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.
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.
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]
Eliminated at convention [ edit ]
Kristina Karamo
Executive officials
State officials
Organizations
Jocelyn Benson (D)
Executive officials
U.S. Representatives
Newspapers
Organizations
Kristina Karamo (R)
Executive officials
State officials
Organizations
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%
Swing by county
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
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%
By congressional district [ edit ]
Benson won 9 of 13 congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans.[ 52]
^ Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
^ "Third party candidate" with 2%
^ "Another candidate" with 2%
^ "Third party candidate" with 3%
^ Hutchinson (G) with 1%; Schwartz (UTP) with 1%; Stempfle (L) with 1%
^ "Third party candidate" with 3%
^ "Third party candidate" with 3%
^ "Third party candidate" with 3%
^ "Third party candidate" with 3%
^ "Third party candidate" with 3%
^ "Third party candidate" with 3%
^ "Another candidate" with 2%
^ "Third party candidate" with 4%
^ "Neither" with 3%; "Other with 2%
^ "Neither" with 1%
^ "Third party candidate" with 3%
^ Stempfle (L) with 2%; Schwartz (UTP) with 1%; Hutchinson (G) with 1%
^ Stempfle with 4%; Hutchinson Jr. with 3%; Schwartz with 1%
^ Stempfle (L) and "Other" with 2%
^ "Third party candidate" with 7%
^ About the Michigan Department of State (Michigan.gov)
^ "Michigan judge dismisses Trump campaign lawsuit over absentee ballots" . PBS NewsHour . November 5, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2022 .
^ 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 .
^ a b "2022 People Endorsements" . AFSCME Council 25 . June 8, 2022.
^ a b Sutton, Dana (January 25, 2022). "AFT Michigan Endorses Whitmer, Benson and Nessel in 2022 Midterms" . AFT Michigan . Retrieved May 8, 2022 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ Barrett, Malachi (May 13, 2021). "Republican who challenged Michigan election results now running for Secretary of State" . www.mlive.com . Retrieved January 6, 2022 .
^ "Chesterfield Township Clerk Cindy Berry joins race for Michigan secretary of state" . www.voicenews.com . October 25, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022 .
^ Mauger, Craig (October 4, 2021). "Michigan GOP lawmaker announces secretary of state campaign" . www.detroitnews.com . The Detroit News . Retrieved January 10, 2022 .
^ 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 .
^ Mathews, Jessica (September 17, 2021). "No SOS Run For State Representative Ann Bollin" . www.whmi.com . WHMI-FM . Retrieved January 11, 2022 .
^ King, Jon (September 24, 2021). "Reckling Considering Run For Michigan Secretary Of State" . www.whmi.com . WHMI-FM . Retrieved January 12, 2022 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ a b Parks, Miles (April 25, 2022). "Michigan GOP moves forward with 2020 election-denying secretary of state and AG" . Georgia Public Broadcasting .
^ "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 .
^ Solomon, Zack (November 7, 2022). "Elections Daily Secretary of State Ratings" . Elections Daily . Retrieved November 29, 2022 .
^ "Obama to stump in key races" . Politico . October 15, 2022.
^ Montellaro, Zach. "Kinzinger endorses Dems in major governor, secretary of state races" . POLITICO . Retrieved October 11, 2022 .
^ "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 .
^ "From the Daily: Endorsements for the 2022 Michigan midterms" . November 2022.
^ "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 .
^ Saccone, Mike (July 12, 2022). "National Wildlife Federation Action Fund Endorses Whitmer, Nessel, Benson for Re-Election" . National Wildlife Federation .
^ "Candidates - America First Secretary of State Coalition" . americafirstsos.com . November 26, 2018. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2022 .
^ Cygnal (R)
^ Mitchell Research
^ Cygnal (R)
^ EPIC-MRA
^ Cygnal (R)
^ Cygnal (R)
^ The Glengariff Group, Inc.
^ Cygnal (R)
^ Cygnal (R)
^ Cygnal (R)
^ Cygnal (R)
^ Mitchell Research
^ Cygnal (R)
^ CNN/SSRS
^ Cygnal (R)
^ EPIC-MRA
^ The Glengariff Group, Inc.
^ The Trafalgar Group (R)
^ EPIC-MRA
^ EPIC-MRA
^ EPIC-MRA
^ The Glengariff Group, Inc.
^ Target Insyght
^ EPIC-MRA
^ The Glengariff Group, Inc.
^ "2022 Michigan Election Results" . Michigan Election Results .
^ "DRA 2020" . Daves Redistricting . Retrieved November 6, 2024 .
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