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Jocelyn has a proven track record of transforming broken government systems and fixing them to save Michiganders time and money while protecting their rights and freedoms. As governor, she will make Michigan more affordable, take our public schools to the top 10 in the nation, and make government work for Michiganders.&nbsp;

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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Civil rights advocate, youngest woman dean of an accredited law school in American history, Michigan's Secretary of State, military spouse, and mother – Jocelyn Benson is running for governor to make Michigan the best place to be a kid, raise a kid, and call home. Her career has been defined by fearless public service and transformational leadership.</h3>

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The daughter of two special education teachers, Jocelyn was raised in a middle class family that instilled the values of hard work, opportunity, and serving others.From a young age, she knew she wanted to fight for justice and make a difference. As a student at Wellesley College, she became the first college student ever elected to the governing body for the town of Wellesley, Massachusetts. After college, Jocelyn dedicated herself to investigating threats to democracy and civil rights. She went undercover in Alabama to investigate domestic terrorist cells that emerged following the Oklahoma City bombing, then traveled to the United Kingdom to study the international links of modern white supremacists and neo-Nazi movements. She brought this same commitment to protecting and defending people’s rights and freedoms to Detroit, where she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Damon J. Keith, continuing her work in service and civil rights.<h3 style="text-align: center;">Jocelyn made history when she was appointed dean of Wayne State University Law School at age 35.</h3>As the youngest woman to lead an accredited law school in American history, Jocelyn built a team rooted in honesty, integrity, and service. She raised significant funds to ensure all students could afford their education, froze tuition, and expanded scholarships to lower costs for families. Under her leadership, Wayne Law became one of the country's leading law schools.<h3 style="text-align: center;">When Jocelyn became Michigan's Secretary of State in 2019, she got to work on day one to make life easier for every Michigander.</h3>She transformed Michigan's motor vehicle department from having some of the longest wait times in the country into a national model for government efficiency. Jocelyn eliminated wait times, created over 150 self-service stations to serve Michiganders in every corner of the state, and implemented initiatives to make Michigan's elections the most secure and accessible in the nation. In the face of threats to both herself and her colleagues, Jocelyn oversaw two of the highest turnout and most transparent elections in the state's history. Those results led to a 14-point victory in 2022, leading the ticket and winning counties no other Democrat had.&nbsp;

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Jocelyn Benson has a proven track record of delivering for Michigan. Local and community leaders, working families, and leaders across the state are excited to back Jocelyn to be the next Governor of Michigan.

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<h3>Making Michigan the best place to call home.</h3>It’s past time we root out the corruption holding us back and build a government that truly works for people – a government that makes life more affordable for families – from housing to healthcare to childcare to education.&nbsp;

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This week, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson launched her statewide Thrive in Michigan tour on Monday with a townhall in Traverse City. Top of mind for residents: Housing.&nbsp;Too many families and young people are being priced out of their homes and communities and Benson knows making Michigan the best place to call home starts with ensuring that every Michigander can afford to thrive in a safe and secure environment.&nbsp;Benson is no stranger to taking broken systems and fixing them and she’s not afraid to take a hard look at the rules and regulations that currently bottleneck our permitting processes and drive up construction costs. During the townhall, she talked about her commitment to partnering with mayors, city councils, and municipal leagues to incentivize Smart Zoning and Workforce Housing initiatives that support local governments to legalize duplexes, triplexes, and small multi-family units that expand housing options and affordability.Key point: “I want to make it less expensive and easier to build a new home,” [Benson] said. “It costs up to $90,000 to build a home before you lay a brick because of all the regulations and hoops you need to jump through. We need to change that. I also want to create public-private partnerships to build things like duplexes and triplexes that can accommodate more families who are priced out of the market now.”<a href="https://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/mi-governors-race-benson-kicks-off-campaign-tour-in-tc/article_1f0bb737-ec03-4d95-a484-905e91c2ab9f.html">Traverse City Record-Eagle: </a>Benson kicks off campaign tour in TC[Peter Kobs, 6/17/2025]&nbsp;Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is running for governor in 2026, kicked off her statewide campaign tour in Traverse City on Monday with a pledge to tackle the most urgent concerns of northern Michigan residents if she is elected.[…]She later addressed a crowd of 75 at a town hall at the main branch of the Traverse Area District Library.“Wherever I go, everyone brought up housing costs,” said the 47-year-old candidate who was first elected secretary of state in 2018.“It’s particularly a problem in the Traverse City area. The natural beauty of this area is spectacular but the home prices are a real problem,” she said, noting a three-bedroom ranch in Suttons Bay that recently sold for about $1.1 million.“That’s a three-bedroom house that a family should be able to live in. Instead, it may go to someone who will be here three months out of the year. That is untenable and unacceptable.”[…]Unscrupulous landlords, outdated zoning rules, complicated building requirements and the pernicious impact of private equity firms buying up residential properties have also contributed to that breathtaking rise in housing costs, she said.If elected governor, Benson said she’d attack the problem from several angles.“I want to make it less expensive and easier to build a new home,” she said. “It costs up to $90,000 to build a home before you lay a brick because of all the regulations and hoops you need to jump through. We need to change that. I also want to create public-private partnerships to build things like duplexes and triplexes that can accommodate more families who are priced out of the market now.”She also proposed stricter regulations for short-term rentals to ensure affordable rent levels for young families, service workers, teachers, health care workers and first responders.[…]Updating the state’s revenue-generating strategy, including taxation, is also needed, she said. That could include new taxes on corporations from around the country — and around the world — that are buying up residences, then using that extra revenue to fund affordable housing.At the town hall event on Monday evening, local Democratic Party leader Trenton Lee and state Rep. Betsy Coffia noted that an 800-unit mobile home park in the area was recently acquired by an outside private equity firm. The result: Significantly higher rents.“One of those lots was asking $1,500 a month to rent a mobile home,” they said. “I think we need legislation to deal with this.”

This week, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson launched her statewide Thrive in Michigan tour on Monday with a townhall in Traverse City. Top of mind for residents: Housing.&nbsp;Too many families and young people...

ICYMI: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson Addresses Housing Affordability Crisis in Traverse City Townhall

“Benson said projects that fail to meet those standards would not be allowed to operate in Michigan”New reporting from the <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=18e90efe1d&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Detroit Metro Times</a> details Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson’s “strict” guardrails that will ensure transparency and local involvement in projects, keep energy costs low for communities, protect Michigan’s natural resources, and require union labor.&nbsp;As governor, Jocelyn will implement checks and guardrails to shape projects and ensure a transparent process approving any new projects. With clear standards and enforceable requirements, Michigan can invest in growing the jobs of the future while embracing opportunities to support our clean-energy and power grid buildout. Jocelyn has been clear: Data centers and corporations that violate these guardrails will not be able to operate in Michigan.&nbsp;In case you missed it…&nbsp;Detroit Metro News: <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=6b7290f2d4&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Benson takes on data center boom with stricter safeguards</a>[Steve Neavling, 03/22/2026]&nbsp;Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson is rolling out a plan to impose strict new safeguards on data centers in Michigan to address concerns over rising energy costs, environmental impacts, and transparency.&nbsp;[...]Benson, the secretary of state and Democratic frontrunner for governor, first announced the plan to Metro Times. She said Michigan should only allow data centers under strict conditions that protect residents and the environment.&nbsp;The centers must “improve and deliver prosperity, well-paying union jobs, and affordable, low energy costs for our residents,” Benson’s campaign said.Her proposal would set enforceable conditions to avoid the kinds of problems that have prompted opposition to similar projects nationwide.Those requirements include:<ul><li>Mandatory public hearings before any project is approved</li><li>Full transparency and disclosure to prevent backroom deals</li><li>Proof, before construction, that projects will not harm natural resources or increase energy costs</li><li>A requirement that data centers — not ratepayers — cover the cost of increased energy demand</li><li>Union labor agreements to ensure well-paying jobs</li></ul>Benson said projects that fail to meet those standards would not be allowed to operate in Michigan.[..]A December poll by Progress Michigan found a majority of Michiganders oppose data centers because of concerns over rising utility bills, environmental impacts, and a lack of transparency.Benson’s plan is aimed at addressing those issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;[...]Benson’s proposal is an attempt to strike a balance between attracting new jobs and protecting residents and communities from the potential costs and environmental impacts of large-scale data centers.“Data centers and corporations that violate these guardrails will not be able to operate in Michigan,” Benson’s campaign said.###

