Republican Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini is considering a run for Michigan Secretary of State in the 2026 election.

Forlini said Monday he has been asked by state GOP representatives to throw his hat in the ring, and would be the first Republican to announce to replace Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is term-limited and running for governor.

“There’s been people that have been encouraging based on what I’ve done here in Macomb,” Forlini said. “It’s not an easy decision. It’s a family decision. It’s something that affects everybody, not just me. I’m deeply involved in Macomb County. There’s a lot of things to ponder.”

Forlini has been married for 39 years, has three children, four grandchildren and an 89-year-old father.

As a state candidate, he would be campaigning statewide most of next year. He resides within a short driving distance of the Clerk’s Office in Mount Clemens whereas if elected he would be frequently traveling to Lansing.

He said he is proud of his and his office’s accomplishments since he took office in 2022 and was re-elected last year.

“I’ve got a history of getting things done,” he said. “I’m proud of what I’ve done. It’s about if there are things I can do for the state.”

He said there are “a handful” of issues in the SOS office that he would like to change.

“There’s antiquated things with campaign finance that are silly and cause more work,” he said as an example.

Forlini has knowledge of voting machines as his office has conducted audits of elections in light of claims, mostly by his party, of election fraud since the 2020 presidential election.

Forlini also would bring a diverse background of political experience, as he has served six years as a state legislator, eight years as a local official as the Harrison Township supervisor, two additional years in the county as Public Works operations manager and two years on the federal level as the district director for then congressman Paul Mitchell. He also is a business owner.

He remarked he has not put a deadline on making the decision. Republicans will chose the candidate at its convention next year.

Two Democratic candidates, Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum and Benson’s deputy, Aghogho Edevbie, have announced they are running, according to a report in The Detroit News.