LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – After posting her intentions to run for governor on Tuesday night, then deleting the post, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has officially declared her candidacy to run for Michigan’s top job.

 

Secretary of State Benson appears to have accidentally announced a run for Governor on Twitter. The post was taken down moments after posting. pic.twitter.com/IiDSiGQDMU

— MIRS.news (@MIRSnews) January 22, 2025

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I’m running to be Governor of Michigan to ensure everyone gets a fair shot.

I’m a mom, military spouse, educator — and Michigan’s Secretary of State.

I’ve never backed down from a tough fight or hard work. And I know together we can build the future Michiganders deserve. pic.twitter.com/v0EMMffwFX

— Jocelyn Benson (@JocelynBenson) January 22, 2025

Voters elected Benson in 2019. She has worked to promote Democrat Party priorities throughout her two terms in the nonpartisan job. Benson is best known for refusing to remove dead people from the state’s voter rolls, threatening election workers if they do not certify questionable election results, and whose election fail-safes allowed a Chinese national to vote in Michigan’s elections.

Benson also fought tooth-and-nail to have some candidates stay on the ballots during the 2024 presidential election while championing for others to be removed.

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The Secretary of State joins GOP candidate Sen. Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) who jumped into the gubernatorial race earlier this month. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a longtime Democrat, announced his bid last month but is running as an independent. The election will take place in November 2026. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer cannot run again because of term limits.