New reporting from the <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=18e90efe1d&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Detroit Metro Times</a> details Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson’s “strict” guardrails that will ensure transparency and local involvement in projects, keep energy costs low for communities, protect Michigan’s natural resources, and require union labor.&nbsp;

Detroit Metro Times: “Benson Takes on Data Center Boom with Stricter Safeguards”

Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. With all of the chaos, corruption, and confusion emerging from Washington, D.C. — where elected officials are ripping away Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of people, women's health care is under attack, and many Michiganders have to travel across multiple counties just to get to their doctor, a Democratic Governor in Michigan will be the last line of defense against the failings at the federal level. But I don't just want to be on defense. I want to make sure Michigan knows I have their back when it comes to getting them the quality, affordable care they need.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c9b12638-e867-4422-b5c9-3bbe3a93dc72/e9ad2133-1ff4-436f-a8c9-d372daff4281/e9ad2133-1ff4-436f-a8c9-d372daff4281.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C5051%2C3995&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="50" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Here's the truth: Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services is broken. The system is too complicated, too outdated, and too disconnected from the people it's supposed to serve. Before we can build something better, we have to fix what's broken. That starts with making sure people seeking resources can actually access them from our government. Just as I fixed a broken system as Secretary of State and took our elections from #31 to #2 in the nation, I'll bring the same data-driven ethic to our broken healthcare system.But the problem runs even deeper than federal cuts. Our healthcare system has been corrupted by corporate greed, with too many decisions being made by CEOs and investors instead of doctors and patients. We need to shift the focus from profits to people. That corruption shows up in the privatization schemes and price gouging that have driven up costs for Michigan families, forcing them to make impossible decisions about when they can find a provider and what health issues they can afford to address. It shows up in sky-high prescription drug costs that prevent people from completing their treatments, and in surprise medical bills that bankrupt families who thought they were doing everything right.As Governor, I'll fight back. I'll work to increase options for low or no-cost preventive healthcare services across Michigan, because when people can get timely treatment, they address health issues before they become emergencies — saving lives and reducing costs. I'll push for real transparency and accountability in prescription drug pricing through an independent Prescription Drug Affordability Board with the authority to review manufacturing practices and approve price increases. And I'll champion healthcare cost transparency legislation to end the surprise billing that makes even routine procedures unaffordable, while expanding medical debt relief for the thousands of Michiganders crushed by expenses they never saw coming<h3>Read the full healthcare affordability agenda <a href="/affordability-agenda-healthcare.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</h3>

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Yesterday in Southfield, to wrap up Women’s History Month, Secretary Jocelyn Benson joined over 250 Fems for Dems members for a community conversation to celebrate the strength and resilience of women in Michigan with the spirit of Rosie the Riveter, and discuss what we need to do next for our education, housing access, and economic wellbeing to ensure Michigan is the best place to be a kid, raise a kid, and call home.&nbsp;&nbsp;As Secretary of State, Jocelyn has the experience in overhauling major agencies that aren’t working properly into agencies that save Michiganders time and money – taking our elections from #31 in the country to #2, and making our Secretary of State offices a national model for saving people time and money. As governor, she’s committed to cutting red tape and waste so public education funding reaches the schools that need it, parents can access childcare support from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and every Michigander, no matter their zip code, has access to reproductive health care.&nbsp;<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c9b12638-e867-4422-b5c9-3bbe3a93dc72/bec04ca8-d2fa-4179-9e9d-93a4b51ccbcc/bec04ca8-d2fa-4179-9e9d-93a4b51ccbcc.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1600%2C1066&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="50" variant="base">“Remember how you felt after 2016? How shocked we felt? But then we rolled our sleeves up, and organizations like Fems for Dems started organizing. And what happened in 2018? The women of Michigan fought back,” said Jocelyn Benson. “What determines how our story continues after November 5, 2024 is what we do next to make Michigan the best place to be a kid, raise a kid, and call home.”

Yesterday in Southfield, to wrap up Women’s History Month, Secretary Jocelyn Benson joined over 250 Fems for Dems members for a community conversation to celebrate the strength and resilience of women in Michigan with the spirit...

Jocelyn Benson, Fems for Dems, Hold Women’s History Month Event With Over 250 Women in Southfield

Today, Detroit's former U.S. Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence endorsed Jocelyn Benson for Governor.&nbsp;“I am proud to say that I have three decades of experience in public service to Southeast Michigan. Throughout my career, I have been committed to supporting leaders who demonstrate compassion, ethical principles, and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. That is why I am proud to endorse Jocelyn Benson for governor,” said Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence. “I have had the opportunity to watch her serve in many roles, and she has proven herself to be a fierce defender of the rule of law and our election systems, with an unwavering commitment to serving all people. As we look toward the governor’s seat, I strongly urge everyone to support the leader we need at this moment in our history. Jocelyn Benson knows the people of Michigan, is willing to do the hard work, and will keep our state moving forward as a leader in the nation.”“It’s an honor to have former Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence’s support in this race,” said Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson. “Former Congresswoman Lawrence knows all too well the challenges Michiganders are facing as costs rise and a government too often isn’t on their side. As governor I’ll show up for Michigan, and work to build a Michigan that everyone can afford and a government that truly works for the people. Together we will make Detroit, and the entire state, the best place to be a kid, raise a kid, and call home.”Former Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence joins a growing coalition of supporters across the state for Jocelyn's campaign for governor. Jocelyn has received labor endorsements from Michigan Laborers Council, the majority of the Michigan Teamsters Locals, UFCW Locals 876 and 951 in Southfield and Grand Rapids, and the Association of Flight Attendants - CWA as well as national organizations including EMILYs List and End Citizens United. She also has the support of over 20 state legislators, the Michigan Democrat Party’s Black Caucus and nearly two dozen municipal leaders from across Michigan including the mayors of Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Cadillac, Highland Park, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, and Berkeley.###

Today, Detroit's former U.S. Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence endorsed Jocelyn Benson for Governor.&nbsp;

Detroit’s Former U.S. Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence Endorses Jocelyn Benson for Governor

