2018 Michigan gubernatorial election

See also: 2018 United States gubernatorial elections

The 2018 Michigan gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of Michigan, concurrently with the election of Michigan's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.

2018 Michigan gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →
Turnout	55.4% 13.8[1]
Nominee Gretchen Whitmer Bill Schuette Party Democratic Republican Running mate Garlin Gilchrist Lisa Posthumus Lyons Popular vote 2,266,193 1,859,534 Percentage 53.31% 43.75%
County results Congressional district results State senate district results State house district results Precinct results Whitmer:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Schuette:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      40–50%      No data
Governor before election Rick Snyder Republican Elected Governor Gretchen Whitmer Democratic

Incumbent Republican Governor Rick Snyder and Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley were term-limited and were unable to seek a third term in office.^[2] The filing deadline was April 24, 2018. The Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties chose their nominees in a partisan primary on August 7, 2018.^[3] 2018 was the first year the Libertarian Party held a gubernatorial primary alongside the two other major parties in the state of Michigan.^[4] The Working Class Party, U.S. Taxpayers Party, Green Party and Natural Law Party chose their nominees at state party conventions.^[5]

The race was not as close as expected, with Democrat Gretchen Whitmer was elected with 53.3% of the vote to Republican Bill Schuette's 43.8%.^[6] Schuette performed best in more sparsely populated areas, while Whitmer was supported by large margins in large and medium cities, such as Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Lansing. Whitmer also performed well in the Detroit suburbs. Whitmer carried former Republican stronghold Kent County (location of her native Grand Rapids), the first Democratic candidate to do so since James Blanchard's landslide 1986 reelection. Democrats swept the statewide races by also holding onto the Senate seat that was up for re-election, and picking up the positions of secretary of state and attorney general. They also captured every state university trustee seat that was up for election as well as the State Board of Education.^[7]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominated

• Bill Schuette, Attorney General of Michigan^[8][9]

Eliminated in primary

• Brian Calley, Lieutenant Governor^[10]
• Patrick Colbeck, state senator^[11]
• Jim Hines, physician and president of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations^[12]

Declined

• David Agema, former Republican National Committeeman and former state representative (endorsed Patrick Colbeck)^[13][14]
• Jase Bolger, former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives^[15]
• Larry C. Inman, state representative^[16]
• Ruth Johnson, Michigan Secretary of State and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006 (running for state senate)^[17]
• Arlan Meekhof, Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate^[18]
• Candice Miller, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner and former U.S. representative (endorsed Bill Schuette)^[19][20]

Endorsements

Bill Schuette

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• Mike Pence, 47th vice president of the United States (2017–2021), former governor of Indiana (2013–2017) and former U.S. representative (IN-6/IN-2) (2001–2013)^[21]
• Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States (2017–2021)^[22][23]

U.S. Governors

• Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin^[24]

U.S. representatives

• Tim Walberg, U.S. representative (MI-07)^[25]

Local politicians

• Mike Bouchard, Oakland County Sheriff^[26]
• L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive^[27]

Individuals

• Ted Nugent, guitarist, singer, songwriter, and political activist^[28]

Jim Hines

Organizations

• Right to Life of Michigan^[29]

Patrick Colbeck

U.S. senators

• Ted Cruz, U.S. senator from Texas (2013-Present)^[30]

State officials

• David Agema, former Republican National Committeeman and former state representative^[14]

Individuals

• David Barton, founder of Wallbuilders^[31]
• Dawn Dodge, Speakers Bureau Director for the Republican Women's Federation of Michigan^[32]
• Bob Dutko, Conservative Christian talk radio host^[33]
• Mark Gurley, co-director of the Michigan Oak Initiative and as the Grassroots vice-chair for the MIGOP^[34]
• Sean Hannity^[35]
• Jack Lousma, former NASA astronaut and retired USMC colonel^[36]
• Bob Lutz, Former General Motors Vice-Chairman and ex-Chrysler President^[37]
• Wes Nakagiri, Michigan Tea Party leader, one of the 17 Republican at-large delegates sent to the 2016 Republican National Convention
• Thayrone X, Metro Detroit talk radio host^[38]

Organizations

• Michigan Vaccine Freedom PAC^[39]
• Right to Life of Michigan^[29]

Brian Calley

U.S. Governors

• Rick Snyder, Governor of Michigan^[40]

