Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is projected to be the winner of Tuesday’s Democratic gubernatorial major race, in keeping with CBS Information.
As of 9 p.m., unofficial outcomes present that Benson was profitable with 211,877 votes over Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson’s 38,439 votes. At the moment, 17% of the votes had been counted.
Benson would go head-to-head towards the winner of the Republican major — Congressman John James and businessman Perry Johnson.
Democratic Governors Affiliation Chair Andy Beshear launched the next assertion:
“Congratulations to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on changing into the Democratic nominee for governor in Michigan. Jocelyn understands the challenges households are going through, and he or she has been a fearless public servant who fixes damaged methods and improves the lives of Michiganders.
“As Secretary of State, she stored her guarantees and reworked one among Michigan’s largest departments into one which saved folks time, elevated transparency, and defended our democracy towards relentless assaults. As governor, Jocelyn will sort out corruption, decrease the prices of well being care, housing, and power, and all the time stand as much as Donald Trump when he threatens Michigan households and their freedoms.
“She’s already earned the belief of Michiganders by profitable statewide twice, and the DGA might be all-in to verify she wins this high-stakes race so she will hold standing up for the folks of Michigan.”
Democratic Nationwide Conference Chair Ken Martin launched the next assertion:
“Congratulations to Jocelyn Benson on incomes the Democratic nomination to be the subsequent governor of Michigan. As Michigan’s Secretary of State, Jocelyn has devoted her profession to serving the folks of Michigan, defending the appropriate to vote, and delivering outcomes for households throughout the state. Her file of management has earned the belief of Michigan voters, and Democrats are united behind her as we work collectively to decrease costs, defend healthcare, and construct on our progress in an effort to hold Michigan transferring ahead.”
The candidates
Benson was elected in 2018 and oversees the state’s election processes and the motorized vehicle division. She cited her achievements in that position, together with reducing wait instances for in-person appointments and putting in self-service motorized vehicle stations throughout the state.
Benson’s marketing campaign guarantees embrace bringing accountability and transparency to state authorities, and dealing on behalf of the state’s households with a “progressive imaginative and prescient for Michigan’s future.”
She has been important of President Trump, who has repeatedly made claims of voter fraud in the course of the 2020 election.
Benson has additionally confronted lawsuits in latest months forward of the election. In January 2026, 4 Black staff sued the Michigan Secretary of State, alleging racial discrimination within the office.
In Could 2025, Michigan Legal professional Normal Dana Nessel stated Benson violated state regulation by internet hosting a marketing campaign press convention in a state constructing’s foyer. On the time, Benson stated she did not need folks outdoors within the chilly.
Swanson was elected sheriff of Michigan’s fifth-largest county in 2020. His announcement that he would run for governor marked his full leap into politics after gaining nationwide consideration for marching with protesters following the dying of George Floyd and talking on the Democratic Nationwide Conference in 2024.
On the protest in Flint, Swanson eliminated his riot gear and marched alongside demonstrators.
Swanson attended Mott Group Faculty in Flint and the College of Michigan, incomes bachelor’s and grasp’s levels in public administration, in keeping with his web site.
Key points
The important thing points highlighted in Benson’s marketing campaign embrace housing and affordability, healthcare, childcare, power prices, and the event of renewable power infrastructure. Benson additionally focuses on information facilities, which have drawn consideration in Southeast Michigan amid protests by a number of residents.
Whereas Benson just isn’t against information facilities coming to Michigan, she argues that they need to deliver jobs and low power prices for residents, in keeping with her web site. She additionally pushed for public hearings on information facilities to permit residents to specific their issues.
Swanson focuses on a hashish safety plan, a pet safety plan and increasing the I.G.N.I.T.E. program in jails, in keeping with his marketing campaign web site. This system, which he launched in Genesee County in 2020, goals to cut back reincarcerations by academic coaching. Swanson additionally pushes for funding to assist faculty infrastructure reminiscent of bulletproof glass, metallic detectors and single entry factors to guard college students and employees within the occasion of a college capturing.
Different points that Swanson is prioritizing embrace decreasing FOIA exemptions for presidency officers, financial development and a seven-point training plan that consists of free breakfast and lunch for all Michigan college students and addressing literacy.
