Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) announced her candidacy for governor Wednesday, becoming the first major Democratic candidate to jump into the race.
“I'm running for governor to make government truly work for everyone,” Benson said in an announcement video explaining his personal and professional background.
“But listening to people around the state, it’s clear that too many people feel left out in the cold, and their voices are being drowned out by more powerful people.” she said in the video, showing a clip of President Trump and Elon Musk.
In a video, Benson defends the 2020 election results in Michigan after Trump allies unfairly accused her and other Democrats of condoning fraud. He also mentioned his efforts.
Benson is the third major candidate to jump into the race to replace term-limited Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D). She joins state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R) and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who is running as an independent.
A number of other Democrats are also in the running, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow.
On the Republican side, potential candidates include Tudor Dixon, Michigan Representative John James, former Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard, and former presidential candidate Perry Johnson.
Benson was one of a number of Michigan Democrats who achieved broad victories in the 2022 midterm elections, winning reelection by nearly 14 points.
But Republicans say they see a hole in the state, which President Trump narrowly overturned in November. Nesbitt's campaign announced last week that it had raised $1 million within 72 hours of running for governor.
