Jocelyn Benson
Democratic · MI · Michigan Secretary of State
Jocelyn Benson is Michigan's 43rd Secretary of State and has become one of the nation's most prominent leaders in election administration.
Where Jocelyn Benson stands, based on their records
Supports
Anti-Corruption (6 records), Government Efficiency (12 records), Data Privacy (1 record),
Track record
Track record — Anti-Corruption
Anti-Corruption · 6 support
On May 6, 2026, Jocelyn Benson released a public firewall policy delegating administration and campaign-finance matters involving the 2026 Governor race to avoid actual or perceived conflicts from her dual role as Secretary of State and candidate.
May 6, 2026Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On June 24, 2025, Jocelyn Benson testified on completed fixes and upgrades to the Michigan Transparency Network for campaign-finance, lobbying, personal-finance, casino-interest, and legal-defense-fund disclosures.
June 24, 2025Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On April 18, 2024, Jocelyn Benson testified for the BRITE Act, including authority for real-time injunctions and subpoenas in campaign-finance enforcement.
April 18, 2024Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On December 12, 2023, Jocelyn Benson launched an online FOIA portal that automatically routes requests and publishes responsive Michigan Department of State documents for public search.
December 12, 2023Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
Sent the U.S. House January 6 Committee and the U.S. attorney general a letter and documentation about coordinated efforts in Michigan to overturn the 2020 presidential election outcome.
January 26, 2022Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: michigan.gov · researched August 18, 2026
On March 14, 2019, Jocelyn Benson voluntarily posted her personal financial disclosure and launched a transparency page while calling for mandatory disclosure by Michigan elected officials.
March 14, 2019Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 12 support
On April 29, 2026, Jocelyn Benson announced that more than 2.1 million outdated Michigan voter registrations had been canceled or identified for cancellation since 2019.
April 29, 2026Supports Government Efficiency
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On July 2, 2025, the Michigan Department of State under Jocelyn Benson launched online written driver's-license testing for eligible adults.
July 2, 2025Supports Government Efficiency
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On June 24, 2025, Jocelyn Benson testified on completed fixes and upgrades to the Michigan Transparency Network for campaign-finance, lobbying, personal-finance, casino-interest, and legal-defense-fund disclosures.
June 24, 2025Supports Government Efficiency
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On May 6, 2025, the Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Jocelyn Benson, holding that Michigan's multi-layered deceased-voter list-maintenance program made the reasonable effort required by the National Voter Registration Act.
May 6, 2025Supports Government Efficiency
Source: law.justia.com · researched July 10, 2026
On October 16, 2024, Jocelyn Benson launched the Michigan Voting Dashboard to publish daily early- and absentee-voting data by county and jurisdiction.
October 16, 2024Supports Government Efficiency
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On September 26, 2024, Jocelyn Benson launched election-security grants, a voter-information texting tool, ballot-tracking notifications, an early-voting awareness campaign, and a relaunched Election Fact Center.
September 26, 2024Supports Government Efficiency
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On December 12, 2023, Jocelyn Benson launched an online FOIA portal that automatically routes requests and publishes responsive Michigan Department of State documents for public search.
December 12, 2023Supports Government Efficiency
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On April 27, 2022, Jocelyn Benson announced two additional mobile Secretary of State offices to serve rural residents, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, and others facing access barriers.
April 27, 2022Supports Government Efficiency
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On December 14, 2021, Jocelyn Benson reported that technology upgrades had doubled online Secretary of State services, installed more than 150 self-service stations, and reduced average office visits to 20 minutes or less.
December 14, 2021Supports Government Efficiency
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
Completed more than 250 audits of Michigan's 2020 general election, including a statewide risk-limiting audit and a hand count of every presidential ballot in Antrim County; the audits confirmed the reported outcome and accuracy of the tabulation machines.
March 2, 2021Supports Government Efficiency
Source: michigan.gov · researched August 18, 2026
On December 9, 2020, the Bureau of Elections under Secretary Jocelyn Benson announced a statewide risk-limiting audit and procedural audits in more than 200 jurisdictions following the 2020 election.
