This op-ed is written by Perry Johnson, a GOP candidate for governor of Michigan. 

Michigan voters deserve leaders they can trust—leaders who are transparent, accountable, and honest about their past affiliations. That’s why recent developments involving the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) demands tremendous scrutiny as Jocelyn Benson seeks to oversee her own election for Governor.

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I have called on her to step aside from overseeing this election based on her office admitting they knew about the fraud being committed against us and chose to allow the fraud to continue without telling us. It has become even more important that she step aside from running the election now that we see the indictments against the SPLC. The illegal activity presumably took place while Jocelyn Benson was on the Board of the SPLC.

The SPLC has long presented itself as a civil rights watchdog. But now it faces serious allegations about how donor funds were used, including claims tied to payments involving individuals connected to extremist groups. The organization disputes those claims, arguing any such payments were part of intelligence-gathering efforts. That legal debate will play out elsewhere—but for Michigan voters, the key question is simpler:

What did Jocelyn Benson know, and what was her role?

Benson served on the SPLC’s board beginning in 2014. That’s not a ceremonial title. Board members are responsible for oversight, governance, and protecting the integrity of an organization’s mission and finances. When serious questions arise, it’s entirely appropriate to ask whether leadership exercised proper judgment and diligence.

This is not about guilt by association. It’s about accountability.

If an organization under board supervision is accused of misleading donors or engaging in questionable financial practices, the public has a right to know whether its leaders asked hard questions—or failed to.

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That matters even more because Benson is not just a former board member. She is Michigan’s chief elections officer and a candidate for governor. She is asking voters to trust her with the future of our state. That level of trust requires a full and transparent accounting of her record.

So far, we haven’t seen that.

Did Benson raise concerns about financial practices at the SPLC? Did she push for transparency with donors? Did she ensure that the organization’s actions aligned with its stated mission? Or did she remain silent while others made decisions that are now under scrutiny? Most importantly, was she coordinating the illegal activity?

These are basic questions of leadership.

Serving on a board means accepting responsibility. It means speaking up when something doesn’t look right. It means ensuring accountability at every level. If that didn’t happen, voters deserve to know.

That’s why I am calling for a full, independent review of Jocelyn Benson’s role during her time on the SPLC board. Not a partisan exercise—but a serious, fact-based examination of her oversight and decision-making.

If she fulfilled her duties, she should welcome that review. It would strengthen public confidence and clear any doubts.

But if questions remain unanswered, voters deserve that truth as well.

Michigan has had enough of leaders who avoid accountability. We need a governor who believes in transparency, who answers tough questions, and who earns the trust of the people—not one who expects it.

Jocelyn Benson wants to lead this state. That means being fully open about her past.

Michigan deserves answers.