2022 Michigan Secretary of State election

The 2022 Michigan Secretary of State election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the Secretary of State of Michigan. Incumbent Democrat Jocelyn Benson decisively won reelection to a second term, defeating Republican Kristina Karamo by a 14 percentage point margin.

2022 Michigan Secretary of State election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →

Nominee Jocelyn Benson Kristina Karamo Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,467,859 1,852,510 Percentage 55.86% 41.93%

County results Congressional district results Precinct results Benson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Karamo:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:

Secretary of State before election Jocelyn Benson Democratic Elected Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson Democratic

Some analysts originally predicted for the race to be competitive, especially during the final days, but Benson's performance seemingly outperformed the polls following the election. The results held the largest margin in the 2022 state elections, as well as the worst performance by Republican candidate in the Secretary of State election since 1990. It was also the first time since 1990 that a Democratic candidate won re-election.

Background

The position of Secretary of State of Michigan is responsible for overseeing elections in the state.^[1] Benson, a Democrat, was first elected to the position in 2018. She received national attention in her position following Joe Biden's victory in the state in the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump's campaign contested Biden's victory in Michigan and filed a lawsuit over the counting of absentee ballots.^[2]

The race for Michigan Secretary of State in 2022 received national attention over its potential impact on how the state would oversee the 2024 presidential election there.^[3]

Democratic Party

Candidates

Nominee

• Jocelyn Benson, incumbent secretary of state

Endorsements

Jocelyn Benson

Organizations

• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 25^[4]
• American Federation of Teachers^[5]
• Michigan Democratic Party^[6]
• United Auto Workers^[7]

Republican Party

Candidates

Nominee

• Kristina Karamo, activist and educator^[8]

Eliminated at convention

• Cindy Berry, Chesterfield Township clerk^[9]
• Beau LaFave, member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 108th district^[10]
• Cathleen Postmus, Plainfield Township clerk^[11]

Declined

• Ann Bollin, member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 42nd district^[12]
• Meghan Reckling, Livingston County Republican Party chair^[13]

Endorsements

Kristina Karamo

Executive officials

• Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States (2017–2021)^[14]

State officials

• Ruth Johnson, former Michigan Secretary of State^[15]

Organizations

• Michigan Republican Party^[16]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[17]	Leans D	November 3, 2022
Elections Daily[18]	Likely D	November 7, 2022

Post-primary endorsements

Jocelyn Benson (D)

Executive officials

• Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States (2009–2017)^[19]

U.S. Representatives

• Adam Kinzinger, U.S. Representative for Illinois's 16th congressional district (2011–2023) (Republican)^[20]

Newspapers

• Detroit Free Press^[21]
• The Michigan Daily^[22]

Organizations

• Human Rights Campaign^[23]
• National Wildlife Federation^[24]

Kristina Karamo (R)

Organizations

• America First Secretary of State Coalition^[25]

Polling

Graphical summary

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Jocelyn Benson (D)	Kristina Karamo (R)	Other	Undecided
Cygnal (R)[26]	November 1–4, 2022	1,603 (LV)	± 2.5%	49%	44%	2%[b]	6%
Mitchell Research[27]	November 3, 2022	658 (LV)	± 3.8%	51%	40%	2%[c]	7%
Cygnal (R)[28]	October 31 – November 2, 2022	1,754 (LV)	± 2.3%	49%	42%	3%[d]	6%
EPIC-MRA[29]	October 28 – November 1, 2022	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	50%	41%	3%[e]	6%
Cygnal (R)[30]	October 27–31, 2022	1,584 (LV)	± 2.5%	50%	40%	3%[f]	7%
Cygnal (R)[31]	October 25–29, 2022	1,543 (LV)	± 2.5%	50%	39%	3%[g]	8%
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[32]	October 26–28, 2022	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	49%	39%	5%	7%
Cygnal (R)[33]	October 23–27, 2022	1,822 (LV)	± 2.3%	49%	41%	3%[h]	8%
Cygnal (R)[34]	October 21–25, 2022	1,378 (LV)	± 2.6%	50%	40%	3%[i]	8%
Cygnal (R)[35]	October 19–23, 2022	1,459 (LV)	± 2.6%	48%	41%	3%[j]	8%
Cygnal (R)[36]	October 17–21, 2022	1,904 (LV)	± 2.3%	49%	39%	3%[k]	9%
Mitchell Research[37]	October 19, 2022	541 (LV)	± 4.2%	49%	40%	2%[l]	9%
Cygnal (R)[38]	October 15–19, 2022	1,793 (LV)	± 2.3%	48%	40%	4%[m]	9%
CNN/SSRS[39]	October 13–18, 2022	901 (RV)	± 4.2%	54%	41%	5%[n]	1%
		651 (LV)	± 4.9%	51%	47%	1%[o]	–
Cygnal (R)[40][A]	October 12–14, 2022	640 (LV)	± 3.9%	48%	42%	3%[p]	7%
EPIC-MRA[41]	October 6–12, 2022	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	47%	37%	4%[q]	12%
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[42]	September 26–29, 2022	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	47%	29%	8%[r]	14%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[43]	September 24–28, 2022	1,075 (LV)	± 2.9%	50%	45%	4%[s]	2%
EPIC-MRA[44][B]	September 15–19, 2022	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	51%	37%	–	12%
EPIC-MRA[45][C]	September 7–13, 2022	800 (LV)	± 3.5%	48%	40%	7%[t]	5%
EPIC-MRA[46]	August 18–23, 2022	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	44%	38%	–	18%
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[47]	July 5–8, 2022	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	46%	39%	–	15%
Target Insyght[48]	May 26–27, 2022	600 (RV)	± 4.0%	56%	23%	–	22%
EPIC-MRA[49]	May 11–17, 2022	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	47%	38%	–	15%
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[50]	January 3–7, 2022	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	46%	32%	–	22%