Today, the Michigan Laborers’ District Council (LiUNA), which represents over 14,000 members who build our state’s roads, bridges, transit, and energy sources, endorsed Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson as the next Governor of Michigan.In their endorsement of Benson, LiUNA Leaders in Michigan praised her proven track record of cutting red tape at the Secretary of State’s office and saving Michiganders time and money, rebuilding and improving systems so they work efficiently for the people of Michigan, and her vision to build an economy that brings in high-paying, union jobs for workers across the state.&nbsp;“Secretary Benson’s track record of getting things done speaks for itself. You can’t mention the Secretary of State’s office without someone saying how much better it runs and how thankful they are to have a leader who cares about their time and money,” said Michigan District Council Business Manager Brent Pilarski. “She’ll be a governor who gives workers a real seat at the table, and she’ll fight to bring the high-paying jobs my members need to live and succeed in Michigan. We look forward to working with her on projects and legislation that lift working people up, preserve prevailing wage, and defend against the chaotic and corrupt policies coming out of D.C., like Trump’s tariffs.”&nbsp;“Jocelyn Benson is the leader we need here in Michigan to continue the pro-worker progress we’ve made in the last decade,” said Local 355 Business Manager Arlander Washington. “She knows that folks in West Michigan and across this state are struggling with rising costs and increasing unemployment thanks to the reckless policies coming out of D.C., and she’ll work to make it easier for working men and women to afford their groceries, buy a house wherever they want to live, and retire with dignity after working a full life. ”&nbsp;“My support for Secretary Benson comes from her clear commitment to expanding workforce training and union apprenticeship opportunities. For the kids who choose not to, or can’t afford to go to college, strong support from our next governor on these programs will help the next generation start off strong on their feet with a living wage and real-world skills, so they stay and live in Michigan,” said Local 499 Business Manager Dan Minton. “We need that kind of leadership. Someone who can look past the partisan divide, focus on solutions, and bring people together to do what’s right for the state. That’s the kind of governor she’ll be.”&nbsp;“I’m so grateful to have the support of LiUNA and their 14,000 members across Michigan, said Jocelyn Benson. “I share their grit, determination and dedication to building a state where everyone can thrive – and they know that in me they will have a Governor who sees them, hears them, and fights for them every day. Together we are building a winning coalition that will be poised to win next November, and then we will work to ensure every Michigander, no matter their zip code, has access to high paying jobs, affordable health care, world class public schools and safe workplaces. We will make Michigan the best place to be a kid, raise a kid, and call home – for everyone.”&nbsp;LiUNA joins a growing coalition of labor unions in support of Jocelyn Benson for Governor, including UFCW Local 951 and 876, West Michigan Plumbers, PipeFitters, and HVAC Service UA Local 174, and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.

Today, the Michigan Laborers’ District Council (LiUNA), which represents over 14,000 members who build our state’s roads, bridges, transit, and energy sources, endorsed Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson as the next Governor of Michigan. In their...

Michigan Laborers’ District Council (LiUNA) Endorses Jocelyn Benson for Governor

Today, EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, endorsed Jocelyn Benson in the race for Governor of Michigan.“EMILYs List is proud to support Jocelyn Benson to be Michigan’s next governor. Sec. Benson has worked tirelessly to ensure her office runs as efficiently as possible to uphold and protect the will of Michiganders,” said EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler. “As governor, we are confident she will continue her strong track record of protecting our freedoms, and will work to ensure that all Michigan families have access to affordable housing and health care. We have been proud to support Sec. Benson in her previous elections and are honored to support her now.”“Michiganders enshrined reproductive rights in our constitution in 2023, but there’s still more work to do to lower costs so parents can have affordable childcare, women feel empowered to open their own businesses right here in Michigan, and maternal health care is expanded,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “I’m proud to have the support of EMILYs List, and as Michigan’s next Governor I will continue to fight tirelessly to protect and expand women’s rights.Jocelyn has been a fighter and protector of women’s rights her entire life. She looks forward to continuing those efforts as Michigan’s next Governor with the support of EMILYs List.EMILYs List has supported Benson in 2010, 2018, and 2022 in previous elections.EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, works to elect Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot and across the country with a goal of fighting for our rights and our communities. Over nearly 40 years, EMILYs List has raised nearly $950 million to help Democratic women win competitive elections by recruiting and training candidates, supporting and helping build strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, running one of the most impactful independent expenditure operations for Democrats, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect the country’s first woman as vice president, 192 women to the House, 29 to the Senate, 20 governors, and over 1,600 women to state and local office. More than 40% of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. Visit <a href="http://www.emilyslist.org">www.emilyslist.org</a> for more information.

Today, EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, endorsed Jocelyn Benson in the race for Governor of Michigan. “EMILYs List is proud to support Jocelyn Benson...

EMILYs List Endorses Jocelyn Benson for Governor

In response to Donald Trump’s complete disregard for working Michiganders who rely on federal funding for healthcare, housing, food, and more, Jocelyn Benson released the following statement:&nbsp;“President Trump’s sweeping, nonsensical decision to pause critical federal funding will have real, damaging effects to Michiganders – including many of the very citizens who voted for him just a few months ago believing he would make their lives easier. Instead, his unilateral move is setting off a wave of chaos and confusion for communities who look to leaders to make their lives easier, not harder. As a mom, and a state leader, I will work with our Senators and Congressional leaders to stand up to anyone in federal government who puts the wellbeing, safety, and health of our residents at risk. And that’s exactly what Trump’s decision today will do.”Here’s what’s at stake for Michigan under Donald Trump:&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://headstart.gov/program-data/article/head-start-program-facts-fiscal-year-2023">There are nearly 28K</a>&nbsp; kids in Michigan who rely on Head Start. That’s thousands of parents who will have to stay home without childcare.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>There are <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/inside-mdhhs/newsroom/2024/06/24/may-medicaid">more than 2.6 million people in Michigan</a> who rely on Medicaid to get the healthcare they need. They could instead have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for regular doctor’s appointments.&nbsp;</li></ul>The <a href="https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/docs/default-source/fact-sheets/2024/2024-state-fact-sheets/state-fact-sheet-2024-michigan.pdf?sfvrsn=fb528e3b_2">140,000 seniors</a> across Michigan who rely on Meals on Wheels for nutritious meals could go hungry.

In response to Donald Trump’s complete disregard for working Michiganders who rely on federal funding for healthcare, housing, food, and more, Jocelyn Benson released the following statement:&nbsp;“President Trump’s sweeping, nonsensical decision to pause critical federal...

Jocelyn Benson Statement on Donald Trump Pausing Federal Dollars for Thousands of Working of Michiganders

Today, Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson met with Michiganders in Flint, Bay City, and Saginaw to share her vision for Michigan. &nbsp;Benson is the only candidate for governor who has released a thorough <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=3fa680f15c&amp;e=486aa7a2e0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">agenda</a> to lower healthcare costs for all Michiganders and improve maternal healthcare.&nbsp;In Flint, Benson joined Danielle Atkinson, maternal health advocate, and Janet Poole, a local nurse, for a press conference on Jocelyn’s plan to improve maternal healthcare in Michigan and bring down costs.&nbsp;<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c9b12638-e867-4422-b5c9-3bbe3a93dc72/92c721a3-7219-4db9-808e-ffbdffe7d9ee/92c721a3-7219-4db9-808e-ffbdffe7d9ee.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1236%2C946&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" variant="base">“As leaders in Michigan, we have a moral responsibility to fix [the Black maternal healthcare crisis],” said Secretary Benson during the press conference. “As your next governor, I will treat and prioritize and address the Black maternal healthcare crisis with the urgency that it demands. And that's why we're here today. That's why I'm proud to have built a healthcare plan with input from communities here in Flint and all over Michigan that will address Black maternal health. It is a central piece for my vision of Michigan's healthy future.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“I'm so proud to be here in Flint and stand with Jocelyn Benson, the only candidate for governor with a comprehensive healthcare agenda, she is committed to bringing down the cost for all Michiganders and confronting the problems that surround Black maternal healthcare and are leading to the crisis,” said Danielle Atkinson. “Oftentimes, when politicians release their policy plans, women's health and maternal health are ignored, especially when it comes to women of color. But the reality is that in the United States, we have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in developing countries – Black women are three to four times more likely to die of childbirth and childbirth related causes than their white counterparts. I hear the heartbreaking stories from women around the country and in our own state, and it doesn't have to be this way, and it's past time that we've had leaders who are willing to do something about it, and that's why I'm standing with Jocelyn Benson.”“I am proud to stand for Jocelyn Benson and encourage everyone I know to vote for her to be our next governor. She's not afraid to take on big challenges and put them front and center. She is the only candidate for governor with a comprehensive agenda to bring down costs and tackle the Black maternal healthcare crisis, because don't let anyone fool you. We can and must do both at the same time. Her plan isn't just another set of empty promises, but a strategy based on what we in the medical field know works and doesn't work,” said Janet Poole.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c9b12638-e867-4422-b5c9-3bbe3a93dc72/6016e4cf-0bd4-41e0-9ea8-d8fa8bd96d32/6016e4cf-0bd4-41e0-9ea8-d8fa8bd96d32.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1236%2C886&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" variant="base">Earlier in the day, Benson met with the Bay City Chamber to discuss her plan to make Michigan the best place to start and grow a small business, and turn the state into the economic engine of the Midwest and Great Lakes region.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c9b12638-e867-4422-b5c9-3bbe3a93dc72/210c327b-a01c-4b65-9b4d-c263dcdb6658/210c327b-a01c-4b65-9b4d-c263dcdb6658.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1092%2C980&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" variant="base">During a stop in Saginaw, Benson joined faith leaders to listen and learn about the issues facing their communities and how she can deliver for them as governor.###

