2022 race briefing
Jocelyn Benson has served as Michigan’s secretary of state since January 2019. She won a second term in the November 8, 2022 general election with 55.9% of the vote, defeating Republican Kristina Karamo. PolRev covered her 2022 re-election campaign.
Benson is not seeking another term as secretary of state, and her current term ends in January 2027. In 2026 she ran for governor to succeed the term-limited Gretchen Whitmer, and she won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary over Chris Swanson, 83.3% to 16.7%.
In the November 3, 2026 general election she faces Republican U.S. Rep. John James, along with Green, Libertarian and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidates. This page covers her 2022 secretary of state race. PolRev has not endorsed in the 2026 governor’s race.