This article was published in collaboration with 9&10 News.
Michigan’s Aug. 4 primary election is quickly approaching, and hundreds of thousands of people have already cast their votes.
The contests will determine which candidates advance to the Nov. 3 general election later this year.
Absentee ballots are currently available and early in-person voting will begin by Saturday, July 25. More information can be found with the Michigan Voter Information Center.
Voters can participate in Republican or Democratic primary races, but must pick one over the other—people who cast votes for both parties will not have their ballots counted in either.
Here are the essential races to watch in Michigan’s Aug. 4 primary election.
Democratic US Senate race
The contest with the most statewide and national attention is Michigan’s open US Senate seat, which is being vacated by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health leader and 2018 gubernatorial candidate, is up against Rep. Haley Stevens, who has represented a southeast Michigan district since 2019, in the Democratic primary race.
The race has attracted tens of millions of dollars in outside spending and has fed into debates about the future of the Democratic Party.
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow dropped out of the race this month and has not endorsed either remaining candidate.
On the Republican side, former Rep. Mike Rogers is running unopposed. He competed against then-Rep. Elissa Slotkin in 2024 for Michigan’s other US Senate seat. While Donald Trump won the state by 80,000 votes, Rogers lost to Slotkin by about 19,000.
The race is one of several that could help determine control of the US Senate, which Republicans, 53-47, currently hold.
Governor picks
Voters will also decide their candidates to run for governor in November.
Two-term Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and will leave office at the end of the year.
On the Republican side, Rep. John James is competing with businessman Perry Johnson for the nomination.
Mike Cox, former Michigan Attorney General, and Sen. Aric Nesbitt, the State Senate Minority Leader, both dropped out of the race. They endorsed James after President Trump threw his support behind James.
On the Democratic side, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson are facing off for the nomination.
Mike Duggan, an independent and former Democratic Detroit Mayor, dropped out of the race in May, saying he didn’t want to be a ‘spoiler’ who could cause another candidate to win without support from a majority of voters.
Congressional contests
In Northern Michigan, voters will see contested races in two Congressional districts: the 1st Congressional District, which covers the Upper Peninsula and the Northern Lower; and the 2nd Congressional District, which runs along Lake Michigan from Manistee to Whitehall and stretches inland to include Cadillac, Clare and Mount Pleasant.
In the 1st District, incumbent Rep. Jack Bergman of Watersmeet is facing challenges from two other Republicans—Matthew DenOtter, a Boyne City businessman who worked 22 years in healthcare, and Justin Michal, a Grayling veteran and advocate.
There is also a race for which Democratic candidate will advance to the November election.
The 1st District Democratic candidates are: Callie Barr, a veteran advocate and attorney from Traverse City; Kyle Blomquist, an architect and Iron Mountain City Council member; and Wayne Stiles, an industrial designer from Traverse City.
In the 2nd District, incumbent Rep. John Moolenaar is running unopposed for the Republican nomination.
On the Democratic side, three candidates are hoping to take him on in November: Ben Ambrose, a veteran and former federal worker; Jamie Hill, a physician assistant and former paramedic; and Clyde Welford, a Lake County Commission member.
Downstate, political analysts are watching the mid-Michigan 7th District and the 10th District, which includes parts of Macomb and Oakland counties, as competitive races that could go to Democrats or Republicans.
Republicans currently hold both.
State House, State Senate
All seats in the Michigan House and Senate will be up for election in November.
The House is currently controlled by Republicans, 58-52, while the Senate is held by Democrats, 20-18.
House members go up for election every two years, while Senators are elected to four-year terms.
Contested races in Northern Michigan-area districts include:
- The 101st House District Republican primary
- The 106th House District Democratic primary
- The 107th House District Democratic primary
- The 108th House District Republican primary
- The 32nd Senate District Republican primary
- The 33rd Senate District Republican primary
- The 34th Senate District Republican primary
- The 37th Senate District Democratic primary
- The 38th Senate District Republican primary
To see your sample ballot ahead of Election Day, check with the Secretary of State’s office here. Use Gander’s voter tool below to verify your voter registration, find your polling place, and access important voting information. Already voted? Set reminders for future elections and share key voting details with your friends and family.
Related: Election Coverage
