In the race to lead Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic nominee for governor, and U.S. Rep. John James, the Republican pick, offer competing visions for the state's future. But they share a love for Michigan, including a mutual respect for former Gov. William Milliken, a moderate Republican and the state's longest-serving governor.
Michigan voters routinely replace the outgoing governor with someone from the opposite party. James frequently points to this historic trend to argue that Michigan voters are ready for change after eight years of Democratic leadership under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who cannot run due to term limits. But Benson has nationalized the election, reminding voters every chance she gets of James' connection
to President Donald Trump, who has endorsed her Republican opponent. The president's party often struggles in midterm elections.
The Detroit Free Press took a look at the backgrounds and campaign messaging in bid profiles of both Benson and James. And in interviews with both candidates, we asked them the same set of questions. Here are their answers:
Question: Have you ever thought about running for president?
Benson: "No."
James: "No."
Q: Who's your favorite Michigan governor?
Benson: "No matter how I answer that people get mad. But I will say this. … My instinct, my first response is to say Milliken because … I think his impact on the state speaks for itself but I also would want to name, I think it was Harry Kelly. He was the last secretary of state to also serve as governor of Michigan and his grandson, Brian d'Arcy James, was a theater kid growing up in Michigan in Saginaw and is now obviously one of the most prominent actors on Broadway and I love the story that he not only came from Michigan but his grandfather served as secretary of state and governor."
James: "Oooh. Bill Milliken's up there."
Q: Would you move your family to the governor's residence if elected?
Benson: "We're considering it. I live in Detroit. I'm raising my son in Detroit. I think it's actually really important for a governor to be rooted in our state's largest city... We'll certainly be spending a lot of time in Lansing… My son sees himself as a Detroiter and he's being raised in Detroit. … We certainly also plan to keep our house in Detroit."
James: "My wife has been there for me for four campaigns, three children and goodness like two master's degrees. This is the one big choice that I think is hers. Where we live is up to her."
Q: What's your favorite Michigan food specialty you've eaten on the campaign trail?
Benson: "Bumpy cake because like, you know, sometimes you need just that chocolate on the campaign trail. … The other side of that answer is the other side of the coin, which is I love fresh cold-pressed juices and I really love going to different towns around the state where you have like local vendors who make their own juices and that's actually one of the things that I'll live on on the trail, these sort of green juices and all the rest and trying different types… so that's the day to day but when you need that pick me up, nothing like a little bumpy cake."
James: "Oh my gosh, all of it! Man, it's gotta be Detroit-style pizza. It's the best pizza in the world, but I have Celiac disease… so this is why I'm so big on health, right? Because of my own journey. I'm down like 30 pounds in a year just by cutting out gluten…" (James later added his recommendations for a gluten-free dough: Jet's Pizza and Vince & Joe's Gourmet Market.)
Q: Whitmer ran on a promise to "fix the damn roads." What's your signature campaign slogan?
Benson: "Costs down, wages up, end corruption. That is the heart of what we hope to do on the other side of hopefully this first four years in office."
James: "Oh goodness. I would say 'change now.' "
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 5 questions for John James and Jocelyn Benson as they vie for governor
