Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson secured the Democratic nomination for governor on Tuesday, advancing to a general election contest to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Benson defeated Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in the primary, according to the Associated Press.
Benson, who has served as Michigan's top election official for eight years, will now campaign to keep the governor's office under Democratic control. She will face the winner of the Republican primary, where Rep. John James is competing against businessman Perry Johnson.
Elected Secretary of State in 2018 and re-elected four years later, Benson gained national recognition for her defense of Michigan's election systems following the 2020 presidential election. She pushed back against unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud made by then-President Donald Trump, whose narrow victory in Michigan was challenged.
Benson's gubernatorial campaign has highlighted her record on election security and office efficiency. Key platform points include protecting democracy, reducing costs for families, expanding affordable housing, defending reproductive rights, and enhancing public education.
Leading into the primary, Benson held significant advantages in fundraising and polling over Swanson. Swanson had previously garnered national attention in the summer of 2020 for his role in maintaining peace during protests in Flint, Michigan, where he was noted for marching with demonstrators without his body armor. In 2024, Swanson spoke at the Democratic National Convention in support of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.