Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said that her focus if she’s elected governor in 2026 would be on “efficiency and transparency” in state government. Benson spoke to reporters in Lansing while filing paperwork to officially declare herself as a candidate for the Democratic nomination after announcing her campaign earlier in the day.

Ms. Benson, a Democrat, jumped into a high-profile and potentially crowded race to lead one of the country’s top battleground states.

Jocelyn Benson is the first Democrat to announce her candidacy for governor in 2026 after the state voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Democratic Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is running for governor of the all-important swing state.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has become the first Democrat to announce a run for governor in 2026. In announcing her run Wednesday, Jan. 22, Benson said she’s running because the state needs a leader who will save Michiganders time and money,

(The Center Square) – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has declared her bid for governor. Benson, a Democrat, is running to fill the seat currently held by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is running for governor of the all-important swing state of Michigan (AP video: Mike Householder)

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson took questions from reporters about her campaign for governor from inside a state office building she controls.

To almost no one’s surprise, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson made it official Wednesday that she is a candidate for Michigan governor in 2026. In a video posted to social media, the Detroit Democrat said she was running for the state’s top office to “truly make government work for everyone,