(The Center Square) – The race for Michigan’s next secretary of state is already a crowded one on both sides of the aisle.
On the Democrat side, Ingham County Clerk Barbara Byrum seems to have the backing of the party establishment. In June, she announced she had received the endorsement of three former Michigan Democratic Party Chairs.
Byrum is joined in the race, which will be at the midterm elections in 2026, by Democrat Aghogho Edevbie, the current deputy secretary of state. Adam Hollier, a former state representative, rounds out the Democrats on the ticket.
Currently, the seat is held by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is term-limited. In Michigan, the secretary of state oversees several key functions, including the administration of elections, the issuance of driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations, and consumer protection.
On the Republican side, Timothy Smith, Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini, Oakland County precinct delegate Monica Yatooma, and Clarkston Community School District board trustee Amanda Love are all running to represent the Republican Party on the ticket.
Candidates for the secretary of state race will be nominated at respective Democrat and Republican party conventions, which will be held spring 2026. That makes endorsements particularly important as candidates look to garner support from party delegates.
Byrum, who was formerly a state representative from 2006-2012, is running on a platform of protecting voting rights and fighting government inefficiency and corruption. Her campaign has also labeled her a “pioneer” for LGBTQ+ rights, “from officiating the first gay marriage in our state to making marriage licenses and other government forms and processes accessible to trans Michiganders.”
The Center Square spoke with Forlini in an exclusive interview about his campaign. Forlini said he is ready to use his experience as a former state representative and current county clerk in Michigan’s third-largest county to restore trust in Michigan’s electoral system.
“I felt like it was important that a clerk . . . step up and step into that role,” Forlini said. “I think it’s critically important that the secretary of state’s office become more transparent with how we operate . . . the key element for election integrity is transparency, while at the same time maintaining the confidentiality of each person’s ballot.”
Forlini said he also wants to streamline systems throughout the secretary of state’s operations in the state.
In the 2026 election, Michigan will be voting on its top three executive positions: governor, lieutenant governor, and secretary of state. Currently, all three of those are held by Democrats.
In 2022, Benson won the secretary of state election with 55.9% of the vote. A Republican last won the seat in 2014.
