2022 Michigan Secretary of State election
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.
Michigan does not hold partisan primaries for statewide offices other than governor. Instead, the state parties hold conventions in August to nominate candidates for the general election. Party nomination conventions were held on April 9 for the Michigan Democratic Party and April 23 for the Republican Party.
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 Michigan Secretary of State of Michigan|Secretary of State election|1990]. It was also the first time since 1990 that a Democratic candidate won re-election.
Background
The position of Secretary of State of Michigan is responsible for overseeing elections in the state. 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.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.
Democratic convention
Candidates
Nominee
- Jocelyn Benson, incumbent secretary of state
Republican convention
Candidates
Nominee
- Kristina Karamo, activist and educator
Eliminated at convention
- Cindy Berry, Chesterfield Township clerk
- Beau LaFave, member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 108th district
- Cathleen Postmus, Plainfield Township clerk
Declined
- Ann Bollin, member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 42nd district
- Meghan Reckling, Livingston County Republican Party chair
General election
Polling
Graphical summary| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jocelyn Benson | Kristina Karamo | Other | Undecided |
| Cygnal | November 1–4, 2022 | 1,603 | ± 2.5% | 49% | 44% | 2% | 6% |
| Mitchell Research | November 3, 2022 | 658 | ± 3.8% | 51% | 40% | 2% | 7% |
| Cygnal | October 31 – November 2, 2022 | 1,754 | ± 2.3% | 49% | 42% | 3% | 6% |
| EPIC-MRA | October 28 – November 1, 2022 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 50% | 41% | 3% | 6% |
| Cygnal | October 27–31, 2022 | 1,584 | ± 2.5% | 50% | 40% | 3% | 7% |
| Cygnal | October 25–29, 2022 | 1,543 | ± 2.5% | 50% | 39% | 3% | 8% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc. | October 26–28, 2022 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 49% | 39% | 5% | 7% |
| Cygnal | October 23–27, 2022 | 1,822 | ± 2.3% | 49% | 41% | 3% | 8% |
| Cygnal | October 21–25, 2022 | 1,378 | ± 2.6% | 50% | 40% | 3% | 8% |
| Cygnal | October 19–23, 2022 | 1,459 | ± 2.6% | 48% | 41% | 3% | 8% |
| Cygnal | October 17–21, 2022 | 1,904 | ± 2.3% | 49% | 39% | 3% | 9% |
| Mitchell Research | October 19, 2022 | 541 | ± 4.2% | 49% | 40% | 2% | 9% |
| Cygnal | October 15–19, 2022 | 1,793 | ± 2.3% | 48% | 40% | 4% | 9% |
| CNN/SSRS | October 13–18, 2022 | 901 | ± 4.2% | 54% | 41% | 5% | 1% |
| CNN/SSRS | October 13–18, 2022 | 651 | ± 4.9% | 51% | 47% | 1% | – |
| Cygnal | October 12–14, 2022 | 640 | ± 3.9% | 48% | 42% | 3% | 7% |
| EPIC-MRA | October 6–12, 2022 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 47% | 37% | 4% | 12% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc. | September 26–29, 2022 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 47% | 29% | 8% | 14% |
| The Trafalgar Group | September 24–28, 2022 | 1,075 | ± 2.9% | 50% | 45% | 4% | 2% |
| EPIC-MRA | September 15–19, 2022 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 51% | 37% | – | 12% |
| EPIC-MRA | September 7–13, 2022 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 48% | 40% | 7% | 5% |
| EPIC-MRA | August 18–23, 2022 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 44% | 38% | – | 18% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc. | July 5–8, 2022 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 46% | 39% | – | 15% |
| Target Insyght | May 26–27, 2022 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 56% | 23% | – | 22% |
| EPIC-MRA | May 11–17, 2022 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 47% | 38% | – | 15% |
| The Glengariff Group, Inc. | January 3–7, 2022 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 46% | 32% | – | 22% |
Results
By congressional district
Benson won nine of 13 congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans.| District | Benson | Karamo | Representative |
| 44% | 53% | Jack Bergman | |
| 42% | 56% | John Moolenaar | |
| 57% | 41% | Peter Meijer | |
| 57% | 41% | Hillary Scholten | |
| 51% | 47% | Bill Huizenga | |
| 42% | 56% | Tim Walberg | |
| 68% | 30% | Debbie Dingell | |
| 55% | 42% | Elissa Slotkin | |
| 56% | 41% | Dan Kildee | |
| 43% | 54% | Lisa McClain | |
| 58% | 40% | John James | |
| 66% | 32% | Haley Stevens | |
| 76% | 22% | Rashida Tlaib | |
| 77% | 21% | Shri Thanedar |