Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Jocelyn Benson
Jocelyn Benson (Democratic Party) is the Michigan Secretary of State. She assumed office on January 1, 2019. Her current term ends on January 1, 2027.
Benson (Democratic Party) is running for election for Governor of Michigan. She declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Biography
Jocelyn Benson earned a bachelor's degree from Wellesley College, a graduate degree from the University of Oxford, and a law degree from Harvard Law School.
In the midst of studying for her bachelor's degree at Wellesley College, Benson founded the Women in American Political Activism conference and was the first student to be elected to serve in the governing body for the town of Wellesley, Massachusetts. She worked as a summer associate for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund as well as serving as a legal assistant to American legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg at National Public Radio (NPR). Prior to graduating from law school, Benson worked as general editor of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, a legal scholarship publication. Prior to entering law school, Benson lived in Montgomery, Alabama, and worked for the Southern Poverty Law Center.[1][2][3]
Benson served as a law clerk to the Honorable Damon J. Keith, a justice for the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. She was hired by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in 2004 to develop its first nationwide Election Protection program, which gave the authority to select, recruit, and train its Voter Protection coordinators in twenty-one states, and to deploy over 17,000 trained election law attorneys in the midst of the 2004 presidential election. Benson developed similar efforts on behalf of the Michigan Democratic Party from 2006 to 2008. In her testimony before the United States House Judiciary Committee in after the 2008 presidential election, she advocated for a ban on the use of foreclosure lists as a means to challenge a voter's eligibility on election days.
She served as an associate professor and associate director of Wayne Law’s Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, and later as the dean of Wayne State University Law School. She is also the author of State Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process.[4]
Political career
Below is a list of offices within Ballotpedia’s scope. Offices outside of that scope will not be listed. If an update is needed and the office is within our scope, please contact us.
Benson's political career includes the following offices:
- 2019-present: Michigan Secretary of State
Elections
2026
See also: Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Governor of Michigan
The following candidates are running in the general election for Governor of Michigan on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Jocelyn Benson (D) | |
 | Garlin Gilchrist II (D) | |
 | Kevin Hogan (D)  | |
 | Marni Sawicki (D) | |
| Chris Swanson (D) | ||
 | Mike Cox (R) | |
 | Joyce Gipson (R) | |
 | Anthony Hudson (R) | |
 | John James (R) | |
 | Tom Leonard (R) | |
 | Aric Nesbitt (R) | |
 | Ralph Rebandt (R) | |
 | Evan Space (R) | |
 | Karla Wagner (R) | |
 | Mike Duggan (Independent) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Michigan Secretary of State election, 2022
General election
General election for Michigan Secretary of State
Incumbent Jocelyn Benson defeated Kristina Karamo, Gregory Stempfle, Christine Schwartz, and Larry Hutchinson Jr. in the general election for Michigan Secretary of State on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jocelyn Benson (D) | 55.9 | 2,467,859 |
 | Kristina Karamo (R) | 41.9 | 1,852,510 | |
 | Gregory Stempfle (L) | 1.2 | 52,982 | |
 | Christine Schwartz (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 0.6 | 27,937 | |
 | Larry Hutchinson Jr. (G) | 0.4 | 16,615 | |
| Total votes: 4,417,903 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for Michigan Secretary of State
Incumbent Jocelyn Benson advanced from the Democratic convention for Michigan Secretary of State on August 21, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Jocelyn Benson (D) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican convention for Michigan Secretary of State
Kristina Karamo defeated Cindy Berry, Beau LaFave, and Cathleen Postmus in the Republican convention for Michigan Secretary of State on August 27, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| Cindy Berry (R) | ||
| ✔ | | Kristina Karamo (R) |
 | Beau LaFave (R) | |
| Cathleen Postmus (R) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Green convention
Green convention for Michigan Secretary of State
Larry Hutchinson Jr. advanced from the Green convention for Michigan Secretary of State on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Larry Hutchinson Jr. (G) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Michigan Secretary of State
Gregory Stempfle advanced from the Libertarian convention for Michigan Secretary of State on July 10, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Gregory Stempfle (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Michigan Secretary of State
Christine Schwartz advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Michigan Secretary of State on July 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Christine Schwartz (U.S. Taxpayers Party) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Michigan Secretary of State
Jocelyn Benson defeated Mary Treder Lang, Gregory Scott Stemple, and Robert Gale in the general election for Michigan Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jocelyn Benson (D) | 52.9 | 2,213,243 |
 | Mary Treder Lang (R) | 44.0 | 1,840,118 | |
| Gregory Scott Stemple (L) | 2.0 | 81,849 | ||
| Robert Gale (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 1.2 | 48,816 | ||
| Total votes: 4,184,026 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2010
| 2010 Race for Secretary of State - General Election[5] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party |  Ruth Johnson
|
50.7% | |
| Democratic Party | Jocelyn Benson | 45.2% | |
| Libertarian Party | Scotty Boman | 1.8% | |
| U.S. Taxpayers | Robert Gale | 1.3% | |
| Green Party | John A. La Pietra | 1.0% | |
| Total Votes | 3,173,248 | ||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jocelyn Benson has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Jocelyn Benson asking her to fill out the survey. If you are Jocelyn Benson, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?
Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for. More than 23,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.
You can ask Jocelyn Benson to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing info@jocelynbenson.com.
2022
Jocelyn Benson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Campaign website
Benson's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Benson’s Plan For Secretary Of State “The people of Michigan deserve a Secretary of State who works as hard as they do. No one should have to spend more than 30 minutes to renew their drivers license, register their vehicle or cast a ballot. We need to show the hardworking people of Michigan that their time matters. They have the right to demand results and we are prepared to deliver them.” THE “30-MINUTE GUARANTEE” Benson will work to establish a 30-Minute Guarantee: an expectation that no one, no matter where they live, should have to wait more than 30 minutes to renew their driver’s license, register their vehicle or cast a ballot. BAN FEE INCREASES Benson will be an advocate against fee increases that have hit Michigan families hard in recent years. When it comes to pocketbook issues, she has a proven track record. As dean of the Wayne State University Law School, she froze tuition and significantly increased scholarship funding to make law school more affordable and accessible to all students. ELECTION SECURITY Benson’s vision is to make Michigan a national model in election security. She will ensure that voting remains a sacred right and that every legitimate vote is counted. Benson, who has developed and supervised three election protection efforts in Michigan, will toughen penalties for those who commit election fraud and voter intimidation. And she will lead an effort to protect our elections from the threat of computer hacking, tampering, and manipulation. PROTECTING VOTING RIGHTS Benson will work to ensure the voting rights of every citizen are protected. Voters should be able to vote early or by absentee ballot without having to give a reason, just as they do in dozens of other states. As Secretary of State, Benson will ensure voters who want to cast a ballot can do so with ease, and without intimidation. ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY Among the 50 states, Michigan is dead last in government transparency and accountability. Benson will champion reforms that will make Michigan one of the best states in the nation, shining a light on the secret money flowing into our election process by requiring instant disclosure of all political and lobbying money. “For too long, our voices have been overshadowed by special interests. People deserve a state government that is transparent and accountable, a secure democracy that is based upon fair and honest elections, and efficient customer service from government. As Michigan’s Secretary of State, I will work on behalf of all our citizens every day to ensure they come first.”[6] |
” |
| —Benson for Secretary of State[7] | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Governor of Michigan |
Officeholder Michigan Secretary of State |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ National Review Online, "Spreading the Smear" 22 April, 2010
- ↑ Hate Watch, "Hate Groups and Nativist Extremists Crashing ‘Tea Parties’" 14 April, 2009
- ↑ American Thinker, "Southern Poverty Law Center is less diverse than the tea parties" 8 Aug. 2010
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, "Jocelyn Benson - Michigan Secretary of State," accessed July 3, 2025
- ↑ Michigan Department of State - 2010 General Election Results
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Vote Benson, "Issues," accessed October 2, 2018
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ruth Johnson (R) |
Michigan Secretary of State 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| |||||||||||||||||||
