Polling Average
80%60%40%20%0%
55.8%
12.7%
6.5%
Michigan Democratic Governor nominee?
$45.1K
AUG 5, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleSecretary of State
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyLiberal Democrat
Age48 years old (Oct 22, 1977)
GenderFemale
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LocationMichigan
BackgroundPolitician
EducationWellesley College
Notable personal detailsJocelyn Michelle Benson is an American politician and attorney who has served as the 43rd Secretary of State of Michigan since 2019. She previously served as dean of Wayne State University Law School (2012–2016) and is a co-founder of the Military Spouses of Michigan. In January 2025, she announced a campaign for Governor of Michigan in the 2026 election.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgmichigan.govapnews.comwikidata.orgaxios.comjocelynbenson.commichiganadvance.comes.wikipedia.orgwkar.orgmichwomen.comlegislature.mi.govwdet.orginterlochen.orgourmidland.comdetroitnews.commichiganpublic.orgthemidwesterner.newsmichigannewssource.comnwlcactionfund.orgcbsnews.commichiganlcv.orgmichiganchronicle.comkiplinger.comuppermichiganssource.comnass.orgdurbin.senate.govwalberg.house.govcongress.govnga.orgmoolenaar.house.govmurphy.senate.govsmallbusiness.house.govpeters.senate.govjudiciary.senate.govrules.senate.govgovinfo.govmcclain.house.govcha.house.govpadilla.senate.govballotready.orgklobuchar.senate.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports making Michigan more affordable through public investments in housing, healthcare, childcare, and education while prioritizing efficient, transparent government and economic development reform; opposes providing tax breaks as the primary tool to attract business and emphasizes workforce/talent development instead.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access and affordability through stronger implementation and funding of public programs (including protecting Medicaid coverage), establishing drug price and health care affordability boards, boosting the health care workforce, and improving reproductive and maternal health access. Focuses on administrative reforms at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to reduce coverage gaps and increase enrollment navigation and community outreach.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate has defended recognizing asylum-seekers as having lawful presence for purposes like state licensing and emphasized verifying legal presence before issuing licenses. Her public statements and office communications use humanitarian language for migrants while following verification procedures rather than endorsing expanded enforcement measures. There is no evidence of support for major restrictionist or large-scale deportation policies in the sourced materials.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protecting and expanding abortion and reproductive health access, including codifying state-level protections and making reproductive care practically accessible across Michigan. Emphasizes strengthening access in rural areas and increasing support for maternal and reproductive health services. Opposes the rollback of Roe v. Wade and calls for legal protections to ensure access does not depend on location.
Climate & Energy
Supports clean energy transitions and policies to lower electricity costs while allowing responsible economic development; favors guardrails for energy‑intensive projects (like data centers) to protect water and limit energy cost impacts and has taken administrative action against groups opposing clean energy transparency.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 1, 2026
Jocelyn Benson is in the news because Mike Duggan has suspended his independent campaign for Michigan governor, which narrows the field and appears to strengthen her position in the 2026 race. Benson said she welcomes Duggan’s supporters and will keep campaigning. Recent polling has also shown her leading in both the general election and the Democratic primary, though the race is still described as competitive. She has also faced Republican scrutiny over past ties to the Southern Poverty Law Center and has been involved in election-related disputes with state officials opposing a Justice Department ballot request.
en.wikipedia.org+40
Articles
WWJLA11 days ago
Ex-Detroit mayor suspends independent campaign for Michigan governor
Positive
MLM Live Michigan 11 days ago
As governor’s race became a ‘referendum’ on Trump, Duggan’s path to victory evaporated
Positive
FFortune11 days ago
'In 60 days there’s been a huge change in the attitudes of this country': Former Detroit mayor says bipartisan approach in governor race is doomed
Positive
MLM Live Michigan 13 days ago
Governor candidates spar over donations, talk data centers and energy rates at UAW forum
Neutral
Polls
Michigan Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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- Fundraising