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United States Senate election in Michigan, 2026 (August 4 Republican primary)

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U.S. Senate, Michigan
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: April 21, 2026
Primary: August 4, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in Michigan

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Toss-up
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
U.S. Senate, Michigan
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th
Michigan elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

A Republican Party primary takes place on August 4, 2026, in Michigan to determine which Republican candidate will run in the state's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
April 21, 2026
August 4, 2026
November 3, 2026


Heading into the election, the incumbent is Gary Peters (Democrat), who was first elected in 2014.

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Michigan utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary. All candidates appear on the same ballot and a voter may only vote for candidates of one party at any primary.[1][2]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Thirty-three of the 100 U.S. Senate seats are up for election, and another two seats are up for special election. Democrats hold 13 of the seats up for election, and Republicans hold 22. As of January 2026, nine members of the U.S. Senate announced they are not running for re-election. To read more about the U.S. Senate elections taking place this year, click here.

This is one of nine open U.S. Senate races this year in which an incumbent is not running for re-election. Across the country, four Democrats and five Republicans are not running for re-election — more than any year since 2012. In 2024, eight incumbents — four Democrats, two Republicans, and two independents — did not seek re-election.

This page focuses on Michigan's United States Senate Republican primary. For more in-depth information on the state's Democratic primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

  • Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
  • Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Michigan

The following candidates are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Michigan on August 4, 2026.

Candidate
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Kent Benham
Image of Frederick Heurtebise
Frederick Heurtebise
Image of Andrew Kamal
Andrew Kamal  Candidate Connection
Image of Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers
Image of Genevieve Peters Scott
Genevieve Peters Scott
Image of Bernadette Smith
Bernadette Smith  Candidate Connection

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Andrew Kamal

Image of Andrew Kamal

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "My name is Andrew Kamal, and I previously ran for a District Seat as an independent candidate in 2021. Currently, I am campaigning as a Republican for a seat in the United States Senate representing Michigan. By nature, I am an entrepreneur, and I am also a researcher and engineer by profession. I have accumulated a diverse range of experiences in managing startups, and I aim to leverage these experiences to transform Michigan into a more efficient and self-sustaining state. Additionally, I am committed to running as an unequivocally staunch Pro-Life candidate and advocate for the abolition of the Income Tax in Michigan."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Christian principles are rooted in Western values. It is essential to return to family values and ensure that churches are afforded their First Amendment rights to support, fund, and express their beliefs.

It is essential to protect intellectual property rights within the United States and ensure that foreign entities do not exploit our existing systems to their advantage. Furthermore, we must eliminate foreign and special interests that conflict with our sovereignty, including those related to Israeli intelligence, while ensuring that the average citizen experiences transparency in government.

The State of Michigan ought to establish itself as a tax haven and eliminate income tax. This initiative would facilitate unprecedented economic growth and propel us towards becoming a self-sustaining and efficient State.

Bernadette Smith

Image of Bernadette Smith

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Accountability: I am running for U.S. Senate to restore accountability and integrity in government. Michigan families deserve principled leadership. I will work to ensure every federal agency, every budget, and every program serves the people. We must demand transparency in our spending, strengthen election integrity, and enforce real oversight in every federal agency. I will continue to prioritize all of humanity so we can rebuild trust and deliver results that strengthen families, communities and our future. My promise is simple: honest leadership, responsible stewardship, and a government that accountable to the people they serve.

Balance: I will restore balance by bringing government back under the Constitution, making sure every tax dollar is spent responsibly, and protecting the freedoms that keep our families safe and strong. I will work to reduce the burdens placed on families and business owners and ensure Michigan’s values are represented in Washington. When we restore balance, we will rebuild trust, strengthen our economy, and create opportunities for every family. Michigan deserves a voice of reason in Washington. A voice that will support policies that protect parental rights and help small businesses thrive. Together we can bring common sense back to Washington.

Constitution: The Constitution is the final safeguard of our freedom, and it must be upheld with conviction. I will stand against federal overreach, defend free speech and religious liberty, uphold the right to life and protect every law-abiding citizen’s right to defend their family. Our nation is strongest when we honor the principles set in motion by our founding fathers. I will champion policies rooted in constitutional authority, restore accountability to government, and restore balance to the federal government’s proper role.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Michigan

Election information in Michigan: Aug. 4, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: Aug. 4, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by July 20, 2026
  • Online: July 20, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: Aug. 3, 2026
  • By mail: Received by July 31, 2026
  • Online: July 31, 2026

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: Aug. 11, 2026
  • By mail: Received by Aug. 11, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

July 25, 2026 to Aug. 2, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (ET/CT)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Kent Benham Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Frederick Heurtebise Republican Party $10,059 $10,059 $0 As of May 3, 2025
Andrew Kamal Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Mike Rogers Republican Party $5,382,858 $2,183,555 $3,454,035 As of December 31, 2025
Genevieve Peters Scott Republican Party $58,146 $52,339 $5,807 As of December 31, 2025
Bernadette Smith Republican Party $14,797 $6,385 $8,412 As of December 31, 2025

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Michigan in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Michigan, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Michigan U.S. Senate Democrat or Republican 15,000-30,000 N/A 4/21/2026 Source
Michigan U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 12,000-60,000 N/A 7/16/2026 Source

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Michigan Legislature, "MCL - Section 168.531," accessed December 9, 2025
  2. ↑ Michigan Legislature, "MCL - Section 168.576," accessed December 9, 2025


Michigan's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Gary Peters (D)
Elissa Slotkin (D)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
Democratic Party (8)
Republican Party (7)


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