September 30, 2026
Midterm Elections in Michigan, September 2026
El-Sayed & Benson Up in Michigan... Plurality Says Congressional Vote is in Opposition to Trump
In this year’s midterm elections in Michigan, the Democrats running for office are bolstered by voters’ stinging verdict on President Donald Trump. Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed leads his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, by seven points among the Michigan electorate. The Democrats are also +9 points on the generic congressional ballot question. In the Michigan race for governor, Democrat Jocelyn Benson has a double-digit lead against Republican John James among Michigan registered voters.
An anti-Trump sentiment and financial worries hover in Michigan, with the president experiencing an upside-down approval rating, a plurality reporting their congressional vote is one in opposition to the president, and more than four in ten saying their personal finances have gotten worse during the last year.
- El-Sayed (51%) has a seven-point advantage against Rogers (44%) among registered voters in the U.S. Senate race in Michigan. Independents divide (48% for El-Sayed to 45% for Rogers). Younger generations are also more likely to break for El-Sayed. Overall, a majority of Michigan voters (54%) think El-Sayed will be victorious in the race.
- On the generic congressional ballot question, the Democrats (53%) are +9 points against the Republicans (44%) among Michigan registered voters. In November of 2024, the Democrats were +3 points in the U.S. Senate race. Independents currently divide. A majority of registered voters statewide (52%) think the Democrat running for Congress in their district will win the election.
- 42% of Michigan voters say, when thinking about their vote for Congress, their ballot is mainly a vote against President Trump. 20% report it is mainly a vote for the president, and 37% say the president has no bearing on their vote. Of those who say President Trump is not influencing their vote, a majority approves of his job performance.
- Benson (53%) leads James (41%) among registered voters in Michigan's gubernatorial contest. Benson (61%) is also viewed by more than six in ten voters statewide as the candidate they think will actually win the election for governor.
- 41% of Michigan voters approve of the job President Trump is doing in office. 57% disapprove. In 2020, 42% of voters approved of the job President Trump was doing while 52% disapproved, and 6% were unsure.
- 41% of registered voters in Michigan report their family finances have gotten worse during the last 12 months. An additional 41% report their personal finances have stayed about the same, and 16% report they have gotten better. Democrats (58%) and independents (44%) are more likely than Republicans (18%) to say their finances have deteriorated.
For additional data pertaining to the Midterm Elections in Michigan, click on the link to the full table packet in the Survey Data button below.
Methodology
This Marist Poll Michigan survey of 1,235 Michigan registered voters was conducted September 24th through September 27th, 2026 by the Marist Poll. Registered voters 18 years of age and older residing in Michigan were contacted through a multi-mode design: By phone using live interviewers, by text, or online. Results for registered voters (n=1,235) are statistically significant within ±3.8 percentage points.