Today, Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson met with Michiganders in Flint, Bay City, and Saginaw to share her vision for Michigan. &nbsp;Benson is the only candidate for governor who has released a thorough <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=3fa680f15c&amp;e=486aa7a2e0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">agenda</a> to lower healthcare costs for all Michiganders and improve maternal healthcare.&nbsp;

Benson Discusses Maternal Healthcare in Flint, Meets with Michiganders in Bay City and Saginaw

<a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=068ddd684a&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Benson</a>: “You can't create jobs if people can't afford to live in the communities they're working in."Yesterday, Jocelyn Benson unveiled <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=f16d4ba0f7&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">her plan</a> to lower the cost of housing and build more homes across Michigan, so that every Michigander can afford a home in the community where they live and work.As governor, Jocelyn will expand housing production statewide through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, cut red tape and speed up permitting so homes can be built faster, create a statewide housing data system to show where the needs are, strengthen renter protections, and give communities more control over short-term rentals – all while partnering with local leaders to give residents the access to housing they need.In case you missed it…&nbsp;In print:Detroit Free Press: <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=30bc58f419&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jocelyn Benson pitches plan to address Michigan housing shortage</a>[Arpan Lobo, 3/2/2026]&nbsp;Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson offered her pitch to address housing issues if elected Michigan’s next governor during a roundtable discussion in Grand Rapids on Monday, March 2.“It’s clear to me if we want to keep our young people, our talented people here in Michigan, we have to ensure there are places for them to live," Benson said, flanked by local housing advocates and other officials.Her plan calls for easing homebuilding permitting processes, expanding tax credits for first-time home buyers and banning private equity firms from buying homes in Michigan within the first 100 days they hit the market, among other proposals.[...]Specifically, she said her administration would streamline permitting processes for homebuilders, which she said can delay construction by months. She also called for expanding homestead tax credits, something her campaign said would allow more working families and seniors keep up with rising property taxes.[...]"It's a real economic development issue," she told reporters following the event. "When it comes to creating jobs, you can't create jobs if people can't afford to live in the communities they're working in."MLive: <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=d5f48c871b&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Benson wants tax on short-term rentals, 100-day ban on private equity buying homes</a>[Danielle James, 3/2/2026]&nbsp;Benson, the Democratic frontrunner in the governor’s race, also shared new policies she said would free up housing stock.Those include establishing a statewide system to track and tax short-term rentals and a ban on the sale of homes to private equity firms for the first 100 days they’re on the market.It’s the second policy plan for Benson, after she released a “healthcare affordability agenda” in early January.&nbsp;[...]Lauren VanKeulen, CEO of AYA Youth Collective, also highlighted down-payment assistance as something that could make a huge difference for younger people looking to buy a home.&nbsp;[...]“It’s part of the holistic approach to ensuring you get a tax credit or other types of support for that down payment,” Benson said of her pitch, “and that enables people to ensure they can become homeowners, grow that wealth and also be an active part of the community.”Michigan Advance: <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=b0c6772c98&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Benson launches affordability-focused housing plan as advocates push for more state housing support</a>[Katherine Dailey, 3/2/2026]&nbsp;“In recent years, it’s clear to me that if we also need to keep our young people, our talented people here in Michigan, we have to ensure there are places for them to live,” Benson said during the roundtable. “I want to make it as easy to build into this state as it is to get your driver’s license.”Nancy Haynes, the executive director of the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, emphasized the increased role of the state in housing policy as the federal government rolls back guidance and protections in fair housing law.&nbsp;[...]One key element of Benson’s plan is an expanded tax credit designed to help create opportunities for first-time homeowners.&nbsp;However, Benson also emphasized, the tax credit would support “not just first time homeowners who are trying to and assist them in trying to afford that down payment, but second time homeowners as well, as well as people moving up into the system and expanding their homes so that we can free up those first time homeowners opportunities.”[...][State Representative] Skaggs also contrasted Benson’s plan with other candidates in the gubernatorial race, seeming to specifically dig at former Detroit mayor Mike Duggan, who is running as an independent.&nbsp;“Most local leaders across the state will tell you the same thing, this is the defining challenge of our time,” he said. “Knowing the problem isn’t enough, we have to be willing to act on it, even when it’s hard, even when we’re not sure where the answers are going to be, but we have to work on them, and not every leader has been willing to do that, including a certain mayor who is in this governor’s race.”Bridge Michigan: <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=8b125d4cea&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jocelyn Benson pitches housing plan with homebuyer tax credits, Airbnb tax</a>[Simon Schuster, 3/2/2026]&nbsp;Benson said she wants more homes built in Michigan and to boost affordable housing options for lower-income residents.&nbsp;“We need to eliminate a lot of red tape” around zoning, building requirements and inspections, she said.[...]Among other things, Benson said she wants to:<ul><li>Offer a tax credit for families who are “ready to purchase” homes “but struggling to save enough”</li><li>Expand the Michigan Homestead Property Tax Credit, which currently provides property tax relief to homeowners or renters with total household resources of up to $71,500</li><li>Ban private equity and large investors from buying single-family homes in the first 100 days they’re on the market</li><li>Track short-term rentals like Airbnbs and tax them to “fund local issues,” while still allowing municipalities to regulate or ban those rentals</li><li>Require “tougher inspections and enforcement” for apartments to protect renters and punish “absentee landlords who neglect their properties”</li><li>Expand rental assistance for “families struggling with costs”</li></ul>[...]Benson said Whitmer’s [State of the State] proposal is “an important one” but added “we want to build on that” by “eliminating a lot of the long-standing certification processes” in order to get housing developments breaking ground more quickly.MIRS: <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=3b65fbe5b3&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Benson's Build Housing Agenda With 100-Day Private Investor Ban, Airbnb tax</a>[Staff, 3/2/2026]Speaking with 10 West Michigan housing and homeless leaders for a roundtable discussion, Benson also said she wants to expand tax credits to help new homebuyers, and speed up the building of new structures with state-level zoning reform.Benson said a nine-bill zoning reform package currently in the Legislature is a "great start," adding that zoning is a "big piece" of what's needed."It's about overall saying, 'What do we need to do to make sure, no matter where you want to live or work in Michigan, you can afford to buy a home in that community,'" Benson said.[…]Benson said the state needed to be doing more on housing affordability, because it was the basis of economic development.On the airwaves:<a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=1be18adcd5&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WZZM</a> - Grand Rapids, MI: “Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to lower housing costs. It's part of her campaign for Michigan governor. At a roundtable today she talked about her plan for affordability agenda which includes expanding a property tax credit for homebuyers and creating opportunities for first time home buyers. Benson says the state needs to be doing more to address the housing affordability crisis. … Benson's plan also focuses on streamlining the home building process so it's more affordable and faster to build a home here in Michigan.”&nbsp;<a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=403ec5a524&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WOOD TV</a> - Grand Rapids, MI: “Gubernatorial candidate, Secretary of state Jocelyn Benson met with housing and homeless advocates today at a campaign stop in grand rapids. Benson, a democrat, says making housing more affordable, including for first-time home buyers, is one of her key campaign issues. … Benson says she supports not only cutting red tape, but state tax incentives to help potential homebuyers with down payments”&nbsp;###

Yesterday, Jocelyn Benson unveiled <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=f16d4ba0f7&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">her plan</a> to lower the cost of housing and build more homes across Michigan, so that every Michigander can afford a home in the community where they live and work.

