Benson Vows to Show Up for Michigan’s Rural Communities as Governor
New reporting from the Holland Sentinel details Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson’s commitment to driving down costs for Michigan’s rural communities and her plans to make Michigan the best place to call home.
At a time when Michigan families are struggling under skyrocketing costs, Jocelyn is the only candidate in the race for governor who has rolled out a plan to lower them. This year, she announced her plans to lower the cost of housing and healthcare.
In case you missed it…
Holland Sentinel: Benson says Michigan is 'defined by the ethos' of rural communities
[Cassidey Kavathas, 03/24/2026]
Leading gubernatorial candidate and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to "show up better" for rural Michiganders by offering them a seat at the table.
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"So much of our economy and who we are ... (is) really defined by the ethos of our rural communities,” Benson told The Sentinel.
In her current role, Benson feels she's developed a unique perspective.
“I’ve gotten to know the communities really well, seeing both the similarities and unique challenges,” she said. “It’s one of the reasons I’ve loved my job, because I’ve seen that what's needed perhaps in Holland or Ottawa County is going to be different than what's needed in Alpena or (Detroit)."
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“The goal is to make sure that everyone can afford to live in the community they want to live in, and to recognize supply issues, out-of-state developers coming in and driving up rent, short-term rentals,” Benson said. “We have a responsibility in Michigan to drive down those costs so that teachers, nurses, farmers, workers and families can live in any community they choose.”
Benson's plan would increase the supply of homes by making it easier to build in partnership with local communities, provide support for new homeowners with tax credits or downpayment assistance, and hold developers accountable for the maintenance of their properties.
“I’ve seen this as a statewide leader too often," Benson said. "Decisions are made with an eye toward one part of the state.
"I’m going to work hard to ... be a governor that consistently shows up in our rural communities, uplift the needs of those communities and makes sure that we’re working together.”
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