U.S. representatives

• Justin Amash, U.S. representative (MI-03)^[41]

State and local officials

• Bryan Barnett, Rochester Hills Mayor^[42]
• Chris Barnett, Orion Township Supervisor^[42]
• Robert Cannon, Clinton Township Supervisor^[42]
• Donijo DeJonge, Kent County GOP Chair^[43]
• Judy Emmons, state senator^[44]
• Kurt Heise, Plymouth Township Supervisor^[42]
• Patrick Kittle, Independence Township Supervisor^[42]
• Terri Lynn Land, former Michigan Secretary of State^[45]
• James Lower, state representative^[44]
• Ken Massey, Farmington Hills Mayor^[42]
• Kevin McDaniel, Auburn Hills Mayor^[42]
• Steve Percival, Clarkston Mayor^[42]
• Leo Savoie, Bloomfield Township Supervisor^[42]
• Dane Slater, Troy Mayor^[42]
• Gary Wall, Waterford Township Supervisor^[42]
• Michael Webber, state representative^[42]

Individuals

• Dan DeVos, businessman and sports executive^[46]
• Chuck Yob, former Republican National Committee member^[45]

Organizations

• Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce^[47]
• Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce^[48]
• Home Builders Association of Michigan^[49]
• Michigan Vaccine Freedom PAC^[39]
• Right to Life of Michigan^[29]

Newspapers

• Detroit Free Press^[50]
• The Detroit News^[51]

Debates

Host network	Date	Link(s)	Participants
			Bill Schuette	Patrick Colbeck	Brian Calley	Jim Hines
WOOD-TV	May 9, 2018	[52]	Invited	Invited	Invited	Invited
WDIV-TV	June 28, 2018		Invited	Invited	Invited	Invited

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Brian Calley	Patrick Colbeck	Jim Hines	Bill Schuette	Other	Undecided
Mitchell Research[53]	July 30, 2018	413	± 5.0%	18%	9%	10%	40%	–	23%
EPIC-MRA[54]	July 21–22, 2018	1,045	± 3.1%	24%	11%	8%	42%	–	15%
Emerson College[55]	July 19–21, 2018	202	± 7.3%	13%	7%	9%	35%	–	36%
Marist College[56]	July 15–19, 2018	337	± 6.3%	26%	11%	–	33%	1%	30%
JMC Analytics[57]	July 5–12, 2018	600	± 4.0%	17%	10%	4%	25%	–	45%
Target-Insyght[58]	June 24–26, 2018	400	± 5.0%	16%	8%	4%	45%	–	21%
NMB Research (R-Better Jobs PAC)[59]	June 18–21, 2018	–	–	23%	–	–	45%	–	29%
Public Opinion Strategies (R-Schuette)[60]	May 22–24, 2018	500	± 4.4%	19%	6%	1%	42%	–	–
Public Opinion Strategies (R-Schuette)[61]	April 29 – May 1, 2018	600	± 4.0%	20%	6%	2%	42%	–	–
Glengariff Group[62]	April 19–21, 2018	400	± 4.9%	23%	4%	1%	36%	0%[63]	34%
Denno Research[64]	April 2–3, 2018	500	± 4.0%	13%	4%	1%	23%	–	59%
Strategic National (R)[65]	March 19–20, 2018	400	± 4.9%	18%	7%	3%	27%	–	45%
Marketing Resource Group[66]	March 13–17, 2018	600	± 4.0%	13%	2%	2%	29%	–	54%
Public Opinion Strategies (R-Schuette)[67]	February 10–13, 2018	800	± 3.4%	15%	5%	2%	42%	–	–
Strategic National (R)[68]	December 16–17, 2017	600	± 4.0%	19%	5%	2%	30%	–	44%
Target-Insyght[69]	November 1–6, 2017	400	± 5.0%	14%	<5%	<5%	38%	–	–
Mitchell Research[70]	September 21–24, 2017	400	± 5.0%	13%	–	–	52%	–	36%
Marketing Resource Group[71]	September 13–18, 2017	216	± 4.0%	13%	3%	3%	33%	–	48%
Target-Insyght[72]	July 25–27, 2017	344	± 5.4%	14%	4%	1%	42%	–	39%
Marketing Resource Group[73]	May 8–11, 2017	216	± 4.0%	11%	–	7%	32%	–	51%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Brian Calley	Jim Hines	Arlan Meekhof	Candice Miller	Bill Schuette	Undecided
Mitchell Research[74]	May 31, 2017	435	± 4.7%	14%	1%	–	21%	18%	46%
Target-Insyght[75]	February 2–4, 2016	400	± 5%	11%	–	3%	20%	21%	45%

