Jocelyn Benson

  • Governor
  • Michigan

Liberty and Justice for Michiganders

Jocelyn Benson is a longtime resident of Detroit, Michigan and currently serves as Michigan’s 43rd secretary of state. She graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in political science and earned a master’s degree in sociology from Oxford University. Benson went on to receive a law degree from Harvard University Law School. Soon after, she began working as a legal assistant to NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg and later served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Damon J. Keith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Detroit, Michigan. 

Benson is an expert on civil rights, education, and election law, and was appointed dean of Wayne State University Law School, becoming the youngest woman in U.S. history to lead a top 100 accredited law school. While her husband was deployed, she found community in other military spouses and established the Military Spouses of Michigan, a network dedicated to providing support and services to military spouses and their children. In 2015, she was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. 

A Proven Track Record

Benson was elected as Michigan’s secretary of state in November 2018, making her the first Democrat to hold the office since 1995. While in office, she has remained committed to ensuring secure and accessible elections by expanding voting access for all eligible Michiganders, including the right to vote absentee, and oversaw the highest turnout elections in Michigan’s history ensuring the will of the people was protected. Her fight to uphold democracy and voting integrity earned her national recognition through the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award and the Presidential Citizens Medal. 

Benson is the author of “State Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process,” one of the first major books on the role of the secretary of state in enforcing election and campaign finance laws. Additionally, Benson is a staunch supporter of reproductive freedoms and abortion access. After voters in Michigan passed a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to reproductive health care in the state, Benson has fought against attempts from anti-choice extremists who have tried to overturn the will of Michiganders.  

Protect Michigan 

Benson is running for governor to continue fighting for Michiganders and to ensure that they are at the forefront of every decision. As a mom, she knows how critical it is to make sure that all families have the ability to not just survive, but thrive. She is ready to use her experience in office to save Michigan families time and money, ensure they have access to affordable health care and housing, and to protect our freedoms. With Democratic pro-choice women in office, Michigan has led the way in expanding reproductive rights. EMILYs List is proud to support Benson in this election and continue fighting for Michiganders.