Jocelyn Benson Announces Transparency and Accountability Agenda to Take on Corruption and Make Government Work for Michiganders
Jocelyn Benson Announces Transparency and Accountability Agenda to Take on Corruption and Make Government Work for Michiganders
Benson to Detroit News: "It’s simple: no more dark money, no more backroom deals, no more undisclosed influence."
Today, Jocelyn Benson announced her transparency agenda — her plan to hold leaders accountable and ensure they are working for the people, not the highest bidder. Her plan will deliver the accountability, transparency, and results that Michiganders deserve by banning dark money, backroom deals, and undisclosed influence.
Jocelyn has been the most transparent Secretary of State in history. As Secretary of State, she expanded FOIA access, went above and beyond state disclosure requirements in sharing her and her spouse's financial information, and called on her colleagues in the legislature and governor’s office to do the same.
In case you missed it…
The Detroit News: Jocelyn Benson unveils transparency plan, vowing 'no more dark money'
[Craig Mauger, 03/20/2026]
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said if she's elected governor this fall, she'll pursue sweeping changes to Michigan's transparency standards by making more government documents available for disclosure and banning secret spending aimed at influencing elections.
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In her plan released Friday, Benson vowed to expand Michigan's Freedom of Information Act and to "voluntarily comply" with the disclosure requirements for her executive office if she becomes governor.
"It’s simple: no more dark money, no more backroom deals, no more undisclosed influence," Benson said in a statement.
The secretary of state also said she would work to require all groups that spend money to influence elections to disclose the sources of all contributions they receive that go toward political spending.
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In Benson's Friday announcement, she said she would work with lawmakers to enact her plan in her first 100 days in office.
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In her plan, Benson also called for strengthening financial disclosure requirements for state lawmakers and requiring lobbyists to disclose every dollar they spend.
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