Hypothetical polling

Results

Results by county

Map legend

•   Schuette—60–70%
•   Schuette—50–60%
•   Schuette—40–50%
•   Schuette—30–40%
•   Calley—30–40%
•   Calley—40–50%
•   Calley—50–60%

Republican primary results^[76]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bill Schuette	501,959	50.7
	Republican	Brian Calley	249,185	25.2
	Republican	Patrick Colbeck	129,646	13.1
	Republican	Jim Hines	108,735	11.0
Total votes			989,525	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominated

• Gretchen Whitmer, former Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney and former Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate^[77]

Eliminated in primary

• Abdul El-Sayed, former executive director of the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion^[78]
• Shri Thanedar, author and entrepreneur^[79]

Write-In

• Bill C. Cobbs, businessman^[80]

Declined

• John Austin, former president of the Michigan Board of Education^[81]
• Mark Bernstein, member of University of Michigan Board of Regents^[82]
• Mike Duggan, Mayor of Detroit^[83][81][84]
• Geoffrey Fieger, attorney and nominee for governor in 1998^[85][84]
• Mark Hackel, Macomb County Executive^[86][87]
• Dan Kildee, U.S. representative^[88]
• Andy Levin, energy consultant and son of Congressman Sander Levin^[89] (running for Congress in MI-9)
• Barbara McQuade, former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan^[90]
• Gary Peters, U.S. senator^[91]
• Matt Simoncini, CEO of Lear Corporation^[92][93]
• Bart Stupak, former U.S. representative^[94]

Endorsements

Gretchen Whitmer

U.S. senators

• Carl Levin, former U.S. senator from Michigan (1979-2015)^[95]

U.S. representatives

• Debbie Dingell, U.S. representative (MI-12)^[96]
• Dan Kildee, U.S. representative (MI-05)^[96]
• Brenda Lawrence, U.S. representative (MI-14)^[96]
• Sander Levin, U.S. representative (MI-09)^[96]

State officials

• Jim Blanchard, former governor of Michigan (1983-1991)^[97]
• Frank J. Kelley, former attorney general of Michigan (1961-1999)^[97]

Local officials

• Mike Duggan, Mayor of Detroit^[97]

Organizations

• AFL-CIO^[98]
• American Federation of Teachers-Michigan^[99]
• Emily's List^[100]
• Michigan Education Association^[101]
• Service Employees International Union^[102]
• Teamsters Local 43^[103]
• United Auto Workers^[104]

Newspapers

• The Detroit News^[105]

Abdul El-Sayed

U.S. senators

• Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator from Vermont (2007-Present) (Independent)^[106]

U.S. representatives

• Ro Khanna, U.S. representative (CA-17)^[107]

State legislators

• Abdullah Hammoud, state representative^[108]

Organizations

• Ann Arbor for Revolution^[109]
• Democracy for America
• Grand Rapids United Progressives^[109]
• Justice Democrats
• Lansing for Revolution^[109]
• Michigan for Revolution^[110]
• Michigan Nurses Association^[111]
• Millennials for Revolution^[112]
• Oakland County for Revolution^[113]
• Our Revolution
• The People for Bernie Sanders^[114]
• Progressive Change Campaign Committee^[115]

Newspapers and publications

• Current Affairs^[116]
• The Nation

Political candidates

• Kerri Evelyn Harris, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Delaware^[117]
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democratic nominee for U.S. representative (NY-14)^[118]

Individuals

• Ben Affleck, actor^[119]
• Danny DeVito, actor^[120]
• Alex Ebert, musician^[121]
• Shaun King, activist^[122]
• Michael Moore, documentarian and activist^[123]
• Ameya Pawar, Chicago Alderman^[124]
• Piper Perabo, actress^[125]
• Joseph Sanberg, entrepreneur and investor^[126]
• Nina Turner, former Ohio State Senator and President of Our Revolution

