ICYMI: Jocelyn Benson Launches Gubernatorial Campaign with Momentum and Support Across Michigan

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson kicked off her gubernatorial campaign last week with overwhelming support from Michiganders across the state. She made her vision for the future of Michigan clear in her campaign ad “Fair Shot” which highlights her ability to win tough battles, her commitment to lowering costs, and making sure Michigan is the best place to be a kid, raise a kid, and call home.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that everyone gets a fair shot in life,” Benson said.  Following her announcement, Benson traveled across Michigan, making stops in Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids to meet with supporters. In Grand Rapids, West Michigan leaders, including Mayor David LaGrand, came together to endorse her candidacy.

WATCH HERE

The outpouring of support continued with the following list of lawmakers all endorsing on day one: Rep. Phil Skaggs (Grand Rapids), Rep. Joey Andrews (Southwest Michigan), Rep. Jason Morgan (Ann Arbor), Rep. Jimmie Wilson (Ypsilanti), Rep. Carrie Rhenigans (Ann Arbor), Rep. Julie Brixie (Lansing), Rep. Betsey Coffia (Traverse City), Rep. Dylan Wegala (South West Wayne County), Rep. Jennifer Conlin (Washtenaw County), Rep. Kelly Breen (West Oakland County), Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (Lansing), Rep. Natalie Price (Oakland County), Sen. Sean McCann (Kalamazoo), Rep. Denise Mentzer (Mt. Clemens), Rep. Noah Arbit (West Bloomfield), Former Rep. Adam Zemke (Washtenaw County), and Former Congressman and 2014 Dem. Gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer (Howell)

Benson has also received the endorsement of national organizations, including EMILYs List, Vote Mama, and End Citizens United.

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WXYZ – Detroit, MI: “As Secretary of State, I’ve worked hard to make sure our government works well for everyone. And now I want to make sure every agency works as well as ours and that we continue to make Michigan the best place to be a kid, or raise a kid, or call home,” she said in an interview with 7 News Detroit.”Housing in Michigan should be affordable. And building a home or having a home or paying for energy cost for that home, all of it should be transparent and affordable as well. So our vision for Michigan is one in which housing is affordable, in which you can afford to live or rent a home in the community you want to be in, and then be safe in that home and in that community and in your workplace, and your kids safe in schools,” said Benson.

Detroit Free Press: Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State, announces run for Michigan governor

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced Wednesday her plans to run for governor, making her the first major Democratic candidate to enter the race to replace Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.In an email announcing her run, Benson said she has a track record of delivering results to improve the lives of Michigan residents. “I want Michigan to be the best place in the country to be a kid, raise a kid, and be healthy, safe, and successful. A place where government is efficient and easy to deal with, where businesses and communities thrive, and where every resident has access to quality child care, health care, education, and housing,” Benson said in a statement.Speaking to reporters in Lansing Wednesday afternoon, Benson repeatedly pledged to bring efficiency and transparency to state government if elected. She also said her goal is to make sure Michigan government saves residents time and money, pursues an economic development strategy that raises wages for workers, boosts access to affordable housing and child care and improves students’ educational outcomes.

Michigan Advance: Benson makes it official: She’s running for governor

In Wednesday’s official announcement, Benson laid out her background as the daughter of public school teachers working in special education.“We have a responsibility to ensure that everyone gets a fair shot in life. That’s what my parents taught me growing up,” she said.“I’ve carried that lesson every step of my life, investigating radical extremist groups, teaching civil rights and voting rights law.”[…]As secretary of state, Benson said her administration “eliminated the long lines, expanded online services and stations, and launched mobile offices to bring services to every corner of our state.”She closed her message with a laundry list of progressive priorities, including “access to affordable health care and reproductive freedom,” adding that every Michigander should be able to “pay their bills, put food on the table, and take care of their families.”

New York Times: Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, Is Running for Governor

“It’s clear that too many feel left out in the cold, their voices drowned out by more powerful ones,” Ms. Benson said in an announcement video. “I’ll keep standing up to any bullies or billionaires who try to deceive us, divide us, take away our rights or deny anyone the opportunity to get a fair shot.”In the video, Ms. Benson said she had run for secretary of state “to make sure government is efficient and transparent, that every voice is heard and every legitimate vote is counted, in every election, no matter the outcome.”Alluding to Republican efforts to overthrow the results of the 2020 election — including armed protests outside her home — she continued, “Some people didn’t like that very much.””But I’ve never backed down from a tough fight,” she added.

MSNBC Ayman Mohyeldin Reports: Jocelyn Benson enters Michigan governor’s race, condemns 1/6 pardons

“Just before I joined you tonight, I was actually at an event in Dearborn talking with local leaders and I heard the same things that I’ve heard talking to folks all across the state, either in northern Michigan, the UP and Detroit and Grand Rapids. There’s a housing crisis in our state where everyone wants to be able to simply afford a home and live in the community that they want to call home. There’s an economic crisis where our wages are stagnant and cost of living is increasing. No matter where anyone lives in the state or who they love or or who they worship those economic issues cut deep and that’s what you need, I believe, from a governor, from a leader, and from government in total to make sure we have the backs of everyone in the state, that everyone feels safe, that you have an economy that works for you, that we’re working to save people’s time, cut costs, and make sure people can afford to live in the communities they wanna live in.

So that’ll be my job as governor. That’s my commitment to every resident of the state, no matter who they voted for, Democrats, Republicans and independents. We’re all in this together and we can build a government and an economy that works for everyone.”