Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced that she will run for governor in 2026.
“I am running for Governor because our state needs a bold leader who will save Michiganders time and money, deliver real results that improve everyone’s lives, and protect our residents. That’s what I’ve done my entire career,” said Benson in a release. “This campaign is about ensuring government is on your side so Michigan is 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. As governor, I will bring people together to solve our biggest problems and make sure everyone has a fair shot.”
Benson was elected as Michigan’s Secretary of State in 2018. During her time in this role, she improved the customer service operations of the Secretary of State’s Office by doubling the number of services available online, installing more than 100 self-service stations across the state, and launching mobile offices to bring services to residents who couldn’t easily reach offices or access the internet, according to the department’s website.
“When Jocelyn became Secretary of State in 2019, she got to work on day one to make life easier for every Michigander,” according to the release announcing her run. “Under her leadership, operations at the Secretary of State’s Office drastically improved, and the department went from having some of the longest wait times in the country to a model for state services. She eliminated wait times, created over 150 self-service stations to serve Michiganders in every corner of the state, all while implementing initiatives to make Michigan’s elections the most secure and accessible in the nation. And, 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.”
Before being elected as Secretary of State, Benson served as the dean of Wayne State University’s law school from 2012 to 2016. When she was appointed as the dean at age 36, she was the youngest woman ever to lead a top-100 accredited law school.
Benson also co-founded the Military Spouses of Michigan, which is a network that provides support to military spouses and their children.
In her announcement video, Benson said, “I’m running for governor to truly make government work for everyone. We need leaders who are transparent and accountable. We need our schools and neighborhoods to be safe for all of us. Every Michigander should be able to pay their bills, put food on the table and take care of their families. We deserve access to affordable health care and reproductive freedom. And our kids deserve schools that are the best in the nation, along with quality, affordable healthcare. Let’s make Michigan the best place to be a kid, raise a kid, stay and call home.”
Benson is the first Democrat to join the race, but a few other high-profile leaders have announced that they will be running to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
