Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson won the Democratic primary race for governor, defeating Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, according to CNN and the Associated Press.
Benson has served as Michigan's chief elections officer since 2019. In the role, she has built a national profile for vigorously defending Michigan's 2020 election against efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn his loss. She has pitched herself as the candidate who can improve state bureaucracies to save residents time and money, pointing to her overhaul of Michigan's vehicle services to reduce wait times at Secretary of State branch offices.
Her campaign promises "to make Michigan the best place to be a kid, raise a kid, and call home."
Benson said
her priorities, if elected, include expanding universal pre-K to 3-year-olds, allowing local governments to establish higher minimum wages than the one set by the state, and transforming support services at the Michigan Department of Health and Human services, which administers the state’s Medicaid and food assistance programs.
Usman Ibrahim, 52, of Rochester Hills, early voted on Aug. 1, supporting Benson in the gubernatorial contest.
"She's been in politics for a while, has her views known, and I think she would be good," he said.
Since launching her campaign in January 2025, Benson had consistently outpaced Swanson in the polls and fundraising. (Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II initially campaigned against Benson, but he dropped his bid to run for her current job instead.)
In the primary, Benson boasted endorsements from many Democratic state lawmakers along with reproductive rights groups. Labor unions were divided between Benson and Swanson, though the secretary of state notched some high-profile union support such as an endorsement from the UAW.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer cannot run again due to term limits. The race to replace her is one of several competitive open races for governor across the United States.
Michigan voters have routinely flipped party control of the governor's office when replacing the outgoing leader. A victory for Benson in the fall would defy that pattern. At the same time, she appears poised to benefit from headwinds facing Republicans in the midterm election, which typically sees the current president’s party suffer losses.
Before serving as secretary of state, Benson was the dean of the Wayne State University Law School and the CEO of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, a nonprofit started by Stephen Ross — the founder of the real estate firm Related Companies — focused on improving race relations in sports.
The general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Free Press Politics Editor Emily Lawler contributed to this report
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: CNN, AP: Jocelyn Benson wins Democratic primary for Michigan governor
