Who's on Michigan’s 2024 primary ballot? Trump, Biden have competition

• Michigan’s Feb. 27 presidential primary ballot features 10 candidates, including three Democrats and seven Republicans
• The GOP side of the ballot features four Republicans who have already dropped out of the race, including two who endorsed Donald Trump
• President Joe Biden faces competition from two fellow Democrats

Feb. 28: Michigan presidential primary by county: See results around the state

LANSING — Michigan's Feb. 27 presidential primary ballot will feature four Republicans who have already dropped out of the race, including two who have instead endorsed former President Donald Trump. 

The Democratic side of the ballot, meanwhile, will feature three candidates even though incumbent President Joe Biden is expected to run away with the party's nomination. 

That's the reality of an evolving presidential field that has continued to shift long after Michigan ballots were finalized in December and absentee ballots began hitting mailboxes last month.

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• Early voting a ‘significant new option’ for voters, ‘significant challenge’ for clerks
• Michigan early voting starts Feb. 17. What to know about presidential primary
• Biden joins UAW in Michigan: ‘When labor does well, everybody does well’
• Michigan election 2024: Key dates and deadlines

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson prepared a presidential primary candidate list in November. Both major political parties then had a chance to submit any other names they wanted to include. 

The Michigan GOP asked Benson to include Ryan Binkley, a little known Texas businessman. He is one of three Republican candidates on the ballot who remained in the race as of Feb. 5. 

The Michigan Democratic Party made it clear they wanted only one candidate on the ballot: President Joe Biden. But Benson had already included two others based on state law, which required her to identify individuals “generally advocated by the national news media to be potential presidential candidates.”

Michigan doesn't require voters to register by political party, but you'll only be able to vote on either the Democratic or Republican side of the presidential primary ballot, whether you vote absentee or cast your in-person on Feb. 27. 

The Michigan primary will help decide the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees who will compete in the Nov. 5 general election.

Independent candidates can separately collect voter signatures to qualify for the general election ballot in Michigan, and third parties will select their nominees at conventions later in the year.

Here are the Democratic and Republican candidates you'll find on Michigan's presidential primary ballot:

Democratic Party

Joe Biden: The Democratic president, who was born in Pennsylvania and long represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate, is seeking re-election. As of Feb. 5, he remained an active candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. 

Dean Phillips: The Minnesota Democrat currently serves in the U.S. House of Representatives and is campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination. As of Feb. 5, he remained an active candidate.

Marianne Williamson: The self-help author, a Californian who previously led a Michigan church, ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020 and is running again. As of Feb. 5, she remained an active candidate for the Democratic nomination. 

Republican Party

Chris Christie: The former New Jersey governor, who campaigned as a vocal Trump critic, ended his presidential bid on Jan. 10 and is no longer seeking the GOP nomination. 

Ron DeSantis: The Florida governor was endorsed by several Michigan Republicans but dropped out of the race on Jan. 21 and endorsed Trump instead. He is no longer seeking the GOP nomination. 

Nikki Haley: The former South Carolina governor served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in 2017 and 2018. As of Feb. 5, she continued to campaign for the presidential nomination. 

Asa Hutchinson: The former Arkansas governor ended his presidential campaign on Jan. 16 and is no longer seeking the GOP nomination. He endorsed Haley instead. 

Vivek Ramaswamy: The Ohio businessman dropped out of the presidential race on Jan. 15 and endorsed Donald Trump. He is no longer seeking the GOP nomination. 

Donald Trump: The former president, a businessman who now lives in Florida, is seeking to return to the White House while facing a series of unresolved criminal charges stemming from his attempt to overturn his 2020 loss. As of Feb. 5, he was an active candidate for the GOP presidential nomination. 

Ryan Binkley: The Texas businessman is not well known nationally but was put on the presidential primary ballot at the request of the Michigan GOP. As of Feb. 5, he remained an active candidate for the Republican nomination.