Debates

Host network	Date	Participants
		Abdul El-Sayed	Shri Thanedar	Gretchen Whitmer
WOOD-TV	June 20, 2018	Invited	Invited	Invited
WDIV-TV	July 19, 2018	Invited	Invited	Invited

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Cobbs	Abdul El-Sayed	Shri Thanedar	Gretchen Whitmer	Other	Undecided
EPIC-MRA[127]	July 21–22, 2018	1,054	± 3.1%	–	19%	22%	49%	–	10%
Change Research (D-El-Sayed)[128]	July 20–21, 2018	1,503	–	–	27%	15%	33%	–	24%
Emerson College[129]	July 19–21, 2018	282	± 6.4%	–	12%	17%	39%	–	31%
Marist College[56]	July 15–19, 2018	442	± 5.5%	–	22%	27%	31%	<1%	20%
Target-Insyght[58]	June 24–26, 2018	400	± 5.0%	–	17%	19%	40%	2%	22%
Glengariff Group[130]	April 20–22, 2018	400	± 4.9%	3%	7%	30%	26%	–	35%
Denno Research[131]	April 6–7, 2018	500	± 4.0%	2%	2%	15%	17%	–	63%
Marketing Resource Group[66]	March 13–17, 2018	233	± 6.4%	3%	10%	21%	18%	–	48%
Target-Insyght[132]	March 6–8, 2018	500	± 4.5%	4%	6%	20%	34%	3%	33%
EPIC-MRA (D-Thanedar)[133]	February 17–22, 2018	600	± 4.0%	3%	8%	24%	34%	–	31%
Target-Insyght[69]	November 1–6, 2017	400	± 5.0%	4%	13%	2%	45%	8%	28%
Marketing Resource Group[71]	September 13–18, 2017	255	± 4.0%	8%	4%	3%	27%	–	58%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mike Duggan	Abdul El-Sayed	Geoffrey Fieger	Mark Hackel	Dan Kildee	Andy Levin	Shri Thanedar	Gretchen Whitmer	Undecided
Target-Insyght[69]	November 1–6, 2017	400	± 5.0%	29%	–	–	–	–	–	–	43%	–
				–	–	28%	–	–	–	–	41%	–
				–	–	–	–	–	19%	–	42%	–
Target-Insyght[75]	February 2–4, 2016	400	± 5%	20%	–	–	9%	12%	–	–	16%	43%
Target-Insyght[72]	July 25, 2017	377	± 5.4%	–	4%	35%	–	–	–	3%	35%	–
Marketing Resource Group[73]	May 8–11, 2017	255	± 4.0%	–	9%	26%	–	–	–	–	24%	41%

Hypothetical polling

Results

Results by county

Map legend

•   Whitmer—60–70%
•   Whitmer—50–60%
•   Whitmer—40–50%

Democratic primary results^[76]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gretchen Whitmer	588,436	52.0
	Democratic	Abdul El-Sayed	342,179	30.2
	Democratic	Shri Thanedar	200,645	17.7
Total votes			1,131,447	100.0

Libertarian primary

The Libertarian Party is one of three parties that have a primary in Michigan.^[134]

Candidates

Nominated

• Bill Gelineau^[135]

Eliminated in primary

• John Tatar^[135]

Endorsements

John Tatar

Organizations

• Michigan Vaccine Freedom PAC^[39]

Debates

Host network	Date	Participants
		Bill Gelineau	John Tatar
WOOD-TV[136]	July 15, 2018	Invited	Invited
WJBK-TV[137]	July 22, 2018	Invited	Invited

Results

Libertarian primary results^[76]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Bill Gelineau	4,034	57.8
	Libertarian	John Tatar	2,941	42.2
Total votes			6,975	100.0

Green Convention

The Green Party chose candidates for the 2018 ballot at its state convention on May 5, 2018, at the University of Michigan-Flint.^[138]

Candidates

Declared and nominated

• Jennifer Kurland, president of the Redford Union School Board^[138]

U.S. Taxpayers Party

Candidates

Declared and nominated

• Todd Schleiger

Natural Law Party

Candidates

Declared and nominated

• Keith Butkovich^[139]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[140]	Lean D (flip)	October 26, 2018
The Washington Post[141]	Lean D (flip)	November 5, 2018
FiveThirtyEight[142]	Likely D (flip)	November 5, 2018
Rothenberg Political Report[143]	Lean D (flip)	November 1, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball[144]	Likely D (flip)	November 5, 2018
RealClearPolitics[145]	Lean D (flip)	November 4, 2018
Daily Kos[146]	Likely D (flip)	November 5, 2018
Fox News[147][a]	Likely D (flip)	November 5, 2018
Politico[148]	Likely D (flip)	November 5, 2018
Governing[149]	Lean D (flip)	November 5, 2018