ICYMI: Benson Is the Only Candidate with a Plan to Lower Housing Costs

Michigan's next governor has a moral responsibility to transform our public schools — for our kids, our economy, and our future.&nbsp;As the daughter of two public school teachers who taught special education, a mom ,and a former educator myself, this is personal. I know what's at stake for Michigan families — and I'm ready to lead with the urgency this moment demands.My plan is clear, focused, comprehensive and bold. It is rooted in tangible actions and goals that are data-driven and results-focused. Together I will work with our educators, parents, and students to build and implement lasting change to ensure Michigan’s public school system truly prepares our young people for jobs of the future and the world they will one day lead.&nbsp;This plan is ambitious because the stakes are high. Our future economy, workforce, communities, and democracy depend on whether we are willing to build a truly world-class public education system for every child in Michigan.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c9b12638-e867-4422-b5c9-3bbe3a93dc72/97709d69-d29e-4b20-9cfa-092f85214849/97709d69-d29e-4b20-9cfa-092f85214849.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=38%2C0%2C1028%2C652&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="50" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">And while Michigan has a strong history of chasing new and shiny policy one-offs, all of which have fallen flat, and led to a notion that the goal posts are being moved regularly; much to the chagrin of those being asked to teach around them. Establishing a vision that is benchmarked to a world-class North Star and utilizing this to align practices and hold ourselves accountable to them, will give Michigan a consistent and best-in-class trajectory.<h3>Read the full education agenda <a href="https://www.jocelynbenson.com/benson-education-plan.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</h3>

Education

Today, Michigan House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri, State Senators Darrin Camilleri and Paul Wojno, and State Representative Laurie Pohutsky endorsed Jocelyn Benson for governor.&nbsp;“At a time when costs are skyrocketing, affordable housing and healthcare are out of reach and faith in our institutions are at a low, Michigan needs a battle tested leader like Jocelyn Benson who leads with calmness, clarity, and preparedness. Jocelyn is a fighter for Michiganders and the fighter we need in this moment,” said Michigan House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri.&nbsp;“It’s an honor to have the support of Michigan House Democratic Leader Puri and more state lawmakers across Michigan. These leaders know firsthand what’s at stake: our kids’ education, access to affordable healthcare and housing, and the rights and freedoms of Michiganders,” said Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson. “Together, we’re building the coalition and team to win and fight for a Michigan we all can afford to live and thrive in, and where our rights and freedoms are protected.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Michigan House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri, State Senators Darrin Camilleri and Paul Wojno, and State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky join a growing coalition of state and local leaders and labor organizations supporting Jocelyn Benson for Governor.Additional lawmakers on Team Benson include State Representatives: Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Sean McCann, Rosemary Bayer, Sue Shink, Dayna Polehanki, Jeremy Moss, Phil Skaggs, Joey Andrews, Jason Morgan, Carrie Rheingans, Dylan Wegela, Jennifer Conlin, Kelly Breen, Natalie Price, Denise Mentzer, Julie Brixie, Betsy Coffia, Noah Arbit, Penelope Tsernoglou, Jimmie Wilson, Tonya Meyers Phillips, Emily Dievendorf, Samantha Steckloff, Stephen Wooden, Jason Hoskins, and Morgan Foreman.&nbsp;###

Today, Michigan House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri, State Senators Darrin Camilleri and Paul Wojno, and State Representative Laurie Pohutsky endorsed Jocelyn Benson for governor.&nbsp;

Michigan House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri, State Lawmakers Endorse Jocelyn Benson for Governor

Following today’s announcement that Mike Duggan has dropped out of the race for governor, Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson released the below statement: “I want to thank Mayor Mike Duggan for what he brought to this race and for his years of service to Detroit. At a time when politics can feel divided and cynical, we need more civility, more listening, and more people willing to work together to move our state forward. I welcome Mayor Duggan’s ideas, his supporters, and everyone who believes Michigan’s future is bigger than division — and that it can be a place where anyone can afford to live, work, and thrive. We may not always agree on everything, but we share a commitment to building a stronger Michigan. And that work continues in this campaign.”###

Following today’s announcement that Mike Duggan has dropped out of the race for governor, Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson released the below statement:

STATEMENT: Benson Statement on Mike Duggan Dropping Out of the Race for Governor

<a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=d730dc4035&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">West Michigan Resident</a>: “Jocelyn’s got real solutions.”&nbsp;Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson is the only candidate for governor with a <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=c6c8a64f30&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">plan</a> to lower healthcare costs and voters are taking notice. It’s clear that Benson’s plan is resonating with voters, especially as other candidates continue to support higher healthcare costs and massive cuts to Medicaid. Meanwhile, Benson has been traveling the state, listening to Michiganders’ stories and sharing her healthcare affordability plan.&nbsp;Benson’s <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=28562c29b7&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">plan</a> will drive down the cost of premiums and prescription drugs, eliminate surprise billing, expand access to care across the state, especially in rural and underserved areas, and grow our healthcare workforce to meet demand across the state.&nbsp; In case you missed it…&nbsp;Manistee News: <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=a3fe8bc598&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lampinen: Rural west Michigan faces health care gaps; Benson's plan offers hope</a>[Eric Lampinen, 3/8/2026]&nbsp;Where we live, we have to travel an hour to get to many specialist doctor’s offices and services. Working families need to take time from work, find someone to watch kids, and spend more on gas just to get to a health care provider.Like too many families in west Michigan, we live in a near healthcare desert with greatly reduced services at local hospitals and only two birthing centers between Muskegon and Benzie county.[...]I’m grateful to see Jocelyn Benson roll out a plan that tackles these things. No one else has, even though it’s one of our most important issues right now.[...]Jocelyn has had practice overhauling our Secretary of State infrastructure and making it work for everyone. We need that experience to revamp our healthcare system.From bringing mobile health centers to rural communities, to incentivizing medical professionals to build their life in high-need communities, Jocelyn’s got real solutions.I know that as governor, Benson will deliver and make our healthcare system work. That’s why I’m voting for her come November.###

Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson is the only candidate for governor with a <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=c6c8a64f30&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">plan</a> to lower healthcare costs and voters are taking notice. It’s clear that Benson’s plan is resonating with voters, especially as other candidates continue to support higher healthcare costs and massive cuts to Medicaid.

