State

Governor of Wayne State University

Vote for: 2
Term: 8 years
Candidates: 10
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The eight members of the Board of Governors govern Wayne State University: they set tuition and the budget, and hire the university's president.

Open seats: incumbent governors Bryan Barnhill and Anil Kumar are not on the ballot.

Candidates Compare by issue

Taxes & budget

Shereef AkeelDemocratic
No documented position found.
Richard MackDemocratic
No documented position found.
Andy AnuzisRepublican
- Proposes reviewing ancillary programs to hold down tuition
Christa MurphyRepublican
- Proposes program reviews and ending low-value offerings
Alex AveryLibertarian
No documented position found.
Jami Van AlstineLibertarian
No documented position found.
Jeff McDonaldU.S. Taxpayers
No documented position found.
Paul M. RaganGreen
No documented position found.
Suzanne RoehrigWorking Class
No documented position found.
Kathleen OakfordNatural Law
No documented position found.

Education

Shereef AkeelDemocratic
- Supports more state funding to keep tuition affordable
- Proposes raising WSU's four-year graduation rate
- Supports protecting WSU's international students
Richard MackDemocratic
- Pledges to make WSU more affordable and safe
- Supports expanding WSU's reach in Detroit and statewide
Andy AnuzisRepublican
- Proposes studying a Wayne State Civil Society Institute
- Supports funding humanities alongside professional programs
Christa MurphyRepublican
- Supports co-op, internship and degree-completion programs
Alex AveryLibertarian
No documented position found.
Jami Van AlstineLibertarian
No documented position found.
Jeff McDonaldU.S. Taxpayers
No documented position found.
Paul M. RaganGreen
No documented position found.
Suzanne RoehrigWorking Class
No documented position found.
Kathleen OakfordNatural Law
No documented position found.

Economy & jobs

Shereef AkeelDemocratic
- Supports collective bargaining and more union jobs at WSU
Richard MackDemocratic
- Supports fair pay for WSU faculty and staff
Andy AnuzisRepublican
No documented position found.
Christa MurphyRepublican
- Supports deeper WSU partnerships with Detroit businesses
Alex AveryLibertarian
No documented position found.
Jami Van AlstineLibertarian
No documented position found.
Jeff McDonaldU.S. Taxpayers
No documented position found.
Paul M. RaganGreen
No documented position found.
Suzanne RoehrigWorking Class
No documented position found.
Kathleen OakfordNatural Law
No documented position found.

Health & human services

Shereef AkeelDemocratic
- Supports expanded student mental health services
Richard MackDemocratic
No documented position found.
Andy AnuzisRepublican
No documented position found.
Christa MurphyRepublican
No documented position found.
Alex AveryLibertarian
No documented position found.
Jami Van AlstineLibertarian
No documented position found.
Jeff McDonaldU.S. Taxpayers
No documented position found.
Paul M. RaganGreen
No documented position found.
Suzanne RoehrigWorking Class
No documented position found.
Kathleen OakfordNatural Law
No documented position found.

Government & transparency

Shereef AkeelDemocratic
- Supports more oversight of WSU contracts and spending
Richard MackDemocratic
No documented position found.
Andy AnuzisRepublican
- Supports WSU signing the Chicago Statement on free expression
- Opposes ideological criteria in hiring or firing WSU's president
Christa MurphyRepublican
No documented position found.
Alex AveryLibertarian
No documented position found.
Jami Van AlstineLibertarian
No documented position found.
Jeff McDonaldU.S. Taxpayers
No documented position found.
Paul M. RaganGreen
No documented position found.
Suzanne RoehrigWorking Class
No documented position found.
Kathleen OakfordNatural Law
No documented position found.

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.