Notes

1. The Fox News Midterm Power Rankings uniquely does not contain a category for Safe/Solid races

Endorsements

Bill Schuette (R)

U.S. Executive Branch Officials

• Mike Pence, 48th vice president of the United States (2017–2021), former governor of Indiana (2013–2017) and former U.S. representative (IN-6/IN-2) (2001–2013)^[21]
• Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States (2017–2021)^[22][23]

U.S. Governors

• John Engler, former governor of Michigan (1991–2003)^[150]
• Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin (2011–2019)^[151]

U.S. representatives

• Jack Bergman, U.S. representative (MI-1) (2017–present)^[152]
• Mike Bishop, U.S. representative (MI-8) (2015–2019)^[153]
• Candice Miller, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner (2017–present) and former U.S. representative (MI-10) (2003–2016)^[20]
• Paul Mitchell, U.S. representative (MI-10) (2017–2021)^[154]
• John Moolenaar, U.S. representative (MI-4) (2015–present)^[155]
• Dave Trott, U.S. representative (MI-11) (2017–2019)^[156]
• Tim Walberg, U.S. representative (MI-7) (2011–present)^[157]

State Representatives^[158]

• Julie Alexander
• Sue Allor
• Tom Barrett
• Lee Chatfield
• Triston Cole
• Laura Cox
• Diana Farrington
• Ben Frederick
• Gary Glenn
• Joseph Graves
• Roger Hauck
• Michele Hoitenga
• Pamela Hornberger
• Gary Howell
• Tim Kelly
• Klint Kesto
• Beau LaFave
• Daniel Lauwers
• Eric Leutheuser
• Peter Lucido
• Steve Marino
• Mike McCready
• Aaron Miller
• Daire Rendon
• Jim Runestad
• Jason Sheppard
• Jim Tedder
• Curt VanderWall
• Scott VanSingel
• Hank Vaupel
• Rob VerHeulen
• Jason Wentworth
• Mary Whiteford
• Jeff Yaroch

State Senators^[158]

• Darwin Booher
• Jack Brandenburg
• Tom Casperson
• Mike Green
• Goeff Hansen
• Kenneth Horn
• Joe Hune
• Rick Jones
• Jim Marleau
• Phil Pavlov
• John Proos
• David B. Robertson
• Jim Stamas

Organizations

• Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan^[159]
• Detroit Fire Fighters Association^[160]
• Detroit Police Officers Association^[161]
• Michigan Chamber of Commerce^[162]
• Michigan Farm Bureau^[163]
• Michigan Restaurant Association^[164]
• Michigan Realtors^[165]
• National Federation of Independent Business^[166]
• Police Officers Association of Michigan^[167]
• NRA Political Victory Fund^[168]
• Right to Life of Michigan^[29]
• Small Business Association of Michigan^[169]
• The Young Republicans Club of Dearborn High School

Local officials

• Mike Bouchard, Sheriff of Oakland County and former Michigan state senator^[170]
• L. Brooks Patterson, County Executive of Oakland County, Michigan^[171]

Individuals

• Pam Bondi, Florida Attorney General (2011–2019)^[172]
• Donald Trump Jr., businessman and son of U.S. president Donald Trump^[173]

Gretchen Whitmer (D)^[174]

U.S. Executive Branch officials

• Joe Biden, 47th vice president of the United States (2009–2017) and former U.S senator from Delaware (1973–2009)^[175]
• Hillary Clinton, 67th United States Secretary of State (2009–2013), former U.S. senator from New York (2001–2009), former First Lady of the United States (1993–2001), 2016 Democratic nominee for president^[176]
• Eric Holder, 82nd United States Attorney General (2009–2015)^[177]
• Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States (2009–2017) and former U.S. senator from Illinois (2005–2008)^[178]