MANISTEE NEWS: “Benson’s [Healthcare Affordability] plan offers hope”

Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson raised another $1 million from thousands of supporters across Michigan to bring her total 2025 fundraising haul to $5.8 million – once again shattering records in Michigan’s open governor’s race.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jocelyn received over 40,000 contributions in 2025 representing every county in Michigan. With 93% of contributions $100 or less, donations from all 83 counties in Michigan, and no corporate PAC money, her grassroots support signals a campaign ready to win.&nbsp;“Michiganders are rallying behind Jocelyn Benson to fight for the future of our state,” said Benson campaign manager Nikki Goldschein. “She’s the only candidate in this race who won’t bend the knee to anyone, no matter how powerful they are, who&nbsp; threatens the rights and freedoms of our citizens. Michiganders are looking for their next governor to be someone who understands the economic struggles people are facing and has a plan to do something about it. That’s why they’re investing in Jocelyn Benson.”&nbsp;The fundraising announcement comes as Jocelyn is now in <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=27c9f94b8d&amp;e=87c89566cd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“pole position”</a> to be the Democratic nominee for Michigan governor with most “democratic enthusiasm and money raised.” In January, Jocelyn <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=e45ad819c2&amp;e=87c89566cd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">unveiled</a> her agenda to fix Michigan's broken health care system through a plan focused on affordability, accessibility, and fairness.&nbsp;Since the last fundraising report, Jocelyn has earned endorsements from both leaders in the legislature – Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri – who join 28 other state lawmakers in their endorsements, former Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, Detroit Rev. Horace Sheffield, grassroots leaders like Mothering Justice’s Danielle Atkinson, and Metro Detroit Mayors.Jocelyn Benson has $3.5 million cash on hand.&nbsp;###

Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson raised another $1 million from thousands of supporters across Michigan to bring her total 2025 fundraising haul to $5.8 million – once again shattering records in Michigan’s open governor’s race.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Benson for Governor Raised Nearly $6 Million in 2025, Outraising Entire Field

Benson: “We can transform seemingly entrenched, broken systems and make them actually work well for people.”Ahead of the Michigan Democratic Party’s endorsement convention this weekend, the <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=c54e38df75&amp;e=206b67a443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Michigan Advance</a> highlighted gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson’s legacy as Secretary of State, an office she reshaped into a national model for saving people time and money. In the past seven years, Benson slashed wait times, opened over 150 self-service stations across the state, and took Michigan from #31 in the country to #2 for election integrity and voter access. Jocelyn will take that same transformational approach as governor, using every tool at her disposal to make Michigan an easier, more affordable place to live and thrive.In case you missed it…&nbsp; Michigan Advance: <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=725bb32917&amp;e=206b67a443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jocelyn Benson’s approach to good government: Get out of the way unless you’re needed</a>[Katherine Dailey, 04/14/2026]&nbsp; As she seeks to be Michigan’s next governor, Jocelyn Benson’s main takeaway from her time as secretary of state is that government needs to show up when it’s needed — and needs to get out of the way when it’s not. “I say that at a time where it kind of feels like, especially at the federal level, government is showing up everywhere we don’t want it and nowhere we actually need it,” Benson said in an interview with the Michigan Advance.&nbsp; Throughout her campaign, Benson has leaned heavily on her time running the Michigan Department of State to demonstrate her fitness to lead the state as governor&nbsp; — including efficiency reforms to motor vehicle offices throughout the state, and as her experience managing elections for the last seven years. “As secretary of state I’ve actually shown that we can flip that when it comes to, even as I did, inheriting a broken bureaucracy,” she said. “We can transform seemingly entrenched, broken systems and make them actually work well for people.” [...] One question for whoever sits in the governor’s office in 2027 will be how to manage the state’s relationship with the federal government and President Donald Trump. Benson said that she believes it’s “really important that governors be truth tellers to him” in understanding the economic impacts of federal policy on Michiganders. “Working with the federal government is critical to be able to achieve those transformational reforms that we want to bring to our state,” she said. “But we also have to be clear and truthful that the vast majority of decisions the Trump administration has made over the last year or so, or a couple of years, have only caused costs to skyrocket in our communities, to be less safe.” Benson has also repeatedly emphasized that her focus is on driving down costs for Michigan residents, whether that’s combatting federal policy or rising prices from corporations. That includes a package of energy affordability policies <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=04ad0a985f&amp;e=206b67a443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced</a> on Friday — including limits on utility rate hikes and protections against utility shutoffs for overdue bills. [...] That all boils down to making people’s lives easier, Benson said, tuning out political cacophony and helping people see that, while the state government “may not be able to solve all of the world’s problems,” it can work to lower costs and create jobs. “I’ve done that as Secretary of State even as we navigated noisy political processes under significant and great scrutiny, we’ve still been able to move forward, transform broken systems, and learn along the way how to do that even better, more effectively and efficiently the next round,” she said. “And that’s certainly, that’s the lesson I’ll take with me to the governor’s office.”

Ahead of the Michigan Democratic Party’s endorsement convention this weekend, the <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=c54e38df75&amp;e=206b67a443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Michigan Advance</a> highlighted gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson’s legacy as Secretary of State, an office she reshaped into a national model for saving people time and money.

“Jocelyn Benson’s Approach to Good Government: Get Out of the Way Unless You’re Needed”

Detroit Metro Times: “Benson lands influential Detroit endorsement in battle for Black voters” Today, the Detroit Original Eastside Slate <a href="https://us.list-manage.com/HTIuqh6XOaP?e=206b67a443&amp;c2id=b03e5337684422656f72d19755ec5f0e" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">endorsed</a> Jocelyn Benson for governor of Michigan. The Eastside Slate has long advocated for the residents of Detroit and fought to ensure their voices are heard at all levels of government. They are committed to elected leaders who will deliver on economic equality and invest in all Detroiters.&nbsp; “The Original Eastside Slate is endorsing Jocelyn Benson because she shows up and gets things done for our city. Jocelyn is not only a proven leader – she’s a Detroiter who understands what our communities are up against,” said Original Eastside Slate Vice Chair Carol Banks. “Right now, sky-high property taxes and rising costs are pushing Detroiters out of their own communities. We need a governor who won’t just make promises, but will actually deliver for everyone, not just the people who live Downtown. As Secretary of State, Jocelyn has shown up and delivered for the Eastside. We look forward to working with her to bring investment and opportunity back to our neighborhoods. It is time for a blue wave in Michigan, now more than ever!”&nbsp; “It means so much to have the support of the powerful Eastside slate as we build a people-powered campaign to win across Michigan - and throughout Detroit,” said Jocelyn Benson. “As a Detroit resident, I see every day the skyrocketing costs that force so many families to choose whether to buy groceries or cover their electricity bill, as the price of housing, health care, food, and just about everything else is through the roof. As governor, I will lower those costs and increase wages by taking on corruption and making sure government shows up when you need it and makes your life easier." Eastside Slate joins a coalition of Detroit leaders and organizations supporting Jocelyn Benson including: Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago Romero, Former Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, State Rep. Tonya Myers-Phillips, Rev. Horace Sheffield, Mothering Justice Founder Danielle Atkinson, Detroit actor and former Senate candidate Hill Harper, and former City Council President Saunteel Jenkins.&nbsp; Jocelyn has received endorsements from a broad coalition of mayors, city leaders, educators, and labor organizations who recognize Benson’s track record of delivering for Michiganders and making government work for the people who need it. You can find a full list of endorsements, <a href="https://us.list-manage.com/_PgT5nRAYwW?e=206b67a443&amp;c2id=b03e5337684422656f72d19755ec5f0e" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.###

Today, the Detroit Original Eastside Slate <a href="https://us.list-manage.com/HTIuqh6XOaP?e=206b67a443&amp;c2id=b03e5337684422656f72d19755ec5f0e" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">endorsed</a> Jocelyn Benson for governor of Michigan. The Eastside Slate has long advocated for the residents of Detroit and fought to ensure their voices are heard at all levels of government. They are committed to elected leaders who will deliver on economic equality and invest in all Detroiters.&nbsp;

