in international business.

As of February 2025, he is the only candidate running in the Republican Party for Michigan’s governor so far.

Read more –> Michigan Senate Republican Leader Nesbitt launches run for governor

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Mike Duggan (I)

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is interviewed, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan entered the governor’s race as an Independent.

“I’m not running to be the Democrats’ governor or the Republicans’ governor; I’m running to be your governor,” Duggan said in his announcement in December 2024.

The once-Democrat is credited by many for leading Detroit out of bankruptcy into a thriving city.

He was elected as mayor back in 2013 while running a write-in campaign due to a ballot challenge.

Since Duggan was in office, violent crime decreased, and Detroit’s population increased slightly in 2023. That was the first uptick in population since the 1950s.

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He was the first candidate to announce his bid for governor in the 2026 race.

Read more –> Behind Mayor Mike Duggan’s decision to break from Democratic party

Michigan’s next gubernatorial election is on Nov. 3, 2026.

Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.



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Hockey roundup: Three Michigan State recruits at U18 worlds; Bruins top Sabres

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Hockey roundup: Three Michigan State recruits at U18 worlds; Bruins top Sabres


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Three Michigan State recruits will represent Team USA at the world U18 hockey championships in Bratislava and Trencin, Slovakia.

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The U.S. opens against Czechia on Wednesday (10 a.m., The Hockey Network).

The future Spartans are: defenseman Nick Bogas (Royal Oak), defenseman Tyler Martyniuk (Washington Township) and forward Brooks Rogowski (Brighton).

Other local commits include: defenseman Abe Barnett (University of Michigan) and goalie Luke Carrithers (Western Michigan).

Team USA’s head coach is Nick Fohr (Dexter) with Kevin Porter (Northville) and Dan Darrow (Livonia) among the assistant coaches.

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The tournament features 10 countries with the final scheduled for May 2.

Bruins tie series with Sabres

The visiting Boston Bruins scored three second-period goals and held off a late Buffalo Sabres rally to post a 4-2 win on Tuesday and even their Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series at one victory apiece.

Viktor Arvidsson scored in the last two periods, giving the Bruins 1-0 and 4-0 leads. Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha also lit the lamp for Boston, which heads home for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday.

Jonathan Aspirot, Casey Mittelstadt and David Pastrnak each dished out two assists for the Bruins, and Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves.

Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored as Buffalo climbed within 4-2 in the closing minutes.

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Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed four goals on 19 shots before Alex Lyon entered in relief following Arvidsson’s second marker, which came just 16 seconds into the third period.

Buffalo had a 36-26 shot advantage, including 20-8 in the third period, but its power play went 0-for-5. Boston finished 1-for-6 on the man advantage.

The physical contest featured 47 penalty minutes for each team.

Following a scoreless opening period, the Bruins took over in the second, scoring on three of their 11 shots against Luukkonen.

Arvidsson broke the deadlock 4:54 into the middle frame, taking Aspirot’s lob pass in ahead of the defense and beating Luukkonen five-hole with a backhander from the left circle.

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A gaffe by Luukkonen helped Boston double its lead with 3:31 left in the period, as Geekie’s high backhanded dump from the far side of center ice eluded him over the glove.

The Bruins’ power play got in on the action 1:41 later. After Geekie’s one- handed keep-in at the blue line extended the play, Zacha tipped in Pastrnak’s shot from the top of the right circle while stationed in the bumper position.

Arvidsson made it 4-0 early in the third, prompting Sabres coach Lindy Ruff to change goaltenders. Aspirot banked a long feed off the boards to set up the play, leading Arvidsson down the left wing to score on a 2-on-1 rush with Zacha.

The Sabres struck twice in a 1:14 span to make things interesting. Byram accepted Beck Malenstyn’s back pass for a wrister from the top of the right circle to break Swayman’s shutout bid with 6:06 left.

Krebs soon made it 4-2, batting down and scoring the rebound of a Rasmus Dahlin point shot that caromed off the post and back into the crease.

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Detroit Red Wings received six A’s in The Detroit News’ final grades for the 2025-2026 season.

Grades and key takeaways for Finnie, Gibson, Seider, Larkin, Raymond and DeBrincat after the Wings’ late collapse.



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Michigan ready to make a move with top targets in 2027

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Michigan ready to make a move with top targets in 2027


When looking at the current recruiting rankings, Michigan is currently ranked No. 27 nationally. They have six commitments so far. Head coach Kyle Whittingham and general manager Dave Peloquin are working to take this class to another level. Here is the latest with some top Wolverine targets this cycle.



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10 things to know about kratom, which Michigan lawmakers want to ban

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10 things to know about kratom, which Michigan lawmakers want to ban


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Michigan lawmakers are debating a complete ban on the sale of kratom products in the state, citing cases of addiction and instances of death from people consuming the herbal supplement known as the “gas station heroin.”

