Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) has been projected to win the state's gubernatorial race, defeating Republican Rep. John James, according to Decision Desk HQ. With 31% of the vote counted as of 10:45 p.m. EST, Benson led James by 11 points, 55% to 44%.
Benson, who first took office as secretary of state in 2018, will succeed outgoing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), who was term-limited. Her victory breaks Michigan's long-standing pattern of voters switching parties in the governor's mansion after eight years of one-party control.
Benson first gained national prominence in 2020 when she stood firm against then-President Trump's pressure to overturn Michigan's presidential election results. As the state's top election official, she faced threats and harassment, including armed protesters who gathered outside her home demanding the results be nullified. Her courage earned her the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 2022 and the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2023.
A former law school dean and civil rights advocate, Benson ran on a platform of lowering costs, protecting abortion rights, and expanding voting access. She repeatedly tied James to Trump's tariff policies and criticized his congressional record on healthcare, a message that resonated in a state where manufacturing and healthcare are key concerns.
James, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, focused his campaign on economic issues, blaming Democratic leadership for rising costs and sluggish growth. He secured Trump's endorsement in the GOP primary, which helped him defeat businessman Perry Johnson, who poured nearly $33 million of his own money into the race, according to the Cook Political Report.
This defeat marks James's third unsuccessful statewide bid. He lost Senate races to former Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2018 and Sen. Gary Peters in 2020, then served two terms in the House before seeking the governorship.
Heading into the final days, Benson was the clear favorite. Decision Desk HQ rated the race as “likely Democrat” and gave her a 78% chance of victory as of Friday, with a polling average showing her ahead 49.8% to 42%.
The race shifted in Benson's favor after former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, running as an independent, dropped out in May. His exit moved the race from a toss-up to “lean Democrat” in the Cook Political Report's ratings.
During the campaign, Benson faced scrutiny over her husband's work for a data center developer. She responded by calling for a statewide moratorium on such developments, while James argued that local governments should have the power to block them.
Benson's victory is a significant win for Democrats in a key Midwestern battleground, as the party also celebrated a strong midterm showing and seized control of the Senate, blunting the national GOP agenda.