Detroit Original Eastside Slate Endorses Jocelyn Benson for Governor

Today, End Citizens United (ECU) endorsed Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for Michigan Governor.&nbsp;“Secretary Benson has consistently demonstrated the courage and commitment needed to move Michigan forward in these unprecedented times,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “She is a proven reformer, a fierce defender of our rights and freedoms, and a solutions-driven leader who puts people above politics. Whether she’s protecting the voices and votes of Michigan families, creating a fair economy, or fighting back against special interests, Secretary Benson has the vision and experience to deliver results. We’re thrilled to endorse her campaign and we look forward to helping her win.”“I’m honored to have the support of End Citizens United, a group that’s committed to ensuring the voices and votes of everyday Michiganders are not drowned out by special interests and billionaires,” said Secretary of State Benson. “In this post-Citizens United world that we live in, it’s more important than ever to fight against wealthy special interests to shape government so that it works for all Michigan families, not just those who can buy access and influence.”Under Secretary Benson’s leadership, Michigan has emerged as a national model for election security, transparency, and accessibility. As Secretary of State, Benson has championed critical reforms in Michigan, like establishing an independent redistricting commission, expanding access to the ballot box through no-excuse absentee voting, same-day registration, and automatic and online voter registration. These reforms were widely popular in Michigan, passing with the support of two-thirds of Michigan voters. In March 2021, Benson and ECU President Tiffany Muller <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.DuO4W433tnUXySRTpZv0tBqkNinf6091MapbskklRvHdWoNsdbbcWhFhx56isIV9dKUTUnCHfEoF0UbNLl8gBvb001GXTQfqf-2BTNSpYZ8sIHSqcQ-2BghmFZoJLCMXS2s84dSq5izDyYM47jUiA-2FgFZYhcCW4EJd3NZaWRrAYtGAe-2Bmt3vpIm-2BodqEh36uTmeT5W7OQXTnIcWkqi68KTST8W0Sl-2BLXyPYuyslrrxfpQNE-3D_dyk_Yue17g79b8BE-2BH-2Bg-2BEvtpeQtA38VX-2BBPuvaNLFDD4q10HzKSLRvx7bQzOe3F3noQ4h2kdyMpFBHJcW0bpBhegUMGGoa3W4q4xzeEH6wP7ZNjchmBZlUCM7itur-2FTP0rMyqtHcJT-2Fl6-2BEjXMaTO0Swi2j4hI3XK6xpDiUAegtXGHH0e9Ky-2BKxj-2BIYBnusw3toNba9uBcpeQ9coIrwL-2BMSb5xuYEyrfT0cghwXGQZQWwOpELEBY-2Fi05Kniu-2BLxre5B-2BonClq-2BpzMsh5IYPwID-2F-2BoxCKyTzRQvN4rgO9DcB4XIyUpl6J3Z5yvFFaexlj-2Bd-2FKHJaGjjTvm3nahf6-2F-2BzNFw9HCMH612-2BgyXN459J-2BC7-2Fa8ul-2BxUWgbIm-2FjCAo2rpD">testified in front of the Senate Rules Committee</a>, emphasizing the necessity of passing the For the People Act (H.R.1/S.1). Benson noted in her testimony that the reforms she made in Michigan were similar to those in the For the People Act. She highlighted that they worked well in increasing voter turnout and had broad support from Michiganders of both political parties.ECU is a grassroots campaign finance grassroots organization dedicated to rooting out corruption and protecting voting rights. The group has more than 4 million members nationwide.

Today, End Citizens United (ECU) endorsed Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for Michigan Governor.&nbsp;“Secretary Benson has consistently demonstrated the courage and commitment needed to move Michigan forward in these unprecedented times,” said End Citizens United...

End Citizens United Endorses Jocelyn Benson for Governor

Today, Jocelyn Benson <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=02b80ada09&amp;e=206b67a443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">submitted</a> 30,000 petition signatures, more than double the amount required, to earn her place on the ballot. With support from every corner of Michigan, Jocelyn is building a powerful coalition to win in November.&nbsp;Jocelyn gathered with dozens of Michiganders in Lansing to share this occasion with the volunteers, supporters, and community leaders that made this happen. After over a year on the campaign trail, Jocelyn is building a strong, people-powered coalition across the state to win in November just as she has done in her past two statewide victories. While the rest of the gubernatorial field is focused on appealing to Trump and his MAGA donors, today’s submission further underscores the momentum and enthusiasm statewide behind Jocelyn and her plan to lower costs for families across the state.Video of Jocelyn’s remarks is available <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=9d3418e975&amp;e=206b67a443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. Transcript of Jocelyn’s remarks:Hi guys! Look at this. These represent the signatures of over 30,000 Michiganders, more than we need–twice as much as what's needed to qualify for the ballot. I'm feeling pretty good about that. How are you guys feeling about that?And what's so exciting here is that every signature represents hope, every signature represents a call to action for all of us to do better, right? To show up for Michiganders all across the state, in every single one of our 83 counties, and ensure we're driving down those skyrocketing costs, protecting our water, protecting our environment, increasing access to well paying jobs, and being ready to stand up to anyone, anytime, anywhere, who would try to interfere with our rights, our freedoms, or our democracy. You ready? We're doing it for them. We're doing it for all of you. We're doing it for every Michigander.I'm so thrilled to have the support of all of you, unions, leaders, Michiganders, all across the state. That's what it's going to take to win in November, and win we will. Let's get that trifecta back and get to work!Additional background:Jocelyn has rolled out an affordability agenda directly informed by her conversations across the state to tackle the rising costs that are crushing Michigan families. In January, she rolled out her <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=826fae7ed8&amp;e=206b67a443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">healthcare plan</a> to lower bills and improve outcomes. Jocelyn then rolled out her <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=56ff3a3f25&amp;e=206b67a443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">housing agenda</a> in March to ensure Michiganders can afford a home where they live and work. Finally, she rolled out her <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=5a5ded1876&amp;e=206b67a443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">energy affordability plan</a> to stop the unfair rate hikes and tackle Michigan’s record-high utility bills.&nbsp; Jocelyn is building a powerful statewide campaign powered by hundreds of volunteers, tens of thousands of individual contributions from every single county across the state, and a broad coalition of former governors, mayors, city leaders, educators, and labor organizations who recognize Benson’s track record of delivering for Michiganders and making government work for the people who need it. She also has the support of state and national organizations including the Michigan Association of Justice, Michigan Democratic Party’s Black Caucus, EMILYs List, and End Citizen United, among others. You can find a full list of endorsements, <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=5a8b0dfce0&amp;e=206b67a443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Today, Jocelyn Benson <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=02b80ada09&amp;e=206b67a443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">submitted</a> 30,000 petition signatures, more than double the amount required, to earn her place on the ballot. With support from every corner of Michigan, Jocelyn is building a powerful coalition to win in November.&nbsp;

Jocelyn Benson Submits Maximum of 30,000 Signatures to Qualify for the Ballot

Jocelyn Benson has grown her war chest to $1.9 million since launching her campaign for Governor. With over 14,000 individual contributions and an average donation of $47 since the campaign’s January 22 launch, Secretary Benson’s vision of making Michigan the best place to be a kid, raise a kid, and call home continues to resonate.“If we want Michigan to be the best, we need a governor who will save Michiganders’ time and money, ensure government works for the people, and will stand up to anyone who threatens our rights and freedoms,” said Benson Campaign Manager Nikki Goldschein. “Jocelyn is that leader, and the enthusiasm and support for her campaign is proof that she has what it takes to make that vision a reality for all Michiganders.”&nbsp;In addition, a <a href="https://mirs-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1818-Freq%20Target%20Insyght%20Statewide%2003072025.pdf">new poll</a> from Target Insyght shows Jocelyn is the overwhelming favorite in the Democratic primary and is far ahead of the Republican and Independent candidates for the November 2026 general election.Jocelyn has also earned <a href="https://jocelynbenson.com/endorsements/">endorsements</a> from state legislators across the state, Mayor of the second largest city in Michigan David LaGrand, and EMILYs List, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to electing more pro-choice Democratic women to office. This strong momentum shows Michiganders believe in Jocelyn’s vision and leadership.&nbsp;

Jocelyn Benson has grown her war chest to $1.9 million since launching her campaign for Governor. With over 14,000 individual contributions and an average donation of $47 since the campaign’s January 22 launch, Secretary Benson’s vision...

