GOP Attacks on Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson Are Baseless and Misleading

Michigan Republicans seeking the governor’s office are pushing a false narrative that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has outsized influence over the state’s elections while running against them. Experts and longtime election officials say these claims are not only misleading but ignore how election administration actually works in Michigan.

Benson, a Democrat, oversees elections in name only. The state’s election system is highly decentralized, with municipal clerks handling the bulk of election administration. As Erica Peresman, senior advisor for Promote The Vote Michigan, bluntly put it, “The only ballot that Jocelyn Benson would actually touch during this election or any other election is her own ballot.”

Chris Thomas, Michigan’s director of elections from 1981 to 2017, called GOP accusations “gratuitous political shopping for a headline” and warned they deceive voters unfamiliar with the complexities of election law. The Michigan Bureau of Elections is run by a civil service director, not Benson, further limiting her direct control.

Angela Benander, spokesperson for the Department of State, accused Republican candidates of either ignorance or deliberate deception, stating, “Either these candidates for governor haven’t bothered to take a few minutes to read and understand Michigan Election Law or they know they’re spreading lies about the process.”

The Department of State is preparing to release conflict-of-interest guidelines to clarify the firewalls that prevent election interference, countering GOP claims that Benson’s candidacy compromises election integrity.

Republican candidates like U.S. Rep. John James and businessman Perry Johnson have cast doubt on Benson’s ability to fairly oversee the election and verify petition signatures, even calling for her to recuse herself. Yet Benson has no role in signature verification—that responsibility lies with the bipartisan Board of State Canvassers.

This isn’t the first time a Michigan secretary of state has run for office while serving. Peresman noted that since 1955, five secretaries of state have run for re-election while holding the position. Others have sought different offices mid-term. Partisanship exists throughout the system, but officials are trusted to administer elections fairly despite their affiliations.

The GOP’s attempts to undermine Benson’s legitimacy are part of a broader pattern of election denialism designed to erode trust in democratic processes. As these false claims circulate, it’s crucial to understand the facts: Michigan’s elections remain in the hands of a decentralized, bipartisan system, not a single official with unchecked power.