Running for Office? The 5 Things You Need to Know From the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Latest Poll

November’s election already feels like a lifetime ago, as political attention in Michigan has shifted quickly to the next major election cycle.

And what an election that will be. There’s an open U.S. Senate seat, and races for Governor and Detroit Mayor, Attorney General and Secretary of State … without an incumbent running. Not to mention that Michiganders will be asked if they want to hold a new constitutional convention to rewrite Michigan’s longest-serving governing document.

With a flood of hats being tossed into Michigan’s political rings, here is what candidates need to know from the Detroit Regional Chamber’s latest statewide poll from The Glengariff Group, Inc.

Prolonged voter dissatisfaction with U.S. democracy is down some but remains high at 56.8%. That frustration is reflected in the majority of Michigan voters who believe that neither the Democratic nor the Republican party is producing the type of candidates to deliver results.

This continued frustration with democracy and the perceived inadequacy of the major party candidates are carrying over from the Chamber’s pre-election polling, including one where only 67% of Michigan voters agreed democracy is the best form of government, and 17% of respondents said it doesn’t matter if our government is a democracy.

Michigan’s weary electorate staggered through the pandemic into two divisive, bare knuckles presidential elections, the second of which the Great Lakes State was the center of the U.S. political universe. The output of that is voters seem to have acute campaign fatigue and crave results so badly, they aren’t necessarily worried about the type of government system that will deliver it.

Given the frustration, it makes sense that nearly two-thirds of the state’s voters are at least somewhat open to an independent candidate.  That is in line with national data from Gallup that says that the share of voters that identify as Independent has been growing over the past 20 years, from 31% to 43%.  Exceeding the 28% share for each Democratic and Republican party.

The message is simple: Speak to voters about how you’re going to improve their lives. Nothing else matters as much.

And if you’re independent candidate – people will give you a chance to win them over, more so than in the past. It could be time for more independent candidates to shirk the existing parties and step forward.

Once you move beyond the frustration with democracy and “establishment” major party candidates – there’s an important reality: Much of the electorate is still committed to their R or D party corners.

Yes, nearly two-thirds of voters polled said they would be at least somewhat open to an independent candidate in Michigan’s upcoming governor’s race, and that reflects voters’ readiness for new approaches. And this poll is still packed with sentiments that are shared along traditional party lines.

In fact, many of the post-election numbers in this poll simply flip-flopped between parties. Democrats now believe inflation and a recession is more likely, a mere months after Republicans were more loudly singing those same economic blues. Republicans are now more satisfied with democracy after stunningly low numbers in a previous poll.

So, before you turn in your party card and declare yourself an Independent, understand that while people are open to the “concept” of an Independent candidate for Michigan governor, they aren’t necessarily going to spurn their preferred party and flock to just any Independent candidate.

Anyone running with an (I) behind their name will have to overcome the reality that voters take comfort in what they know – and unless you’re the type of unicorn candidate that can break through in a transcendent way … it may be wise to keep the (R) and the (D) behind your name, while finding two or three newsy items to publicly buck the party line.

There’s clearly an upside in letting voters know you’re independent, even if you’re not an Independent (I) candidate.

Fears over inflation are on the rise again and have nearly doubled since September, climbing from 15.6% to 29.2%. Voters don’t seem to care that inflation is a global phenomenon or that the U.S. has actually fared well compared to peer countries over the past few years.

What voters care about is prices, prices, prices. One day it is gas, the next day it is eggs. Voters are fed up.

The cost of just about everything has increased and their money seems to be worth less every day. If your campaign’s main message isn’t built around how to ease costs and make voters’ money go further, or how to help them score good-paying jobs — than you aren’t going to get the traction needed to win a general election.

While much of the early inflation angst revolved around food prices, there’s a notable shift in January 2025. As pollster Richard Czuba puts it:

“Voters are increasingly concerned with big-ticket spending items associated with interest rates. Mortgage and rent, credit card bills, and car payments are increasingly weighing on voters’ minds. Inflation concerns have doubled since our fall survey, and 41% of voters say they have been impacted by interest rates. These are items on which voters will continue to make their political assessments.”

The Chamber poll repeatedly bears this out. More than 26% of voters said they are an immediate family member have been impacted by lack of available or affordable housing.

Similarly, when asked an open-ended question, over 40% of voters said they have been impacted in the past year by rising interest rates. Of those impacted voters, interest on credits cards (20.9%), high mortgage rates or housing costs (17.2%), auto loans or payment increase (13.5%) were the top reasons cited. Additionally, 9.4% said they cannot afford a house and 9% pointed to increased interest on their loans.

But it’s the final 8.2% of voters impacted by interest rates who so eloquently summarized the mood of the electorate: (WE’RE) PAYING MORE FOR EVERYTHING!!!

Leave Canada alone! I don’t want to pay higher prices!

That’s another overwhelming takeaway from this polling.

Sixty-eight percent of Michiganders view Canada as our economic friend and understand that tariffs on Canadian goods will increase prices … and get this, those sentiments stretch across all voting demographics from Strong Democrats to Strong Republicans and everyone in between. A less decisive, yet substantial majority of voters (51.7%) believe that 25% tariffs on Canada will hurt Michigan’s economy. Only Lions Coach Dan Campbell can engender that kind of bipartisan unanimity in Michigan.

With concern about prices and the cost of things firmly entrenched as the top voter concern – candidates for office in Michigan would be wise to steer clear of tariffs, and embrace Canada for the lucrative trade partners they are.

Afterall, Canada is Michigan’s number one export market ($28B in goods in 2023), and sharing the busiest northern border in North America has worked out pretty well for Michigan’s economy.