Michigan Republicans gathered in Lansing Saturday for a state party convention that effectively launched the 2026 race to succeed term-limited Governor Gretchen Whitmer, with several prominent figures announcing campaigns or exploratory committees and party leaders outlining a strategy focused on economic recovery, public safety, and what they described as an overreach by the current administration in energy and education policy.

The most anticipated announcement came from former U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop of Rochester Hills, who told the convention he would seek the Republican nomination, framing his candidacy around business-friendly economic policy, school choice expansion, and a rollback of the state’s clean energy mandate, which requires Michigan utilities to produce 60 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2035.

Bishop, who served in Congress from 2015 to 2019 and previously served as Michigan Senate Majority Leader, positioned himself as the establishment-aligned candidate capable of winning both the Republican primary and the general election in what polling suggests will be a highly competitive gubernatorial contest. He was introduced at the convention by former Governor John Engler, a signal of support from the party’s business-aligned wing.

State Sen. Jim Runestad of White Lake Township, who has been a vocal critic of the Whitmer administration’s COVID-era policies and energy regulations, also announced his candidacy Saturday, appealing to the party’s more conservative grassroots base. Runestad told delegates he would prioritize reducing Michigan’s energy costs, which he said had become the highest in the Midwest under Democratic governance.

On the Democratic side, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist confirmed in an interview Saturday that he was “seriously considering” a gubernatorial run and expected to make a formal decision by April. Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson have also been mentioned as potential candidates, though neither has announced.

With November 2026 still nine months away, political analysts cautioned that the field on both sides remained fluid and that national political dynamics — including the outcome of the federal budget negotiations and public sentiment around the economy — would heavily influence Michigan’s gubernatorial race.

Whitmer, who cannot seek a third term under Michigan’s constitution, has not endorsed any candidate but is expected to remain an active voice in the Democratic primary process.