The Metro: Jocelyn Benson on the cost of living, data centers and the race for governor
The Michigan Secretary of State, now the Democratic frontrunner to replace Gretchen Whitmer, joined The Metro live from the Mackinac Policy Conference to talk affordability, energy costs, data centers — and the questions trailing her campaign.
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State and Democratic candidate for governor, joins The Metro at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island.
Michigan picks its next governor in November, and the Democratic frontrunner is Jocelyn Benson.
Benson made her name as Secretary of State when she refused to overturn Michigan’s 2020 election — even when armed protesters showed up at her Detroit home while she decorated a Christmas tree with her four-year-old son. The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award followed. So did the Presidential Citizens Medal.
Now she wants to replace Gretchen Whitmer in a state that voted for Donald Trump just 18 months ago.
Her path got easier last week when independent Mike Duggan dropped out, citing low poll numbers and fundraising struggles. She has also faced scrutiny along the way: her own Democratic attorney general ruled she’d broken state campaign-finance law launching her bid, and the Trump Justice Department sued her for Michigan’s voter rolls — a suit a federal judge dismissed in February.
The Metro’s Robyn Vincent had 15 minutes to find out what this all means.
This article has been updated to note that the U.S. Justice Department lawsuit against Michigan over voter rolls was dismissed in February 2026.
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