Michigan Democrats Hold Endorsement Convention as Candidates Battle for Statewide Offices

Democratic Endorsement Convention Sets Stage for Summer Nominating Process

DETROIT — Michigan Democrats gathered at Huntington Place this weekend for their first step toward determining candidates for several key statewide offices ahead of the August primary election.

The 2026 State Endorsement Convention took place on Sunday, April 19, with candidates for attorney general and secretary of state making their cases to party members. The event was part of Michigan Democrats ongoing efforts to strengthen their competitive position in upcoming elections.

This weekend, Michigan Democrats will take the first step toward determining which candidates will represent the party in several big statewide races, according to MLive coverage of the event.

Republican Party officials held a similar event in March at the state level, giving Michigan Democrats a chance to follow suit and potentially gain campaign and fundraising advantages before the official fall nomination process.

What Is an Endorsement Convention

State law requires political parties to hold conventions in the fall of even-numbered years to nominate candidates for several Michigan offices. Michigan law only requires these fall conventions be held at least 60 days before the November general election.

In recent years, political parties have adopted an extra step with a spring endorsement convention. This early convention is intended to give candidates campaign and fundraising advantages ahead of the formal process.

The convention does not automatically place a candidate on the ballot, and they must still secure official nomination later in the year through the August primary election.

Candidates Up for Endorsement

Among the positions that will be decided at the endorsement and nominating conventions are:

• Secretary of State: Current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is running as a Democrat for governor as she is term limited. Democrat candidates in the running to replace her include Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum and former Michigan State Lottery commissioner and assistant prosecutor Suzanna Shkreli.

• Attorney General: Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel is also term-limited, meaning there is an open seat without an incumbent for the first time since 2018. There are three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination including Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, Detroit-area public defender and trial lawyer William Noakes and Washtenaw County Prosecuting Attorney Eli Savit.

• Michigan Supreme Court: Both sitting Supreme Court justices whose terms expire at the end of this year — Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh and Justice Noah Hood — are seeking reelection. Democrats now have a 6-1 majority on the high court.

• State Board of Education: There are three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination to win a seat on the state Board of Education including current board members Judith Pritchett and Tiffany Tilley, along with J.E. Windle.

• University of Michigan Board of Regents: Candidates for the university board include current regents Jordan Acker and Paul Brown, along with civil rights attorney Amir Makled.

• Michigan State University Board of Trustees: Candidates for the MSU Board include current board chair Brianna Scott, current board member Kelly Tebay Zemke and state Sen. Sylvia Santana.

• Wayne State University Board of Governors: Candidates for the Wayne State board include civil rights attorney Shereef Akeel, MDP Vice Chair Naz Hassan, labor and civil rights attorney Richard Mack and activist/minister Jeremiah H.W. Wheeler.

How Candidates Are Chosen

To vote on endorsements at the Democratic convention, individuals must be members of the party for at least 30 days prior to the event. Membership is open and does not require a financial contribution, but members must complete the party credentialing process in order to vote.

Republican Endorsements

The Michigan Republican Party held its state endorsement convention on Saturday, March 28 in Novi, where more than 2,000 delegates and hundreds of alternates were in attendance.

The party endorsed Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini for secretary of state, who received 55.19% of the vote, besting other prospective candidates including Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education member Amanda Love and Monica Yatooma, a member of the executive board of the Oakland County Republican Party.

The party also endorsed longtime Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd for attorney general, who received 63.2% of the votes cast, beating fellow candidate Kevin Kijewski who received 36.8% of votes cast.

Other endorsed Republican candidates include Judge Casandra Morse-Bills and Judge Michael Warren for the Michigan Supreme Court, Terence Collins and Bree Moeggenberg for the State Board of Education, Lena Epstein and Michael Schostak for the University of Michigan Board of Regents, Julie Maday and state Sen. Roger Victory for the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, Andy Anuzis and Christa Murphy for the Wayne State Board of Governors.

What Is Left for the Primary

While some primary candidates are determined via endorsement convention, voters participating in the Tuesday, August 4 primary election will still be able to weigh in on several big races.

That includes narrowing the field in the Michigan governor race along with an open U.S. Senate seat that must be filled after U.S. Sen. Gary Peters announced he would leave office when his term ends in 2027.

Elections for all 13 of Michigans U.S. House seats, all 110 state House seats up for reelection and all 38 state Senate seats are also up for election on August 4.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on August 4. More key election dates and details can be found through your local clerk.

Convention Schedule

The MDP held its legacy dinner on Saturday, April 18 to honor Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear listed as a special guest.

Credentialing for the convention opened on Saturday, April 18 at 10 a.m. and closed at the start of the Legacy Dinner at approximately 6 p.m. Sunday credentialing resumed at 7 a.m. and closed at 2 p.m.

Convention business began at 3 p.m. on Sunday with scheduled adjournment by 6 p.m.

The party selected the April date to be accessible for all party members to attend. An earlier date would have coincided with spring break.