Jocelyn Benson wins Michigan Democratic primary to replace Whitmer
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, secured the Democratic nomination for governor by defeating Sheriff Chris Swanson with 84.7% of the vote, positioning her to contest the seat held by term-limited Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Benson aims to break Michigan’s 65-year streak of Democratic incumbents winning their bids for governor, despite the state’s historical tendency. Her campaign focused on affordability and lowering costs related to housing, healthcare, and childcare, and she is supported by many state legislators with over $6.4 million in campaign funds. Swanson campaigned on a “working class playbook” and attacking political corruption, positioning himself as an alternative to the establishment. Benson now awaits the Republican primary winner, with early leads from Rep. John James. The upcoming general election is highly watched, as Benson seeks to defy Michigan’s long-standing pattern and possibly flip the state’s governorship from Republican to Democrat.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson defeated Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson on Tuesday in Michigan’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, clearing the way for her to defend term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s blue seat.
Benson defeated Swanson with 84.7% of the vote compared to Swanson’s 15.3%, according to the latest poll count from the Associated Press.
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Benson now awaits the winner of the GOP gubernatorial primary, which saw Rep. John James (R-MI) leading Republican businessman Perry Johnson early on.
Benson is tasked with the difficult goal of breaking Michigan’s 65-year streak of Democratic candidates failing to win their general election bids to replace outgoing, term-limited Democratic governors. The state has not elected a Democrat to replace an outgoing Democratic governor since 1960, according to Sabato’s Crystal Ball. The election forecaster, however, ranks the state as “Leans Democratic.”
Benson ran her campaign on 2026’s campaign buzzword, affordability, offering voters her “Affordable Michigan agenda” focused on lowering costs on big-ticket items, including housing, healthcare, and childcare. Benson, backed by many state legislators throughout the Wolverine State, boasts over $6.4 million in the bank, per her July reporting numbers.
Swanson had run on what he called a “working class playbook,” also targeting political corruption in the state capitol as part of his agenda. He pinned Benson as the establishment candidate, writing on X ahead of the election, “the establishment has had its chance. It’s time for a different playbook.”
THE RACE TO REPLACE GRETCHEN WHITMER IN MICHIGAN
Benson and the Republican winner will now go head-to-head in the purple state’s general gubernatorial election in November, as former Detroit mayor Mike Duggan ditched his independent bid for the seat.
Eyes will be locked on Michigan to see whether Benson can break the incumbent gubernatorial party’s historic losing trend, or whether the Republican winner can eliminate Whitmer’s 10-percentage-point lead from her 2022 reelection victory.
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