Ex-Whitmer Cabinet member to run for Michigan secretary of state
Adam Hollier,a former Michigan state senator and ex-member of Governor Gretchen whitmer’s cabinet,has ended his campaign for Congress and announced his run for Michigan secretary of state. Hollier previously served as director of the Michigan Veterans affairs Agency but resigned in october 2023 to pursue a congressional seat. His campaign platform for secretary of state focuses on election security, voting rights, and fair legislative district mapping, emphasizing the need to counteract efforts by Donald Trump and MAGA allies that he says threaten democratic freedoms.
Hollier is a U.S. Army Reserve team chief and paratrooper. He joins two other Democrats-Aghogho Edevbie and Barb Byrum-in the 2026 secretary of state race. michigan’s secretary of state election will coincide with the 2026 gubernatorial and lieutenant governor races. The current secretary of state, Jocelyn Benson, is running for governor, as Whitmer is term-limited. Prior to this switch, Hollier had sought Michigan’s 13th Congressional District seat multiple times but was unsuccessful, including being disqualified in 2024 for insufficient valid signatures. The congressional race now features five declared candidates,including the incumbent.
Ex-Whitmer Cabinet member ends House bid to run for Michigan secretary of state
Former Democratic Michigan state Sen. Adam Hollier is terminating his run for Congress to begin a campaign for Michigan secretary of state, he announced Wednesday.
Hollier briefly served in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D-MI) second-term Cabinet as the director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. He resigned as director in October 2023 to run for Congress to represent Michigan’s 13th Congressional District. Hollier announced his campaign switch-up Wednesday morning.
“Our rights and freedoms are threatened like never before by Donald Trump. As a paratrooper, I’m trained to go where the fight is — and that’s why I’m excited to announce today that I’m running for Secretary of State! I’ll lead the fight to protect our Democracy — and we’ll win,” Hollier wrote in his announcement on X.
Hollier’s campaign platform is focused on issues such as election and voting security and fair legislative mapping.
“Donald Trump and his MAGA allies have put everything — from the right to vote to fair maps — on the chopping block, working to intimidate and disenfranchise voters across our state as they consolidate their hold on power,” Hollier’s campaign website reads. “We need a Secretary of State who will lead the fight against these attacks on our fundamental freedoms, and will never back down in the face of these undemocratic and unconstitutional attacks.”
Hollier, a team chief and paratrooper in the U.S. Army Reserve, joins two other declared democratic candidates in the 2026 secretary of state race. Aghogho Edevbie, the current deputy secretary of state, and Barb Byrum, the Ingham County clerk, are also running to secure the Democratic nomination.
Michigan will also hold an election for its governor and lieutenant governor in 2026. After the primary election is held for these two positions, each party chooses its nominees for secretary of state and attorney general.
The current Michigan secretary of state, Jocelyn Benson, is one of four declared Democratic candidates in the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial race. Whitmer is term-limited and cannot run for reelection.
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Before switching course to run for secretary of state, this was Hollier’s third time filing to run for Michigan’s 13th District seat. He came in second place in the 2022 Democratic primary, losing by 4.8% of the vote to his opponent, Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI), who ultimately won the seat. In the 2024 race, Hollier was disqualified for not having enough valid signatures.
There are now five declared candidates in the general election for the congressional seat that covers Detroit, including incumbent Thanedar.
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