GOP Attacks on Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s Election Role Are Baseless, Experts Say

Michigan’s GOP gubernatorial hopefuls are doubling down on a familiar tactic: casting doubt on Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s ability to fairly oversee elections as she campaigns for governor in 2026. But experts and longtime election officials say these claims are not just wrong — they are dangerously misleading to voters.

Benson, a Democrat, has become the target of repeated accusations from Republican candidates like U.S. Rep. John James and businessman Perry Johnson, who allege she could manipulate election outcomes or unfairly decide who appears on the ballot. Johnson even called for her to recuse herself from overseeing elections, comparing her role to that of a judge needing to avoid conflicts of interest.

Yet Michigan’s election system is one of the most decentralized in the nation, with municipal clerks running the day-to-day operations of elections, not the Secretary of State. Erica Peresman, senior advisor for Promote The Vote Michigan, bluntly explained, “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 the GOP claims “gratuitous political shopping for a headline” and warned that they mislead voters who don’t understand how election administration actually works in the state. Thomas emphasized that the Michigan Bureau of Elections is run by a civil service director, not Benson herself, which creates a firewall against partisan interference.

Even the Board of State Canvassers, responsible for verifying petition signatures, is bipartisan and independent. Contrary to GOP claims, Benson has no direct role in signature verification — a fact confirmed by Department of State spokesperson Angela Benander. Benander also noted the department’s plans to release conflict-of-interest guidelines to clarify safeguards that prevent improper influence.

History shows that secretaries of state running for other offices while in office is not unusual in Michigan. Peresman pointed out that several past secretaries of state, including Republicans and Democrats, have sought re-election or other political positions while serving, with no evidence of election manipulation.

Thomas underscored the political reality: “Our elections are well run, but those that make those allegations need to understand if they’ve got any sense of how government works in Michigan, that this thing’s partisan from top to bottom.”

The GOP’s unfounded attacks on Benson are part of a broader pattern of election denialism and attempts to sow distrust in democratic processes. By spreading false narratives about Benson’s influence, these candidates are weaponizing misinformation to undermine confidence in Michigan’s elections — a dangerous gambit that threatens democratic integrity.

We will keep tracking these efforts and exposing the truth behind the lies. Because in a democracy, trust in fair elections is non-negotiable.