U.S. senators

• Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. senator from New York (2009–present) and former U.S. representative (NY-20) (2007–2009)^[179]
• Gary Peters, U.S. senator from Michigan (2015–present) and former U.S. representative (MI-9/MI-14) (2009–2015)^[180]
• Bernie Sanders, U.S senator from Vermont (2007–present) and former U.S. representative (VT-AL) (1991–2007) (Independent)^[181]
• Debbie Stabenow, U.S. senator from Michigan (2001–present) and former U.S. representative (MI-8) (1997–2001)^[182]

U.S. representatives

• Debbie Dingell, U.S. representative (MI-12) (2015–present)^[183]
• Dan Kildee, U.S. representative (MI-5) (2013–present)^[183]
• Brenda Lawrence, U.S. representative (MI-14) (2015–present)^[183]
• Sander Levin, U.S. representative (MI-9) (1983–2019)^[183]
• Joe Schwarz, former Republican U.S. representative (MI-7) (2005–2007) (Independent)^[184]

Governors

• James Blanchard, former governor of Michigan (1983–1991)^[185]
• John D. Cherry, former lieutenant governor of Michigan (2003–2011)^[186]
• Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan (2003–2011)^[187]
• Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington (2013–present)^[188]

State officials

• Steve Bieda, state senator
• Warren Evans, Wayne County, MI Executive
• Pam Farris, state representative
• Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, state representative
• Erika Geiss, state representative
• Patrick Green, state representative
• Vincent Gregory, state senator
• Curtis Hertel, state senator
• Curtis Hertel Jr., state senator^[189]
• Morris Hood III, state senator
• Hoon-Yung Hopgood, state senator
• Frank Kelley, former Michigan Attorney General
• Leslie Love, state representative
• Jeremy Moss, state representative^[190]
• Benny Napoleon, Sheriff of Wayne County, MI
• Ronnie Peterson, state representative
• Sam Singh, Minority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives
• Tim Snelller, state representative^[191]
• Rebekah Warren, state senator
• Kym Worthy, Wayne County Prosecutor

Local officials

• David Coulter, Mayor of Ferndale
• Mike Duggan, Mayor of Detroit^[192]

Labor unions

• American Federation of Teachers
• International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 25^[193]
• Michigan AFL–CIO^[194]
• Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council
• Michigan Education Association^[195]
• Michigan Joint Council of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
• Michigan Pipe Trades Association
• Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights
• Michigan State Conference of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers^[196]
• Michigan State Utility Workers Council
• Teamsters Local 299
• United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing, Pipefitting and Sprinkler Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada Local 636 (UA)
• United Automobile Workers^[197]

Organizations

• EMILY's List
• MI List (MI chapter of EMILY's List)

Individuals

• Jan Bidwell, social worker and activist
• Abdul El Sayed, candidate for governor
• Chelsea Handler, actress^[198]
• Cecile Richards, activist^[199]

Bill Gelineau (L)^[200]

Individuals

• Mary Buzuma, 2014 candidate for governor
• Greg Creswell, 2006 candidate for governor
• Kenneth Proctor, 2010 candidate for governor

Todd Schleiger (USTP)^[201]