Benson for Governor Has Nearly $2 Million War Chest as New Poll Confirms Benson is the Frontrunner in 2026

Benson: “It’s on us to fight back”&nbsp;In a new op-ed in the <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=aa58546593&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Michigan Chronicle</a>, Jocelyn Benson outlined the impact of the&nbsp; Supreme Court’s decision to gut the Voting Rights Act last week and called on the state legislature to pass the Michigan Voting Rights Act. As Secretary of State, Jocelyn has stood up for Michiganders’ right to vote at every turn — even when it meant sheltering in her home as armed protesters and the President of the United States tried to bully her to overturn an election. She’s made clear she will take on anyone, no matter how wealthy or powerful, who threatens Michiganders’ rights and freedoms.&nbsp;Key point: “[H]istory teaches us that when we refuse to be intimidated, and choose to stand strong, we can end injustice everywhere. So let’s lock arms, Michigan, and pass a Voting Rights Act in our state. Let’s show the nation who we are and what we believe in – a democracy for all.”In case you missed it…&nbsp; Michigan Chronicle: <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=25c0e4335a&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SOS Jocelyn Benson: As the US Supreme Court Guts the Voting Rights Act, It’s on Us to Fight Back</a>[Jocelyn Benson, 05/15/2026]&nbsp; I started my career in Montgomery Alabama. I moved there to dig deep into the unfinished work of the civil rights movement, see first-hand the multi-generational impact of slavery, Jim Crow, and structural racism, and learn from those who worked and organized for a more just and equal world. I lived among those who were threatened, beaten and murdered for participating in a march for voting rights in Selma, Alabama. I came to Michigan, clerking for Judge Damon Keith and then running for Secretary of State, to do what I could to help ensure the one person one vote promise in our constitution is a reality for everyone. Last week a majority of justices on the United States Supreme Court eviscerated that constitutional promise. [...] [T]his ruling is the culmination of a multi-decade long, well-coordinated effort to chip away at the crowning achievement of the civil rights movement. And with the loss of the federal protections of the Voting Rights Act, states are now free to discriminate against American voters. [...] This week I partnered with State Senators Darrin Camilleri, Erica Geiss, Jeremy Moss and Stephanie Chang and State Legislators Stephanie Young, Veronica Paiz, Jason Hoskins and Tonya Phillips to re-introduce a Michigan Voting Rights Act to re-establish the protections of the national VRA in our state. And we are building a coalition with clerks, faith leaders, and civil rights organizations across Michigan to get this passed. [...] Because even when it meant sheltering in my home in Detroit, protecting my son from people with guns who showed up on my front lawn because of lies they’d been fed about our elections – I am committed [to] continuing the work of all those who came before us to fight for your freedom to vote. [...] But because the eyes of all those who came before us are on us now. And the eyes of the young boys and girls who will inherit what we leave behind – they are looking to us as well to fix what is broken and fight for them. The fight for democracy is ours to continue, our baton to carry, our battle to wage. And history teaches us that when we refuse to be intimidated, and choose to stand strong, we can end injustice everywhere. So let’s lock arms, Michigan, and pass a Voting Rights Act in our state. Let’s show the nation who we are and what we believe in – a democracy for all.###

In a new op-ed in the <a href="https://jocelynbenson.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43a4c8630d5394806474bb6b1&amp;id=aa58546593&amp;e=4ca3c643a9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Michigan Chronicle</a>, Jocelyn Benson outlined the impact of the&nbsp; Supreme Court’s decision to gut the Voting Rights Act last week and called on the state legislature to pass the Michigan Voting Rights Act.

Jocelyn Benson Reintroduces Michigan Voting Rights Act, Lays Out Case for Additional Protections

<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c9b12638-e867-4422-b5c9-3bbe3a93dc72/3c94412f-e186-4fc6-8c86-eb9fbc8eacca/3c94412f-e186-4fc6-8c86-eb9fbc8eacca.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1999%2C1428&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" variant="base">Today, gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson toured the Macomb Community College M3 Facility, the Rising Stars Academy, and then hosted a roundtable with educators and local leaders to discuss ways the next governor can better support our teachers and set students up for success in the job market.&nbsp;As the daughter of two public school special education teachers and a member of Michigan’s AFT, Jocelyn knows firsthand just how critical it is for educators to have a seat at the table. Growing up watching her parents advocate for their fellow educators and students and seeing their voices go unheard is part of the reason Jocelyn was inspired to get involved in public service and why she's committed to building a world-class education system that gives every Michigander – no matter their ability – a fair shot to learn, work, and thrive. “My parents were special education teachers and so for me, this is why I got into public service, because I saw firsthand how their voices were unheard,” said Secretary Benson. “As governor, my commitment is to make sure you're at this table with me and my job is to fight on your behalf and to work with our allies in the legislature to be effective. Our kids deserve it. Our educators deserve it.”<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c9b12638-e867-4422-b5c9-3bbe3a93dc72/390c7bc9-eed3-4659-bf0b-9b4db86ffa51/390c7bc9-eed3-4659-bf0b-9b4db86ffa51.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1656%2C1208&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" variant="base"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/c9b12638-e867-4422-b5c9-3bbe3a93dc72/11b76b28-714d-489c-b402-e9360bd04687/11b76b28-714d-489c-b402-e9360bd04687.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1668%2C1188&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" variant="base"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/c9b12638-e867-4422-b5c9-3bbe3a93dc72/9a2f2915-b952-443f-a839-ab1aa626d944/9a2f2915-b952-443f-a839-ab1aa626d944.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1999%2C1333&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" variant="base"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/c9b12638-e867-4422-b5c9-3bbe3a93dc72/cbeefe43-20df-4f98-bf72-da285a77c2a7/cbeefe43-20df-4f98-bf72-da285a77c2a7.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1999%2C1333&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" variant="base">###

Today, gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson toured the Macomb Community College M3 Facility, the Rising Stars Academy, and then hosted a roundtable with educators and local leaders to discuss ways the next governor can better support our teachers and set students up for success in the job market.&nbsp;

Building a Michigan everyone can afford.

Jocelyn Benson will be a Governor who gets things done for Michiganders.

We’re grateful for your donations!

Our priorities

Making Michigan the best place to call home.

Affordable Healthcare

Housing for All

Lower Electricity Costs

Quality Education

Jobs & Economic Growth

NEWSROOM

Jocelyn Benson Meets with Black Voters in Detroit, Shares Vision of Economic Empowerment

Benson’s “Courageous” Plan Will Deliver a World Class Education For Every Michigan Student

Jocelyn Rolls Out “Bold” Plan to Build a World-Class Education for Every Michigan Child

Make a plan to vote!

Election Day

August 4

Early In-Person Voting
*check your local clerk's office, early voting could begin earlier in your community

July 20

to avoid postal delays, mail in by:

July 21

Check if you're registered to vote

Register to vote

Request a mail ballot

Early voting locations

Jocelyn Benson will be a Governor who gets things done for Michiganders.

We’re grateful for your donations!

Our priorities

Making Michigan the best place to call home.

Affordable Healthcare

Housing for All

Lower Electricity Costs

Quality Education

Jobs & Economic Growth

NEWSROOM

Jocelyn Benson Meets with Black Voters in Detroit, Shares Vision of Economic Empowerment

Benson’s “Courageous” Plan Will Deliver a World Class Education For Every Michigan Student

Jocelyn Rolls Out “Bold” Plan to Build a World-Class Education for Every Michigan Child

Make a plan to vote!

Election Day

August 4

Early In-Person Voting *check your local clerk's office, early voting could begin earlier in your community

July 20

to avoid postal delays, mail in by:

July 21

Register to vote

Request a mail ballot

Early voting locations

Early In-Person Voting
*check your local clerk's office, early voting could begin earlier in your community