Perry Johnson
Perry Johnson (Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Michigan. He lost in the Republican primary on August 4, 2026.
Biography
Perry Johnson earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics with a minor in economics from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. His career experience includes being a business owner.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 4 Democratic primary)
Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 4 Republican primary)
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Governor of Michigan
The following candidates are running in the general election for Governor of Michigan on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Jocelyn Benson (D)  | |
 | John James (R) | |
 | Douglas Campbell (G) | |
 | Anthony Hudson (L) | |
 | Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | |
 | Evan Space (Independent) (Write-in) | |
| ||||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Mike Duggan (Independent)
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan
Jocelyn Benson (D) defeated Chris Swanson (D) in the Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan on August 4, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jocelyn Benson | 83.3 | 946,474 |
 | Chris Swanson | 16.7 | 189,676 | |
| Total votes: 1,136,150 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Garlin Gilchrist II (D)
- Kevin Hogan (D)
- Marni Sawicki (D)
- Kim Thomas (D)
Republican primary
Republican primary for Governor of Michigan
John James (R) defeated Perry Johnson (R), Mike Cox (R) (Withdrew, still on ballot), and Aric Nesbitt (R) (Withdrew, still on ballot) in the Republican primary for Governor of Michigan on August 4, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John James | 49.9 | 389,696 |
 | Perry Johnson | 35.1 | 273,731 | |
 | Mike Cox (Withdrew, still on ballot) | 13.3 | 103,583 | |
 | Aric Nesbitt (Withdrew, still on ballot) | 1.7 | 13,555 | |
| Total votes: 780,565 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joyce Gipson (R)
- Tom Leonard (R)
- Ralph Rebandt (R)
- Evan Space (R)
- Karla Wagner (R)
Green Party convention
Green convention for Governor of Michigan
Douglas Campbell (G) advanced from the Green Party convention for Governor of Michigan on July 18, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Douglas Campbell |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian Party convention
Libertarian convention for Governor of Michigan
Anthony Hudson (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party convention for Governor of Michigan on June 28, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Anthony Hudson |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention
U.S. Taxpayers convention for Governor of Michigan
Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers Party) advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Governor of Michigan on July 18, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Donna Brandenburg |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Perry Johnson received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
2024
Johnson announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential primary on March 2, 2023.[2] Johnson suspended his campaign on October 20, 2023.[3] Click the links below to read more about the 2024 presidential election:
- Perry Johnson presidential campaign, 2024
- Presidential candidates, 2024
- Democratic presidential nomination, 2024
- Republican presidential nomination, 2024
2022
See also: Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of Michigan
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Michigan on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Gretchen Whitmer (D) | 54.5 | 2,430,505 |
 | Tudor Dixon (R) | 43.9 | 1,960,635 | |
 | Mary Buzuma (L) | 0.9 | 38,800 | |
| Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 0.4 | 16,246 | |
 | Kevin Hogan (G) | 0.2 | 10,766 | |
 | Daryl Simpson (Natural Law Party) | 0.1 | 4,973 | |
| Evan Space (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 26 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 21 | ||
| Total votes: 4,461,972 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan
Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gretchen Whitmer | 100.0 | 938,382 |
| Total votes: 938,382 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Articia Bomer (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Michigan
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Michigan on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tudor Dixon | 39.7 | 436,350 |
 | Kevin Rinke | 21.5 | 236,306 | |
 | Garrett Soldano | 17.5 | 192,442 | |
 | Ryan Kelley | 15.1 | 165,587 | |
 | Ralph Rebandt | 4.1 | 45,046 | |
 | James Craig (Write-in) | 2.1 | 23,521 | |
 | Elizabeth Adkisson (Write-in) | 0.0 | 11 | |
| Justin Blackburn (Write-in) | 0.0 | 10 | ||
| Total votes: 1,099,273 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Perry Johnson (R)
- Michael Markey Jr. (R)
- Bob Scott (R)
- Austin Chenge (R)
- Michael Brown (R)
- Donna Brandenburg (R)
Green convention
Green convention for Governor of Michigan
Kevin Hogan advanced from the Green convention for Governor of Michigan on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Hogan (G) |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Governor of Michigan
Mary Buzuma advanced from the Libertarian convention for Governor of Michigan on July 10, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Mary Buzuma (L) |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Governor of Michigan
Donna Brandenburg advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Governor of Michigan on July 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers Party) |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Perry Johnson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Johnson's campaign website stated the following:
Perry's Plan for Michigan
Perry Johnson’s Plan to Rebuild Michigan
I’m not a career politician. I’m a businessman who’s spent decades building companies, creating jobs, and navigating the same economy Michigan families live in every day. I’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and how bad decisions in Lansing make life harder than it needs to be. Michigan can do better – and as Governor, I’ll make sure it does.
Eliminate the Michigan Income Tax
As a lifelong entrepreneur and nationally recognized expert on quality and operational efficiency, Perry Johnson believes Michigan families, not Lansing bureaucrats, know best how to spend their hard-earned money. His plan to eliminate the Michigan income tax will return an estimated $4,747 per year to the average family of four, empowering families to invest in their homes, education, businesses, and retirement.
Reform Michigan Property Taxes
Michigan seniors and working families are being squeezed by rising property tax bills that grow faster than income, punish home improvements, and threaten seniors living on fixed retirement incomes. While inflation has driven home values up dramatically, government has been slow to respond.
Perry Johnson is proposing a bold, comprehensive Michigan Property Tax Reform Plan that incorporates leading reform ideas advanced in the Michigan Legislature – including proposals from Speaker Matt Hall – while going further to protect seniors.
The MEGA Audit – Michigan Efficiency Government Audit
Business leader and quality expert Perry Johnson is proposing the most aggressive government reform initiative in Michigan history: the MEGA Audit – Michigan Efficiency Government Audit.
The MEGA Audit will conduct a full, department-by-department review of Michigan state government to identify waste, eliminate inefficiency, and refund the money to the taxpayers.
Johnson has spent his career helping more than 60,000 companies worldwide improve efficiency and reduce waste through internationally recognized quality standards. As Governor, he will apply the same proven principles to state government.
Making Energy Affordable Again
Perry Johnson’s plan to make energy affordable again will:
Cap runaway utility rates
Reform a broken regulatory system
End corporate subsidies that hurt families
Eliminate waste and inefficiency
Increase competition and choice
Michigan families deserve lower bills, reliable service, and a government that works for them – not special interests.
Perry’s Education Plan
Michigan’s schools should be preparing every student for success by focusing on academic excellence, parental involvement, and practical opportunities after graduation. Too many students are leaving school without strong reading, writing, and math skills despite record levels of education spending. A Perry Johnson administration will focus on results, restore accountability, and ensure that education dollars are reaching students and classrooms.
— Perry Johnson's campaign website (July 6, 2026)
2022
Perry Johnson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Governor of Michigan |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Perry Johnson Foundation, "About Perry Johnson," accessed July 6, 2026
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedpjannounce - ↑ Twitter, "Johnson on October 20, 2023," accessed October 20, 2023