Results

Swing by county

Legend

•   Democratic — +10-12.5%
•   Democratic — +7.5-10%
•   Democratic — +5-7.5%
•   Democratic — +2.5-5%
•   Democratic — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +2.5-5%
•   Republican — +5-7.5%
•   Republican — +7.5-10%
•   Republican — +10-12.5%
•   Republican — +12.5-15%

Trend by county

Legend

•   Democratic — +10-12.5%
•   Democratic — +7.5-10%
•   Democratic — +5-7.5%
•   Democratic — +2.5-5%
•   Democratic — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +2.5-5%
•   Republican — +5-7.5%
•   Republican — +7.5-10%
•   Republican — +10-12.5%
•   Republican — +12.5-15%

2022 Michigan Secretary of State election^[51]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jocelyn Benson (incumbent)	2,467,859	55.86%	+2.96%
	Republican	Kristina Karamo	1,852,510	41.93%	−2.05%
	Libertarian	Gregory Scott Stempfle	52,982	1.20%	−0.76%
	Constitution	Christine Schwartz	27,937	0.63%	−0.54%
	Green	Larry James Hutchinson Jr.	16,615	0.38%	N/A
Total votes			4,417,903	100.00%
	Democratic hold

By congressional district

Benson won nine of 13 congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans.^[52]

District	Benson	Karamo	Representative
1st	44%	53%	Jack Bergman
2nd	42%	56%	John Moolenaar
3rd	57%	41%	Peter Meijer (117th Congress)
			Hillary Scholten (118th Congress)
4th	51%	47%	Bill Huizenga
5th	42%	56%	Tim Walberg
6th	68%	30%	Debbie Dingell
7th	55%	42%	Elissa Slotkin
8th	56%	41%	Dan Kildee
9th	43%	54%	Lisa McClain
10th	58%	40%	John James
11th	66%	32%	Haley Stevens
12th	76%	22%	Rashida Tlaib
13th	77%	21%	Shri Thanedar

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. "Third party candidate" with 2%
3. "Another candidate" with 2%
4. "Third party candidate" with 3%
5. Hutchinson (G) with 1%; Schwartz (UTP) with 1%; Stempfle (L) with 1%
6. "Third party candidate" with 3%
7. "Third party candidate" with 3%
8. "Third party candidate" with 3%
9. "Third party candidate" with 3%
10. "Third party candidate" with 3%
11. "Third party candidate" with 3%
12. "Another candidate" with 2%
13. "Third party candidate" with 4%
14. "Neither" with 3%; "Other with 2%
15. "Neither" with 1%
16. "Third party candidate" with 3%
17. Stempfle (L) with 2%; Schwartz (UTP) with 1%; Hutchinson (G) with 1%
18. Stempfle with 4%; Hutchinson Jr. with 3%; Schwartz with 1%
19. Stempfle (L) and "Other" with 2%
20. "Third party candidate" with 7%

1. This poll was sponsored by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters
2. Poll conducted for WJRT-TV and the Detroit Free Press.
3. Poll conducted for MIRS, Governmental Consultant Services Inc., and the Life Insurance Association of Michigan.