Michigan GOP Nominates Candidates for Secretary of State and Attorney General in 2026 Election Cycle

Republican Party Formally Selects Candidates for Key State Offices

The Michigan Republican Party concluded its 2026 state convention with official nominations for Secretary of State and Attorney General, marking an early step in the upcoming election cycle.

Thousands of delegates gathered Saturday at the Suburban Collection Showplace exposition center to attend the MIGOP Endorsement Convention. The party formally nominated candidates for Secretary of State and Attorney General, while also selecting Republican nominees for the Michigan Supreme Court, the State Board of Education, and the governing boards of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University.

The Ballot for Secretary of State

The Secretary of State nomination saw a competitive race between three candidates:

• Anthony Forlini, Macomb County Clerk
• Amanda Love Education, trustee on the Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education
• Monica Yatooma, executive board member of the Oakland County Republican Party

The Attorney General Race

The Attorney General nomination featured two candidates:

• Doug Lloyd, Eaton County prosecutor
• Kevin Kijewski, attorney

State Senate Leader Calls for Unity

Before the endorsement votes, state Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, gave a speech calling for unity within the party ahead of the 2026 election cycle. He said members must take an active role in advancing conservative priorities.

"Our mission must be to restore accountability in the runway of our government, to advance our conservative concerns, to restore freedoms," Runestad said. "Show up to your county party meetings, volunteer for campaigns, knock on doors, make calls, send text messages, talk to your neighbors, share our message, push back on any impious information"

Delegate Perspectives

In an interview with The Michigan Daily, David Mcquera, a delegate from District 10, said he is looking for officials who prioritize integrity and accountability.

"For Secretary of State, ensuring election integrity and enhanced efficiency in the secretary of state offices is important," Mcquera said. "With respect to Attorney General, we want someone who can represent the state of Michigan in various legal issues that are important to people. There are issues concerning whether or not the state or Lansing should be setting the agenda for what used to be in the domain of local governments, and that can involve zoning issues, location of data centers and utility issues."

Party Leadership's Vision

Bernadette Smith, former Michigan Republican Party co-chair and U.S. Senate candidate, shared her thoughts on party unity and values.

"Most Americans, we all want the same thing whether we're white, Black, green, blue — we want the same things, right?" Smith said. "Faith, family and freedom. We want to be free, we want security, we just want to be treated right. So we need to bring that back. Many times we talk about 'Make America Great Again.' I am 100% behind making America great again, but we need to go back and see what made us great."

Gubernatorial Candidates Make Their Pitch

As delegate votes were tabulated, Republican gubernatorial candidates Perry Johnson, John James, and Ralph Rebandt each made their pitch to party members.

In an interview with The Daily, Johnson, businessman and potential gubernatorial candidate, said his campaign is centered on economic concerns, criticizing what he described as unchecked government spending.

"We have to eliminate the excessive spending of government," Johnson said. "It's killing us right now, because as a result, they're spending other people's money, and it's very easy to spend somebody else's money. We need to cut that out, because we need to eliminate the state income tax in Michigan if we want to ignite this state."

Complete List of Nominations

The GOP nominated the following candidates for various positions:

Michigan Supreme Court Justices:

• Michael Warren
• Casandra Morse-Bills

State Board of Education:

• Bree Moeggenberg
• Terence Collins

Michigan State University Board of Trustees:

• Julie Maday
• Roger Victory

University of Michigan Board of Regents:

• Lena Epstein
• Michael Schostak

Wayne State University Board of Governors:

• Christa Murphy
• Andy Anuzis

What This Means for West Michigan Voters

The 2026 election cycle will bring important decisions to Michigan voters, including who will serve as Secretary of State and Attorney General. These positions have significant impact on everyday Michiganders:

• Secretary of State oversees elections, licenses, and business registrations
• Attorney General represents the state in legal matters and provides legal opinions on state policies

West Michigan residents in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Allegan, and Kalamazoo counties will have a say in who fills these important offices during the upcoming primary and general elections.

The convention also nominated candidates for state university governing boards, which could impact funding and policy decisions affecting Michigan's higher education system and the students who rely on it.

Election Timeline Ahead

This convention marks an early step in the 2026 election cycle. Michigan's next major election will be the 2026 primary election, followed by the general election later that year.

Voters across West Michigan and throughout the state will have the opportunity to select their preferred candidates for these key offices, which will shape Michigan's government and policies for years to come.