Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson launches campaign for governor
Benson is the first high-profile Democrat to launch a gubernatorial campaign in the state.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D), in a brief turn as acting governor, signed a bill Dec. 1, 2023, to allow voters to request an absentee ballot through a state portal, a policy first adopted during the early days of COVID-19.
Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson officially launched her Democratic bid for governor on Wednesday, running to succeed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2026.
Benson is the first high-profile Democrat to launch a gubernatorial campaign in the state, with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan — a longtime Democrat — announcing he’ll be running for the seat as an independent.
I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, we can and must all work together to build a better Michigan.
Choosing our next governor isn’t about politics — it’s about the values we share and the future we want for ourselves, our families, and our communities. pic.twitter.com/fmP0vaPbNj— Jocelyn Benson (@JocelynBenson) January 22, 2025
Whitmer, whose own statewide wins mirror Benson’s in 2018 and 2022, is term limited and has said she does not plan to endorse anyone in the race to be her successor.
Reporting by Isabella Volmert, Associated Press. WDET’s Jenny Sherman contributed.
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