Issues & Ale: 2026 Election Preview
7 p.m. Thursday, October 15, 2026
Lansing Brewing Company
A free Michigan Public event - watch in person or online
Register here.
With the August primary behind us, we now have a clearer view of what the upcoming 2026 midterm election will look like here in Michigan.
Jocelyn Benson (D) and John James (R) emerged as their respective party’s gubernatorial candidates, and the two are set for an intense battle for Michigan Governor. And after a fiercely competitive primary, Abdul El-Sayed (D) advanced as the Democratic candidate for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat; he will face former U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R) in a race with national implications.
The groundwork is set for the November election, and multiple highly competitive races across top state offices lie ahead. Join Stateside’s April Baer and a panel of guests to preview this heated election. She'll be joined by Michigan Public's Dustin Dwyer (West Michigan Reporter, Host of The Mids), MPRN's Colin Jackson (Capitol Reporter), Emily Lawler (current Forum & Policy Editor for Crains Detroit, former Politics Editor for the Detroit Free Press), and Jaden Jefferson (Freelance Political Journalist, Former Stateside intern). Together, they’ll dive into the key races, campaign promises, and stakes of this midterm cycle.
This event is part of the popular series, Issues & Ale, from Michigan Public, the state’s largest public radio network. Issues and Ale is an event series from Michigan Public designed to engage people in conversations about important issues facing Michigan in an informal atmosphere. Your questions are always welcome.
