2018 Michigan Secretary of State election

The Michigan Secretary of State election of 2018 took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Secretary of State of Michigan, alongside elections for Michigan's governor, Class I United States senator, and attorney general, as well as elections for Michigan's 14 seats in the United States House of Representatives, all 38 seats in the Michigan Senate, and all 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives. Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Ruth Johnson could not seek a third term due to term limits. The Michigan Republican Party was looking to win its 7th straight Secretary of State election. Along with the offices of lieutenant governor and attorney general, the nominees for secretary of state were chosen by party delegates at their respective party conventions.

2018 Michigan Secretary of State election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) 2022 →

Nominee Jocelyn Benson Mary Treder Lang Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,213,243 1,840,118 Percentage 52.90% 43.98%

County results Precinct results Benson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Lang:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:      40–50%      No data

Secretary of State before election Ruth Johnson Republican Elected Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson Democratic

On November 6, 2018, Benson defeated Lang by an 8.9% margin.

Republican Party

Candidates

Nominee

• Mary Treder Lang, vice chair of the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents^[1]

Eliminated at convention

• Stan Grot, Shelby Township Clerk^[2]
• Joseph Guzman^[1]

Withdrew

• Mike Kowall, state senator^[3]

Endorsements

Stan Grot

Federal politicians

• Jack Bergman, member of the United States House of Representatives from Michigan's 1st congressional district^[4]
• Paul Mitchell, member of the United States House of Representatives from Michigan's 10th congressional district^[4]

State Government Officials

• Gary Howell, member of the Michigan House of Representatives^[4]

Mary Treder Lang

State officials

• Terri Lynn Land, former Michigan Secretary of State (2003-2011)^[5]

Local elected officials

• Candice Miller, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner^[6]
• L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive^[7]

Democratic Party

Candidates

Nominee

• Jocelyn Benson, former dean of Wayne State University Law School and nominee for Secretary of State in 2010^[8]

Declined

• Barbara Byrum, Ingham County Clerk^[3]

Endorsements

Jocelyn Benson

Federal politicians

• Carl Levin, former United States senator from Michigan
• Sander Levin, member of the United States House of Representatives from Michigan's 9th congressional district^[9]

State officials

• Marilyn Lane, former member of the Michigan House of Representatives (2011-2017)^[10]

Local elected officials

• Mark Hackel, Macomb County Executive and former Macomb County sheriff (2000-2010)^[9]
• Bob Smith, chairman of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners^[10]
• Eric Smith, Macomb County Prosecutor^[10]
• Anthony Wickersham, Macomb County sheriff^[9]

Minor parties

Libertarian Party

• Gregory Stempfle^[11]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Governing magazine[12]	Lean D (flip)	June 4, 2018

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Mary Treder Lang (R)	Jocelyn Benson (D)	Other	Undecided
Glengariff Group[13]	October 25–27, 2018	600 (LV)	±  4.0%	34%	45%	4%[b]	17%
EPIC-MRA[14]	October 18–23, 2018	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	36%	40%	7%[c]	17%
Marketing Resource Group[15]	October 14–18, 2018	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	33%	41%	3%[d]	17%
Glengariff Group[16]	September 30 – October 2, 2018	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	29%	41%	7%	23%
EPIC-MRA[17]	September 21–25, 2018	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	31%	40%	10%[e]	19%
Glengariff Group[18]	September 5–7, 2018	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	29%	44%	5%	23%

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of October 21, 2018
Candidate (party)	Total receipts	Total disbursements	Cash on hand
Jocelyn Benson (D)	$1,420,090.57	$1,120,241.74	$306,333.15
Mary Treder Lang (R)	$671,165.36	$562,880.13	$108,285.23
Source: Michigan Department of State[19]

Results

Michigan Secretary of State election, 2018^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jocelyn Benson	2,213,243	52.90%	+9.96%
	Republican	Mary Treder Lang	1,840,118	43.98%	−9.55%
	Libertarian	Gregory Stempfle	81,849	1.96%	−0.02%
	Constitution	Robert Gale	48,816	1.17%	+0.05%
Total votes			4,184,026	100.0%	N/A
	Democratic gain from Republican

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. Gale (UTP) with 2%; Stempfle (L) with 2%
3. Stempfle (L) with 3%; "Other party candidate" with 4%
4. Stempfle (L) with 3%
5. "Other party candidate" with 10%; Stempfle (L) with 3%