December 9, 2020Supports Government Efficiency
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On November 27, 2019, Jocelyn Benson announced replacement of 93 unreliable Secretary of State kiosks and expansion to 150 self-service stations, including grocery-store locations.
November 27, 2019Supports Government Efficiency
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Data Privacy
Data Privacy · 1 support
On June 24, 2026, the Sixth Circuit affirmed dismissal of the U.S. Department of Justice's suit seeking Michigan's unredacted voter file, holding that Jocelyn Benson did not violate Title III by refusing to provide sensitive voter data.
June 24, 2026Supports Data Privacy
Source: law.justia.com · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 9 support
On April 23, 2026, the Michigan Court of Claims dismissed with prejudice a challenge to Michigan's voting rules for military and overseas citizens defended by Secretary Jocelyn Benson.
April 23, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On February 27, 2025, Jocelyn Benson joined Michigan lawmakers and voting-rights advocates at a public event opposing the federal SAVE Act and described its documentary-registration burdens on eligible voters.
February 27, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On December 3, 2024, Jocelyn Benson testified before the Michigan House Elections Committee in support of the Michigan Voting Rights Act.
December 3, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On September 26, 2024, Jocelyn Benson launched election-security grants, a voter-information texting tool, ballot-tracking notifications, an early-voting awareness campaign, and a relaunched Election Fact Center.
September 26, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On February 15, 2024, Jocelyn Benson announced Michigan was ready to launch its first statewide in-person early-voting period under Proposal 2 after a successful 2023 pilot.
February 15, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On October 27, 2023, Jocelyn Benson launched Michigan's first early-voting pilot to test technology and procedures before statewide implementation in 2024.
October 27, 2023Supports Civil Rights
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On June 22, 2022, the Michigan Task Force on Women in Sports chaired by Jocelyn Benson released its final report documenting inequities and recommending expanded opportunities for women and girls in athletics.
June 22, 2022Supports Civil Rights
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On June 17, 2019, Governor Gretchen Whitmer established Michigan's Task Force on Women in Sports and appointed Secretary Jocelyn Benson as its chair.
June 17, 2019Supports Civil Rights
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On April 30, 2019, Jocelyn Benson testified to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Michigan Advisory Committee about equal voting access, registration barriers, public education, and election transparency.
April 30, 2019Supports Civil Rights
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — General
General · 6 records
Won dismissal with prejudice of a ballot-access lawsuit that also alleged her dual role as secretary of state and gubernatorial candidate created a conflict; the court found no facts supporting the conflict allegations and held the claims were barred by laches.
July 9, 2026
Source: courts.michigan.gov · researched August 18, 2026
On July 6, 2026, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters endorsed Jocelyn Benson for Governor of Michigan.
July 6, 2026
Source: michiganlcv.org · researched July 10, 2026
On June 25, 2026, the Michigan AFL-CIO endorsed Jocelyn Benson for Governor of Michigan.
June 25, 2026
Source: miaflcio.org · researched July 10, 2026
On June 5, 2026, the UAW's Michigan Community Action Program endorsed Jocelyn Benson for Governor of Michigan.
June 5, 2026
Source: uaw-newsroom.prgloo.com · researched July 10, 2026
On February 4, 2026, GIFFORDS PAC endorsed Jocelyn Benson for Governor of Michigan.
February 4, 2026
Source: giffords.org · researched July 10, 2026
On January 1, 2019, Jocelyn Benson was sworn in as Michigan's 43rd Secretary of State; the official announcement also documented her prior service as CEO and president of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, dean of Wayne State University Law School, and co-founder of Military Spouses of Michigan.
January 1, 2019
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
On May 19, 2025, the Michigan Attorney General found reason to believe Jocelyn Benson's use of the Austin Building lobby for a gubernatorial campaign press conference violated the Michigan Campaign Finance Act's public-resource restriction, resolved the complaints without sanction, and warned against future use.
May 19, 2025
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
Past race Jocelyn Benson ran in:
- Governor · August 4, 2026 · Michigan
Profile last researched August 7, 2026.