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 55.9% 41.9%
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

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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 far-right Republican Kristina Karamo by a 14 percentage point margin.

Although some analysts had also originally predicted for the race to be competitive, especially during the final days, but Benson's performance had seemingly outperformed the polls following the election. The results had held the largest margin in the 2022 state elections, as well as the worst performance any Republican candidate had performed in the Secretary of State election since 1990. It is also the first time since 1990 where 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. Benson 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 convention

Candidates

Nominee

Endorsements

Jocelyn Benson
Organizations

Republican convention

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated at convention

Declined

Endorsements

Kristina Karamo
Executive officials
State officials
Organizations

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

Endorsements

Jocelyn Benson (D)
Executive officials
U.S. Representatives
Newspapers
Organizations
Kristina Karamo (R)
Executive officials
State officials
Organizations

Polling

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

Results

2022 Michigan Secretary of State election[27]
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

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.

References

  1. ^ About the Michigan Department of State (Michigan.gov)
  2. ^ "Michigan judge dismisses Trump campaign lawsuit over absentee ballots". PBS NewsHour. November 5, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  3. ^ McQuade, Barbara (May 12, 2022). "Opinion | The Most Pivotal Elections in 2022 Are Not the Ones You Think". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "2022 People Endorsements". AFSCME Council 25. June 8, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Sutton, Dana (January 25, 2022). "AFT Michigan Endorses Whitmer, Benson and Nessel in 2022 Midterms". AFT Michigan. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  6. ^ a b White, Rose (April 9, 2022). "Jocelyn Benson, Dana Nessel, others snag endorsements from the Michigan Democratic Party". www.mlive.com. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "UAW ENDORSES GRETCHEN WHITMER FOR REELECTION AS GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN – LT. GOV. GILCHREST, A.G. NESSEL AND S.O.S. BENSON ALSO GET NOD". UAW. May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  8. ^ Barrett, Malachi (May 13, 2021). "Republican who challenged Michigan election results now running for Secretary of State". www.mlive.com. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  9. ^ "Chesterfield Township Clerk Cindy Berry joins race for Michigan secretary of state". www.voicenews.com. October 25, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  10. ^ Mauger, Craig (October 4, 2021). "Michigan GOP lawmaker announces secretary of state campaign". www.detroitnews.com. The Detroit News. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  11. ^ Mauger, Craig (September 7, 2021). "Donald Trump backs Michigan election critic for secretary of state". www.detroitnews.com. The Detroit News. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  12. ^ Mathews, Jessica (September 17, 2021). "No SOS Run For State Representative Ann Bollin". www.whmi.com. WHMI-FM. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  13. ^ King, Jon (September 24, 2021). "Reckling Considering Run For Michigan Secretary Of State". www.whmi.com. WHMI-FM. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Cavitt, Mark (September 9, 2021). "Donald Trump endorses Oak Park's Kristina Karamo for secretary of state". www.thenewsherald.com. The News-Herald. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  15. ^ a b Burr, Alyssa (April 11, 2022). "Karamo secures former secretary of state's endorsement as GOP convention nears". www.mlive.com. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Parks, Miles (April 25, 2022). "Michigan GOP moves forward with 2020 election-denying secretary of state and AG". Georgia Public Broadcasting.
  17. ^ "Secretary of State and Attorney General: What to Watch for Next Week in Key Statewide Contests". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  18. ^ Solomon, Zack (November 7, 2022). "Elections Daily Secretary of State Ratings". Elections Daily. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  19. ^ "Obama to stump in key races". Politico. October 15, 2022.
  20. ^ Montellaro, Zach. "Kinzinger endorses Dems in major governor, secretary of state races". POLITICO. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  21. ^ "Here are all Detroit Free Press endorsements for 2022 general election". Detroit Free Press. October 19, 2022. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  22. ^ "From the Daily: Endorsements for the 2022 Michigan midterms". November 2022.
  23. ^ "Endorsements – AAPAC". Archived from the original on March 22, 2023.
  24. ^ Saccone, Mike (July 12, 2022). "National Wildlife Federation Action Fund Endorses Whitmer, Nessel, Benson for Re-Election". National Wildlife Federation.
  25. ^ "Human Rights Campaign Endorses Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for Reelection". Human Rights Campaign. August 26, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  26. ^ "Candidates - America First Secretary of State Coalition". americafirstsos.com. November 26, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  27. ^ "2022 Michigan Election Results". Michigan Election Results.

External links

Official campaign websites
(2021 โ†) ย  2022 United States elections ย  (โ†’ 2023)
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