Organizations

• The Education Watchdogs
• The Modern Whig Party
• Protect OutStolen Treasures

Declined to endorse

State officials

• Rick Snyder, 48th governor of Michigan (2011–2019)^[202]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Schuette (R)	Gretchen Whitmer (D)	Bill Gelineau (L)	Other	Undecided
Mitchell Research[203]	November 5, 2018	827	± 3.4%	41%	48%	–	5%	6%
Mitchell Research[204]	November 4, 2018	701	± 3.7%	40%	54%	–	1%	1%
Change Research[205]	November 2–4, 2018	880	–	43%	51%	2%	3%[206]	–
Research Co.[207]	November 1–3, 2018	450	± 4.6%	43%	47%	–	1%	9%
Glengariff Group[208]	October 25–27, 2018	600	± 4.0%	38%	50%	2%	2%[209]	9%
Emerson College[210]	October 24–26, 2018	822	± 3.6%	41%	52%	–	3%	4%
Mitchell Research[211]	October 25, 2018	400	± 5.0%	43%	48%	–	4%	4%
Target-Insyght[212]	October 22–24, 2018	800	± 3.0%	44%	48%	1%	4%[213]	4%
EPIC-MRA[214]	October 18–23, 2018	600	± 4.0%	41%	46%	3%	3%	7%
Michigan State University[215]	October 13–22, 2018	169	–	39%	47%	–	–	–
ALG Research (D)[216][A]	October 15–21, 2018	906	± 3.3%	36%	47%	4%	6%[217]	11%
				38%	48%	–	–	13%
Marketing Resource Group[218]	October 14–18, 2018	600	± 4.0%	36%	50%	2%	4%	7%
ALG Research (D)[219][A]	October 8–14, 2018	800	± 3.5%	36%	46%	3%	2%[220]	13%
Mitchell Research[221]	September 30 – October 7, 2018	654	± 3.8%	38%	46%	–	6%	10%
Glengariff Group[222]	September 30 – October 2, 2018	600	± 4.0%	35%	47%	–	5%	13%
ALG Research (D)[219][A]	September 24–30, 2018	800	± 3.5%	37%	49%	2%	2%[220]	10%
EPIC-MRA[223]	September 21–25, 2018	600	± 4.0%	37%	45%	2%	5%	11%
Ipsos[224]	September 14–24, 2018	1,150	± 3.0%	39%	52%	–	4%	6%
Target-Insyght[225]	September 10–14, 2018	800	± 3.0%	41%	50%	–	–	–
Mitchell Research[226]	September 12–13, 2018	1,009	± 3.0%	38%	48%	–	5%	9%
ALG Research (D)[216][A]	September 8–13, 2018	798	± 3.5%	38%	45%	3%	3%[220]	11%
Strategic National (R)[227]	September 8–9, 2018	1,000	± 3.1%	39%	49%	–	–	12%
Glengariff Group[228]	September 5–7, 2018	600	± 4.0%	36%	50%	2%	4%[229]	10%
Gravis Marketing[230]	August 14–16, 2018	647	± 3.9%	37%	52%	–	–	11%
Strategic National (R)[231]	August 13–14, 2018	700	± 3.7%	36%	45%	–	2%	17%
Emerson College[232]	July 19–21, 2018	600	± 4.3%	36%	43%	–	9%	12%
Marist College[56]	July 15–19, 2018	886	± 3.9%	38%	47%	–	1%	14%
Target-Insyght[233]	June 24–26, 2018	800	± 3.0%	37%	42%	–	–	20%
NMB Research (R)[234]	June 18–21, 2018	800	± 3.5%	39%	40%	–	–	20%
EPIC-MRA[235]	April 30 – May 3, 2018	600	± 4.0%	38%	43%	–	–	19%
Glengariff Group[236]	January 16–19, 2018	600	± 4.0%	33%	40%	–	–	25%
Michigan State University[237]	September 14, 2017 – January 18, 2018	963	± 3.2%	35%	41%	–	–	24%
EPIC-MRA[238]	December 9–13, 2017	600	± 4.0%	38%	35%	–	–	27%
Target-Insyght[69]	November 1–6, 2017	1,000	± 3.6%	40%	41%	–	–	19%
EPIC-MRA[239]	August 27 – September 1, 2017	600	± 4.0%	37%	37%	–	–	26%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Schuette (R)	Abdul El-Sayed (D)	Other	Undecided
Emerson College[240]	July 19–21, 2018	600	± 4.3%	38%	33%	12%	17%
Glengariff Group[236]	January 16–19, 2018	600	± 4.0%	38%	34%	–	27%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Schuette (R)	Shri Thanedar (D)	Other	Undecided
Emerson College[241]	July 19–21, 2018	600	± 4.3%	35%	38%	12%	15%
Target-Insyght[233]	June 24–26, 2018	800	± 3.0%	37%	40%	–	22%
NMB Research (R-Better Jobs PAC)[59]	June 18–21, 2018	800	± 3.5%	40%	40%	–	19%
EPIC-MRA[235]	April 30 – May 3, 2018	600	± 4.0%	38%	44%	–	18%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Brian Calley (R)	Gretchen Whitmer (D)	Other	Undecided
Emerson College[242]	July 19–21, 2018	600	± 4.3%	33%	44%	8%	16%
Michigan State University[237]	September 14, 2017 – January 18, 2018	963	± 3.2%	34%	42%	–	24%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Brian Calley (R)	Shri Thanedar (D)	Other	Undecided
Emerson College[243]	July 19–21, 2018	600	± 4.3%	38%	36%	12%	14%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Schuette (R)	Geoffrey Fieger (D)	Undecided
Target-Insyght[69]	November 1–6, 2017	1,000	± 3.6%	42%	35%	23%
EPIC-MRA[239]	August 27 – September 1, 2017	600	± 4%	43%	33%	24%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Schuette (R)	Mike Duggan (D)	Undecided
Target-Insyght[69]	November 1–6, 2017	1,000	± 3.6%	32%	47%	21%

