Democratic voters showed up strongly in Michigan’s gubernatorial primaries Tuesday, extending a trend that’s been showing up in other primaries around the country.
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The stronger turnout could help the Democratic Party as it looks to regain political power in November.
About 1.5 million voters cast ballots in the Democratic primary for governor compared with about 930,000 in the Republican primary, as of midday Wednesday. The race was the only one in the state where both parties held contested primaries.
So far in 2026, turnout has been rising in Democratic primaries even when they are not hotly contested, a Washington Post analysis found, a sign that voters are unusually motivated ahead of November.
Democrats have cast this as evidence that the party is on track for big midterm election wins. Analysts caution that primary trends are not directly indicative of general elections. Also, factors such as where a primary race takes place and when it’s held can play a role in voter turnout.
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Still, Michigan’s strong Democratic turnout is not to be dismissed, said Richard Czuba, a longtime pollster of the state. The enthusiasm gap is an early indicator that Republicans could have a turnout challenge on their hands, he said, as Democrats are fueled by frustration with President Donald Trump.
“This isn’t a tsunami coming on shore,” Czuba quipped. “This is a volcano that’s exploded off the coast, and a 60-foot-wave is coming on shore.”
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