A statewide race with local stakes

Kalamazoo County voters will help choose Michigan's next secretary of state when the August primary arrives. The race features two candidates with very different backgrounds and policy priorities.

The primary election is scheduled for August 4, 2026. The general election follows on November 3, 2026.

Current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is term-limited and cannot run for re-election. She has instead announced a bid for governor, leaving the secretary of state seat open for the first time in years.

The Democratic candidate: Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist

Garlin Gilchrist II has served as lieutenant governor alongside Governor Gretchen Whitmer since 2018. He was initially running for governor in the 2026 election but ended that campaign and pivoted to secretary of state, according to ClickOnDetroit.

According to Gilchrist's campaign website, his priorities if elected include:

  • Modernizing licensing and registration services
  • Holding companies accountable for auto repair scams
  • "Standing tall" against big tech companies

Gilchrist is running as the Democratic nominee.

The Republican candidate: Anthony Forlini

Anthony Forlini has served as Macomb County Clerk since 2021. Before taking that role, he represented Michigan's 24th District in the State House of Representatives and previously served as Supervisor of Harrison Township, according to ClickOnDetroit.

According to Forlini's campaign website, his priorities as secretary of state would be to:

  • Protect election integrity
  • Strengthen transparency
  • Enforce the rule of law
  • Run a high-performing office that respects the public

Forlini is running as the Republican nominee.

What the office controls

The Michigan secretary of state oversees business registrations, driver licensing, vehicle registrations, and election administration for the state. Any policy shifts in those areas would affect Kalamazoo residents directly, from how they renew their licenses to how local elections are managed.

With Benson running for governor, the secretary of state contest is shaping up as a key statewide race heading into the fall.

"The primary election in Michigan is nearly two months away, and two candidates are running for secretary of state," ClickOnDetroit reported on May 25, 2026.

The race will be decided by Michigan voters across all 83 counties, including Kalamazoo.