Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat who has served as Michigan’s secretary of state since 2019, is running for governor in the Nov. 3 general election.
Her campaign’s affordability agenda focuses on housing, health care, childcare and household costs.
Benson and lieutenant governor running mate Winnie Brinks appear on the Michigan Department of State’s official candidate list.
The other gubernatorial candidates on the state’s five listed tickets are John James (Republican), Anthony Hudson (Libertarian), Douglas Campbell (Green) and Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers).
Candidate information
- Party: Democratic
- Office sought: Michigan governor
- Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
- Running mate: Winnie Brinks
- Ballot status: Listed on the state’s official candidate list
- Current office: Michigan secretary of state
Experience and public service
Benson previously served as dean of Wayne State University Law School and as an associate professor and associate director of its Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, according to her official state biography.
Her BallotReady profile lists her tenure as dean from 2012 to 2016 and her service as CEO and executive director of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality from 2016 to 2018.
BallotReady also lists a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College in 1999, a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Oxford in 2001 and a law degree from Harvard University in 2004.
Benson co-founded Military Spouses of Michigan, a support network for military spouses and their children, according to her state biography.
On the issues
The following proposals come from Benson’s campaign materials and reflect her stated positions.
Housing: Her housing agenda proposes faster construction approvals, expanded homebuyer and property-tax credits, and barring private equity firms and institutional investors from buying homes during their first 100 days on the market.
Health care: Her health care agenda proposes a $5,000 caregiver tax credit, an independent Prescription Drug Affordability Board, upfront hospital pricing and more mobile health centers serving rural and underserved communities.
Education and childcare: Her education plan calls for starting teacher salaries of at least $60,000, preschool access for all 3- and 4-year-olds, statewide expansion of Rx Kids and school funding based on student needs.
Energy costs: Her energy agenda proposes increased outage credits, a power-grid audit, home weatherization assistance and restrictions on political contributions from regulated utilities.
Data centers: Her data center policy calls for pausing new development until requirements governing community participation, energy costs and natural resources are established.
These are campaign proposals, rather than policies already enacted.
Endorsements
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg endorsed Benson, according to Bridge Michigan. Former Michigan governors Jennifer Granholm and James Blanchard also endorsed her, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
Benson was sent a candidate questionnaire. This profile will be updated if a response is received.
