LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan voters will choose party nominees for governor in the August primary, but candidates for several other high-profile offices follow a different path to the ballot.
For positions like secretary of state and attorney general, along with seats on the State Board of Education, university governing boards, and even the Michigan Supreme Court, political parties rely on a convention system driven by delegates instead of a traditional primary election.
Both major parties hold spring conventions to endorse preferred candidates months ahead of the general election. Republicans recently selected Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini for secretary of state and Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd for attorney general during their convention in Novi. Democrats are expected to make their endorsements at an upcoming convention in Detroit.
Those spring endorsements are not the final step.
“The Constitution recognizes the August convention as the nominating convention,” said Corwin Smidt, interim director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University.
The official nominees are ultimately selected by party delegates through a process tied to the August primary. Those delegates are often grassroots activists who can run for the role at the local level, and in many cases, the barrier to entry is low.
Smidt said a large share of precinct delegate positions across the state typically go unfilled, meaning many voters could take part in the process if they choose.
“There’s often vacant slots. Anyone can self-nominate themselves to be a precinct delegate,” Smidt said.
Delegates chosen in August go on to participate in county and state conventions, where they formally determine which candidates will appear on the November ballot under each party’s banner.
The spring conventions serve a different purpose. They help parties organize early, unify behind candidates, and direct fundraising and campaign resources months before the general election.
“These nominating conventions are a relatively recent attempt by both parties to give their party a head start,” Smidt said.
The system can also be less expensive than running a statewide primary campaign, though candidates still campaign, often focusing their efforts on winning over delegates rather than a broad electorate.
At the same time, the process can be difficult for voters to follow, particularly because many of the decisions happen outside of a traditional election.
“It is something that can seem confusing,” Smidt said. “In many cases, people should just maybe participate before asking it to change.”
While the path to the ballot differs, voters still make the final decision in November, when party nominees compete in the general election for each office.