Hypothetical polling

with Bill Schuette and Abdul El-Sayed

with Bill Schuette and Shri Thanedar

with Brian Calley and Gretchen Whitmer

with Brian Calley and Shri Thanedar

with Bill Schuette and Geoffrey Fieger

with Bill Schuette and Mike Duggan

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of August 27, 2018
Candidate (party)	Total receipts	Total disbursements	Cash on hand
Gretchen Whitmer (D)	$7,134,218.66	$5,599,850.57	$1,534,368.09
Bill Schuette (R)	$6,175,889.09	$4,741,577.63	$1,434,311.46
Bill Gelineau (L)	$54,785.88	$51,267.71	$3,518.17
Source: Michigan Department of State[244]

Debates

Two televised debates between Schuette and Whitmer were scheduled. The first debate was held on Friday, October 12, and hosted by Grand Rapids television station WOOD-TV.^[245][246] That debate mainly concentrated on issues and there were no surprises or major errors from either candidate.^[247] The second debate was hosted by Detroit television station WDIV and was held on Wednesday, October 24.^[248] The two again clashed on various issues,^[249] but Schuette made a gaffe when he mixed up Whitmer's name with that of former governor Jennifer Granholm.^[250][251]

Campaign

While Whitmer's Democratic primary opponents publicly endorsed Whitmer in the general election,^[252] Republican nominee Schuette left the party split after the acrimonious battle with lieutenant governor Calley, with outgoing governor Rick Snyder refusing to endorse Schuette.^[202] Schuette also tried to hide his endorsement by Donald Trump from the primary in the general election.^[253][254] His actions as attorney general also came back to haunt him.^[255][256] Whitmer held consistent leads in polls over Schuette over the entire year.

Results

2018 Michigan gubernatorial election^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Gretchen Whitmer	2,266,193	53.31%	+6.45%
	Republican	Bill Schuette	1,859,534	43.75%	−7.17%
	Libertarian	Bill Gelineau	56,606	1.33%	+0.20%
	Constitution	Todd Schleiger	29,219	0.69%	+0.08%
	Green	Jennifer Kurland	28,799	0.68%	+0.21%
	Natural Law	Keith Butkovich	10,202	0.24%	N/A
	Write-in		32	0.00%	0.00%
Total votes			4,250,585	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic gain from Republican

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Alger (largest city: Munising)
• Baraga (largest village: Baraga)
• Manistee (largest city: Manistee)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Clinton (largest city: St. Johns)
• Isabella (largest city: Mount Pleasant)
• Kalamazoo (largest city: Kalamazoo)
• Kent (largest city: Grand Rapids)
• Leelanau (largest CDP: Greilickville)
• Macomb (largest city: Warren)
• Oakland (largest city: Troy)

By congressional district

Whitmer won seven of Michigan's 14 congressional districts.^[257] The seven districts she won all elected Democrats to Congress, and the seven that Schuette won all elected Republicans, though he won the district that elected Justin Amash by a very narrow margin of 0.4% and the district that elected Fred Upton by an even thinner 0.2%.

District	Schuette	Whitmer	Representative
1st	53%	44%	Jack Bergman
2nd	53%	44%	Bill Huizenga
3rd	49%	48%	Justin Amash
4th	55%	42%	John Moolenaar
5th	40%	57%	Dan Kildee
6th	48.4%	48.2%	Fred Upton
7th	51%	46%	Tim Walberg
8th	46%	51%	Mike Bishop
			Elissa Slotkin
9th	38%	59%	Sander Levin
			Andy Levin
10th	57%	41%
			Paul Mitchell
11th	46%	52%	Dave Trott
			Haley Stevens
12th	30%	67%	Debbie Dingell
13th	16%	81%	Brenda Jones
			Rashida Tlaib
14th	18%	80%	Brenda Lawrence

Notes

Partisan clients

1. Poll conducted for Whitmer's campaign.