Here is what to know about this unregulated herbal substance commonly sold in convenience stores, gas stations and tobacco shops across Michigan:

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What is kratom?

Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia whose leaves contain compounds that can produce stimulant effects at low doses and opioid-like effects at higher doses. It is manufactured and sold in different forms: liquid tonics, tablets, gummies, powders and capsules.

What is kratom used for?

Kratom is marketed as a herbal supplement for energy, mood, pain relief or opioid withdrawal, though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any of those uses. Some kratom users take it to get off heroin or fentanyl, according to University of Michigan researchers.

How is kratom pronounced?

Kratom is pronounced KRA-tum. The letter “a” takes a short “a” sound, as in crab or crack.

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What is 7-OH?

7-hydroxymitragynin, or 7-OH, is an alkaloid found in kratom leaves. It is manufactured in a synthetic form to produce an opioid-like sensation of pain relief or sedation. It is more potent than pure leaf kratom and sometimes referred to as the hard liquor version of kratom (if pure leaf kratom were considered beer, which typically has a much lower percentage of alcohol by volume compared with distilled liquor).

Is kratom an opioid or addictive?

Kratom users, substance abuse counselors and doctors report symptoms of dependence and withdrawal from the substance, particularly when users exceed the recommended serving size.

The Drug Enforcement Agency has warned that kratom has “sedative effects” that “can lead to addiction.”

On July 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration moved to declare certain 7-hydroxymitragynine synthetic kratom products a Schedule I controlled substance, the same class of drugs as heroin, ecstasy and peyote. As of April 9, the substance had not yet been formally added to the list of Schedule I drugs, which would effectively ban 7-OH nationwide.

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Does kratom have side effects?

The FDA has warned that kratom use can lead to liver toxicity, seizures or substance use disorder.

Withdrawal from the substance can lead to increased anxiety, insomnia and psychiatric episodes, according to University of Michigan researchers.

Dr. Eliza Hutchinson, a family physician based in Ann Arbor who is a clinical instructor at UM, said her substance abuse patients describe withdrawal from kratom as “the worst influenza of your life — times 10.”

CARE Southeastern Michigan, a recovery advocacy group, has reported some individuals experiencing psychotic episodes after taking 7-OH, the synthetic form of kratom.

The FDA has also said kratom is “not appropriate for use as a dietary supplement” and unsafe as an additive to food. The powder and liquid forms of kratom are sometimes marketed as an additive to shakes and smoothies.

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Does kratom show up on a drug test?

Yes, if it’s part of a specialized screening of narcotics and other substances that looks for active ingredients in kratom products.

Some substance abuse clinics in Michigan are starting to test for it, said Madison Lauder, a counselor at The Guidance Center in Southgate.

“We see you so often, we have added into our (drug test) panel,” Lauder said.

Is there any age restriction on buying kratom in Michigan?

No, Michigan has no laws governing the sale of kratom and related synthetics, such as 7-OH.

But retailers set their own rules. Some stores won’t sell to anyone under age 21.

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Some of the 7-OH kratom products on the shelves of stores are labeled “21+.”

But there’s no law on the books in Michigan requiring buyers to show a photo ID when buying kratom, as is required to purchase alcohol, tobacco or marijuana.

Which states have bans on selling kratom?

Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin have outright bans on the sale of kratom.

In December, Ohio’s Board of Pharmacy used the state’s controlled substance laws to ban the retail sale, distribution and possession of 7-OH and other synthetic forms of kratom, board spokesman Cameron McNamee said.

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The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has a separate proposal to ban natural kratom products that remains in the rulemaking process, McNamee said.

Some cities and counties across the country have imposed varying local sales bans, including Anaheim, Calif., Spokane, Wash., and the New York City suburbs of Nassau County on Long Island, according to published reports.

What’s the status of legislation to ban kratom in Michigan?

On March 18, the Republican-controlled Michigan House voted 56-48 on legislation that would completely ban the sale of kratom products in Michigan. All 46 Democrats and two Republicans opposed the legislation.

Democrats cited a lack of any committee hearings on the legislation.

“There is no question of the growing concern around this product, and no one is saying, with this vote or otherwise, that the concern isn’t justified,” the House Democratic caucus said in a statement. “What we are saying is an outright ban, without any testimony or dialogue, is not the solution.”

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The bill moved to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, assigned it to her Government Operations Committee.

Some kratom industry interests and individual users have advocated for a ban on just the 7-OH synthetic form of kratom.

Sen. Kevin Hertel, the St. Clair Shores Democrat who chairs the Senate Health Policy Committee, said the House’s passage of a total ban on kratom has changed the debate toward prohibition, which he favors until the FDA can further study the substance and its impact on the human body.

clivengood@detroitnews.com

Staff Writers Anne Snabes and Beth LeBlanc contributed.

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