GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s governor’s race has spent much of the fall flying under the radar as the high-profile U.S. Senate battle gobbles up attention. But Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican U.S. Rep. John James finally got their own stage Tuesday night – and wasted little time going after each other.
The visual contrast was hard to miss. Benson appeared in a purple blazer and skirt without an American flag pin, while James – an Army combat veteran who flew Apache helicopters in Iraq – wore a dual U.S./Michigan flag pin on his navy suit as the two faced off at WOOD-TV’s Grand Rapids studios in their first general-election debate. The hour-long showdown came less than a month before Election Day.
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And if viewers were hoping for polite disagreement, they tuned into the wrong debate.
“Lies,” “absolutely wrong” and accusations that the other wasn’t telling the truth became recurring themes throughout the debate.
Trump, ICE and a COVID Fight That Never Happened
When answering the moderator’s questions, Benson repeatedly tied James to President Donald Trump, including on tariffs, the Iran war and immigration. Regarding U.S. Customs and Enforcement (ICE), she accused the federal government of abusing its authority and said Michigan should not have “masked federal agents coming to our communities murdering innocent civilians.” She said a governor must have the courage to stand up even to the president. She made it clear during the debate that she would do just that whenever it was needed.
James said Michigan under his leadership would cooperate with federal law enforcement while prioritizing violent offenders. When Benson accused him of failing to stand up to Trump, James fired back that she had “never, not once stood up to Gretchen Whitmer before she needed a campaign issue” and challenged her to discuss Whitmer’s COVID-era record. Benson wanted in. The moderator wanted to move on. COVID debate over.
Benson Changes Her Tune on Michigan Gas Tax
Benson also shifted on Michigan’s 52.4-cent-per-gallon state gas tax. In September, she argued suspending it would “blow a hole in our budget,” cost road repairs and hurt families, instead calling for suspension of the federal tax.
Tuesday night, however, Benson said, “Yes, I’m open to suspending the state gas tax,” while continuing to blame Trump and James for high fuel prices. James gave a less complicated answer: yes, he supports a temporary state gas-tax holiday.
Autos, FOIA and Data Centers
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Trade produced another sharp exchange. Benson proposed negotiating a “subnational agreement” with Canada to reduce the impact of tariffs. James, who has worked in the automotive industry, responded that it was an example of why voters shouldn’t elect someone “who doesn’t understand the automotive industry,” arguing states do not control international trade agreements.
On transparency, Benson pledged to voluntarily comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as governor when discussing non- disclosure agreements – an important distinction because Michigan’s governor is currently exempt from the state FOIA.
Data centers and the AI infrastructure behind them got significant airtime. James called for local control, protection of water and farmland and safeguards against higher electricity bills. He agreed that a moratorium on data centers was needed. Benson also called for a moratorium on new data centers until guardrails are established, including local control and requiring developers to shoulder their energy costs. Both opposed secrecy through non-disclosure agreements but James pointed out that Benson’s running mate, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), signed a non-disclosure agreement pertaining to the data center in Saline and went on to say, “Secretary Benson has been tied in with these data centers and has not been forthcoming with the people.”
Policy differences, however, were only part of the debate. As much as James and Benson talked about their own records and plans for Michigan, they spent nearly as much time trying to tear holes in each other’s. Throughout the debate, both repeatedly accused the other of misrepresenting their record, twisting their positions or simply getting the facts wrong – turning several exchanges into competing claims over who was telling the truth about whom.
SPLC Ties Go Unmentioned
One topic that never surfaced Tuesday night: questions involving the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Benson’s past ties to the organization. Benson served on the SPLC’s board from 2014 to 2018, overlapping with years covered by a federal indictment accusing the organization of fraud and money laundering involving more than $3 million allegedly paid to informants associated with extremist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan.
Benson has said her board position was mostly “ceremonial” and that she was unaware of the payments. The controversy has also prompted scrutiny in Michigan, including a House Oversight Committee inquiry into Benson’s communications and relationship with the SPLC. Benson is not charged in the federal case, and prosecutors have not alleged that she personally participated in the payment scheme. However, none of it came up during Tuesday night’s debate.
Trump, Trump, Trump…
But there was plenty of Trump. Benson even closed by warning that James would “do everything Donald Trump asks him to do.” James closed by emphasizing his military and business background and arguing Michigan needs a change after eight years of falling behind under Democratic leadership in Lansing. Throughout the debate, he tied the state’s struggles with jobs, education and the economy to the Whitmer-Benson years, arguing Michigan cannot afford more of the same.
Benson Leads, But Plenty Remain Up for Grabs
The debate came as a new Mitchell Research & Communications poll released Tuesday showed Benson leading James 46% to 39%, with 9% undecided and little support for the other three candidates. The Oct. 1 survey of 682 likely voters had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. James led among men and voters 65 and older, while Benson held substantial advantages among women and younger voters.
For a governor’s race that has struggled to steal the spotlight from the Senate contest, the two candidates at least made one thing clear Tuesday: they don’t agree on much – including which one of them is telling the truth.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
