Secretary of state race takes shape ahead of party conventions

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(The Center Square) – As the midterm election season enters full swing, nearly a dozen major candidates are running to become Michigan’s next secretary of state.

Up until Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced he would be joining the race, Ingham County Clerk Barbara Byrum seemed to have the backing of the Democrat party establishment.

Gilchrist made the switch from running for governor to secretary of state in January – after struggling to take the lead in the race for governor.

“I’m a public servant, an entrepreneur, a dad, a husband, and an engineer who spent a lot of my life making the government actually work for people," he said. "I’m not done with that, not by a long shot."

Other Democrats in the race include former state Sen. Adam Hollier and lawyer Suzanna Shkreli, who gave TCS an exclusive interview about her campaign. As secretary of state, she said she would focus on modernizing Michigan’s elections and prioritizing service and trust.

“I’m running because Michigan deserves a secretary of state who puts people first – not politics. Too many residents have experienced long lines, confusing systems, and obstacles that make it harder to get basic services or participate in democracy,” Shkreli said. “We need leadership that will protect voting rights, strengthen trust, and ensure our elections are secure and accessible for everyone.”

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.

TCS also spoke with Forlini regarding his campaign. He explained that, as secretary of state, he would prioritize transparency, accountability, and service.

“My business experience, local township experience, legislative experience, and now serving as Macomb County Clerk allows me to understand how systems work, and where procedures, protocols and standards need to be adjusted,” he said. “I care deeply for people and I love Michigan. I want to see our state thrive again.”

Last weekend, the GOP held a sold-out secretary of state debate in the Detroit suburbs. Love and Yatooma appeared in the debate, but Forlini was absent due to scheduling conflicts. In a straw poll following the debate, Love received 54% of the vote and Yatooma 46%.

Candidates for the secretary of state race will be nominated at respective Democrat and Republican party conventions. The Michigan Democratic Party convention is currently scheduled for April 19, while the Michigan Republican Party’s is scheduled for March 28.

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.

In 272 days, Michigan will vote on its top three executive positions: governor, lieutenant governor, and secretary of state. Currently, all three of those are held by Democrats.

Current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson won the secretary of state election in 2022 with 55.9% of the vote. A Republican last won the seat in 2014.

TCS reached out to all the secretary of state candidates for comment. Most did not respond by the time of this article’s publication.