Governor of Michigan
Jocelyn Benson
Michigan Secretary of State (since January 2019)Democratic
- Race
- Governor of Michigan
- Election
- 2026-11-03
- Opponents
- John James (Republican); Anthony Hudson (Libertarian); Douglas Campbell (Green); Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did2 statements · 0 votes
passing legislation on gun safety
Stricter gun laws
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotGovernor
2026-11-03
| Jocelyn Benson Democratic | challenger |
| John James Republican | challenger |
| Anthony Hudson Libertarian | challenger |
| Douglas Campbell Green | challenger |
| Donna Brandenburg U.S. Taxpayers | challenger |
Running with Lt. Gov. candidate Winnie Brinks, Michigan Senate Majority Leader. Won the August 4 Democratic primary with 83.2%.
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
passing legislation on gun safety
At a May 2026 gun-violence prevention forum, Benson said she wants to ensure Michigan is "passing legislation on gun safety"; her campaign says that as governor she will support commonsense laws that keep Michigan communities safe. She has been endorsed by Giffords PAC, Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action.[6]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
That means building more homes, faster.
Calls for building more homes faster and names outdated zoning regulations and bureaucratic red tape among the causes of the housing shortage.[7]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Biography
Jocelyn Benson is Michigan's 43rd Secretary of State and the Democratic nominee for governor, with running mate Winnie Brinks. A former Wayne State University law dean, she was elected secretary of state in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Her campaign emphasizes housing, health-care costs, child care and education, and she has said she would pass gun-safety legislation.[1][2][3][4][5]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Benson was raised in Pittsburgh. She earned a B.A. from Wellesley College, a master's degree as a Marshall Scholar at Oxford, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.[4]
She began teaching at Wayne State University Law School in 2005. In 2012, at age 36, she was appointed its dean, a post she held until 2016; the Department of State says she was then the youngest woman in U.S. history to lead a top-100, accredited law school.[4][5] She founded the school's Levin Center with former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and continues as vice chair of its advisory board.[5] From 2016 to 2018 she led the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality.[4]
Benson lost her first race for secretary of state, in 2010. She won the office in 2018, and was re-elected in 2022.[4]
On the record
Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
- action2019-09-24 · Announced that automatic voter registration had launched at Michigan branch offices, implementing the 2018 voter-approved Promote the Vote amendment.[8]
- legal2020-10-27 · Issued a statewide order prohibiting open carry of firearms at polling places on Election Day 2020; a Court of Claims judge struck down the order in Robert Davis v. Jocelyn Benson, and the attorney general's office said it would appeal.[9]
- action2026-05-06 · Released a letter to the Board of State Canvassers describing election-administration policies meant to avoid conflicts of interest arising from her dual role as secretary of state and candidate for governor.[10]
In their own words
Priorities
- Housing: building more homes faster and cutting red tape in housing processes; her housing page names corporate investors and out-of-state speculators as part of the problem.[7]
- Health-care costs: low- or no-cost preventive care, an independent Prescription Drug Affordability Board, cost-transparency legislation, and medical debt relief.[11]
- Child care: her page describes low pay for child care workers and a shortage of providers as problems, and calls for affordable, reliable early learning and care.[12]
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/jocelyn-benson
Compare all 5 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.2026 Michigan gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 2.Housing · Benson for Governor campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 3.Benson Campaigns with Reproductive Freedom for All President Mini Timmaraju · Benson for Governor campaign · 2026-03-16 Candidate's own words
- 4.Jocelyn Benson · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 5.Jocelyn Benson - Michigan Secretary of State · Michigan Department of State Official record
- 6.At Gun Violence Prevention Forum, Jocelyn Benson Lays Out Vision to Keep Michiganders Safe and Secure · Benson for Governor campaign · 2026-05-16 Candidate's own words
- 7.Housing · Benson for Governor campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 8.Secretary Benson announces modernized voter registration on National Voter Registration Day · Michigan Department of State · 2019-09-24 Official record
- 9.Judge rules against ban on guns at polls; AG plans appeal · Michigan Advance · 2020-10-27 News report
- 10.Secretary Benson releases firewall policy for 2026 election administration · Michigan Department of State · 2026-05-06 Official record
- 11.Healthcare · Benson for Governor campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 12.Childcare · Benson for Governor campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words