Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson kicked off his campaign for governor with fanfare at an event in Flint with his supporters.

Michigan is a battleground state and the sheriff faces stiff competition in what is likely to be one of the most competitive gubernatorial races in 2026.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announced Thursday that he is running for governor, seeking the Democratic nomination in a field that already includes Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson has entered the Michigan governor race. The popular law enforcement official announced his plans to run during a Thursday, Feb. 6, news conference at Mott Community College in Flint.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson confirmed Thursday what he had been hinting at since last year: He is running to be the Democratic nominee for governor in 2026. “I’ve been wanting to say something for a long time,

Genesee County Chris Swanson has told The Associated Press he's launching a Democratic bid to be Michigan's next governor

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is the second Democrat to step into the race, following Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

Swanson is campaigning for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2026 against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. They are hoping to succeed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who cannot run again due to term limits. State Sen. Aric Nesbitt is running for the Republican nomination while Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an independent.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is expected to formally announce his candidacy for governor Thursday at around 5:30 p.m., which you can watch live on this page. A potential bid for governor has been in Swanson’s orbit for at least four years.