Jocelyn Benson Outraises John James in Michigan Governor's Race, Faces Scrutiny Over Donations
Democrat Jocelyn Benson has significantly outraised her Republican rival, John James, in the Michigan governor's race, holding a substantial cash advantage. As of August 24, Benson's campaign account contained approximately $5.9 million, while James had about $1.5 million. Benson also raised three times more than James during the latest disclosure period, which spanned from July 20 to August 24. Her campaign garnered over $1.8 million, including donations from executives of DTE Energy and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. This has drawn scrutiny as Benson supports Proposal 2, a ballot initiative that would prohibit political contributions from state utilities, government contractors, and their executives. Specifically, Tricia Keith, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, donated $8,325, and Gerardo Norcia, Executive Chairman of DTE Energy's board, contributed $3,000 to Benson's campaign. James received $371,000 in public funding and $1.2 million in private donations, including contribut...