2026 is gearing up to be a massive election year for Michigan’s entrepreneurs. Nationally, Michigan will again be at the center of the midterm conversation. A rare open U.S. Senate seat and several competitive congressional races could tip the balance of power in Washington. That alone would make 2026 a headline year, but closer to home, the stakes are even higher.
Because Lansing decides so many core business issues, every two years brings an important election for Michigan’s business climate. But the upcoming cycle is especially eventful. For the first time in eight years, Michigan voters will elect a new governor, attorney general, and secretary of state; all 110 house seats and 38 Senate seats will be on the ballot; and ballot initiatives could dramatically reshape Michigan’s business environment. Even Michigan’s Supreme Court justices will be defending their seats. From the top of the ticket to the bottom, 2026 will decide the policy environment for Michigan’s small businesses.
With so many races on the ballot, our small business community has the chance to be heard – loud and clear – in this all-important election cycle. SBAM is taking hold of this opportunity and will act to amplify entrepreneur voices, advocate for pro-small business candidates, and give members real opportunities to engage in the political process.
SBAM launched our Road to 2026 series with these ideas in mind. These events allow small business owners to personally connect with the next governor of our state. SBAM has coordinated with each of the major candidates running for the state’s top job – Democrat, Republican, and Independent, alike – to participate in roundtable events across Michigan.
These events go beyond a typical campaign stop and are meant to spark real dialogue between candidates and business owners. Each event is structured as a town hall, where small business owners can hear from the candidates asking for their votes, and the candidates can hear firsthand what Michigan’s entrepreneurs need for their businesses to thrive. There are already several candidates scheduled through January of 2026, with more to come. To learn about this series and to sign up for the next event, visit sbam.org/gubernatorial-candidate-series.
Face-to-face engagement is just one piece of the equation. SBAM will also engage in the 2026 election through our Political Action Committee, the Small Biz PAC. Our PAC is intentionally bipartisan and considers endorsement in all Michigan House and Senate races. Endorsement decisions are made by the PAC, which is comprised of a board of small business owners from across the political spectrum.
Each candidate who submits a questionnaire has the chance to share their stances on SBAM’s core issues, ranging from governing philosophy to the pressing issues of the day. The PAC Board weighs questionnaire responses alongside voting records, sponsored legislation, support for small business, and past collaboration with SBAM. Candidates who earn the Small Biz PAC endorsement carry the backing of Michigan’s small business community and promote it through their websites and social media.
Candidates are right to want the Small Biz PAC endorsement, too. In 2024, 97% of endorsed candidates won their elections, including 100% of endorsed incumbents. The PAC does the work to promote the pro-small business candidates running for office, ensuring that small business remains front of mind for policy-makers.
While for many, election season can feel like an endless stream of repetitive campaign ads and heaps of junk mail, we view it as a prime opportunity to make connections that matter. By engaging now, through events, through the PAC, and through your own voice, we can make sure that in 2026, small business isn’t in the background, it’s driving the conversation.
By Jacob Manning, Advocacy & Policy Manager, SBAM; originally published in SBAM’s November/December 2025 issue of FOCUS magazine
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