Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson launches a bid for governor
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, introduced Wednesday that she is launching a marketing campaign for governor.
“I’m operating for governor to actually make authorities work for everybody. We’d like leaders who’re clear and accountable. We’d like our faculties and neighborhoods to be secure for all of us,” Benson says in a video accompanying her marketing campaign launch.
The video highlights Benson’s expertise, as she mentions her work as secretary of state, her time as dean of Wayne State College Regulation Faculty and her expertise as a co-founder of Army Spouses of Michigan.
Benson is the primary main candidate to leap into the 2026 Democratic main for governor. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan final month launched an unbiased marketing campaign, bypassing the Democratic main.
Although Duggan opted to take a distinct path, Benson might face a troublesome main. Different Democrats, like Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, have additionally been floated as potential names who might run to succeed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who’s term-limited.
On the Republican aspect, state Senate Minority Chief Aric Nesbitt jumped into the race final week.
Nearly two years out from Election Day, Michigan’s race for governor is already prone to be one of the carefully watched contests within the nation subsequent 12 months. Although Whitmer and Benson gained statewide in 2018 and 2022, President Donald Trump gained the state in 2016 and 2024, cementing Michigan’s popularity as one of the tightly divided battlegrounds in america.
In her launch video, Benson mentions her work within the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election combating again in opposition to Trump allies who falsely accused her of permitting election fraud and made baseless claims that Trump gained the state that 12 months.
Within the weeks after that election, armed pro-Trump protesters confirmed up outdoors Benson’s house demanding that she certify the election in Trump’s favor. Joe Biden carried the state by 2.8 proportion factors that 12 months.
“I ran for secretary of state to verify authorities is environment friendly and clear, that each voice is heard and each reliable vote is counted in each election, irrespective of the result. Now, some individuals didn’t like that very a lot,” Benson says within the video, which incorporates native information clips of the protesters outdoors her house.
Later within the video, Benson tells viewers, “I’ve spent my life standing as much as highly effective pursuits, and I’ll hold standing as much as any bullies or billionaires who attempt to deceive us, divide us, take away our rights or deny anybody the chance to get a good shot,” and reveals images of Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk.
