LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s primary is in the rearview mirror, and the gubernatorial candidates are already gearing up for November.

U.S. Rep. John James (R) and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) have agreed to debate this fall, but the number of debates depends on which campaign is asked.

James challenged Benson to five debates. According to the James campaign, he has accepted three confirmed debate invitations from WOOD TV in Grand Rapids, WDIV in Detroit and the Michigan Debate Commission in Ann Arbor. His campaign said they are negotiating two additional forums.

James targeted Benson’s ties to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), where she served on the board from 2014 to 2018.

“Michigan families deserve to know why the SPLC funded the KKK on Jocelyn Benson’s watch, why her family is cashing in on the Saline data center deal, and why she opposes voter ID after 16 foreign nationals were allowed to cast ballots on her watch,” James said.

He added, “After 8 years of Whitmer and Benson, working families got higher taxes and higher energy bills while they used their positions to land secret data center deals to benefit themselves. Michigan voters deserve to hear directly the difference between the Benson–El-Sayed radical socialist extremist plan to continue Michigan’s decline and my common-sense plan to protect freedom and grow jobs.”

The Benson campaign announced she will participate in two televised debates in Detroit and Grand Rapids in October.

“Voters deserve to hear where the nominees stand on the issues,” Benson said. “For the past year and a half, I have shared plans to lower costs on everything from the grocery store to the gas pump, the doctor’s office to the housing market. John James owes voters an explanation for why he keeps voting to raise their costs and put Donald Trump’s agenda ahead of Michigan. The least he can do is show up, stand on a debate stage, and answer questions. I’ll be there.”

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.