PRESS RELEASE
Jocelyn Benson: “When it Comes to Reducing Costs…I'm the Leader in This Race”
Last night, Secretary of State and Democratic nominee for Governor Jocelyn Benson joined MS NOW’s The 11th Hour with Ali Velshi to outline the stark choice facing Michigan voters in November: do they want a governor who will work for the people and lower Michiganders’ costs, or a politician who will continue to enrich himself and work for Donald Trump?
In Congress, John James has lined his own pockets at the expense of Michiganders. He spent years buying stock in the companies he regulates and becoming a multimillionaire, while voting for Trump’s price-hiking agenda that has led to higher housing, grocery, and gas costs. Meanwhile, Jocelyn is the only candidate who works for the people — and she’ll get to work on day one to drive down costs and protect Michiganders from the failed economic policies coming out of Washington.
Key point: “My opponent in his four years in Congress, has become a multimillionaire, buying stocks in the companies he regulates and doing everything that Donald Trump asks. But as you know, my career has been squarely focused on doing right by the people. Making sure our elections work, but also making sure every other aspect of government works. And when it comes to reducing costs, which the people of Michigan desperately need right now, I'm the leader in this race.”
In case you missed it…
Ali Velshi: …But this race, given the history of election denialism, given how central Michigan is to these things, the person who becomes the governor of Michigan is going to be very important for the future of democracy. Tell me how this is all playing out in your race.
Jocelyn Benson: Certainly the path to the presidency in 2028 runs right through Michigan. And so there's a clear contrast in who stands to be the next governor: myself, an election defender or my opponent, an election denier…But I also know that I'm the only candidate in this race who will actually work for the people. My opponent in his four years in Congress, has become a multimillionaire, buying stocks in the companies he regulates and doing everything that Donald Trump asks. But as you know, my career has been squarely focused on doing right by the people. Making sure our elections work, but also making sure every other aspect of government works. And when it comes to reducing costs, which the people of Michigan desperately need right now, I'm the leader in this race. I'm the only candidate in this race who doesn't take corporate PAC money, isn't beholden to Donald Trump or ultra wealthy donors, and will be accountable to the people of Michigan; so that I can, with integrity, drive down their costs, grow our economy, and defend democracy. I've done that as Secretary of State, and I'm ready to do it as governor.
Velshi: …Even if you don't like USMCA, nobody seems to be looking for a trade war with Canada like the one that we've gotten ourselves into.
Benson: No, not at all. In fact, Trump's tariffs or the John James Tax, as we call it, because he's partially responsible for these tariffs. Because he hasn't stood up to Trump, he's only voted to support Trump's power to levy these tariffs. That John James Tax is costing Michigan households $5,600 a year. That, to me, at a time when the cost of health care, housing, electricity, everything else is going through the roof, is unacceptable and makes anyone who promotes these tariffs, as my opponent does, unfit to serve and unfit to be governor. But I have a plan to actually reduce those tariffs, negotiating agreements with Canada that can carve out exceptions. Other governors have done this as well. I’ll also look to partner with neighboring governors of Canadian border states, so that we can collectively, regionally negotiate ways around these tariffs through subnational agreements, that will help us drive down costs. That's the job of a governor right now: to find every way, use every possible tool in our toolbox to reduce costs for the people of Michigan and protect our states against the failed economic policies of Donald Trump.
Velshi: …How do we create jobs? How do we maintain jobs? How do we respect those people who actually build things in our country? Even if building and industry is in something of a decline?
Benson: Absolutely. And that's why the theme of our campaign is costs down, wages up. We need to drive down costs while also growing our economy. That's actually the affordability agenda. We do that here in Michigan three ways. One, by supporting our advanced manufacturing industry, our auto industry, helping to invest in research and development, to stay ahead or get ahead of the vehicles of today, and build the vehicles of tomorrow. But in addition to that, we have to invest in other areas, other emerging economies — from defense and aviation and aerospace to clean energy and climate tech. Investing in the clean energy industry helps us build clean energy, invest in new ways to mitigate the impact of climate change, while also creating well-paying jobs in growing economies of tomorrow. And then third, small business growth. Actually investing in the ability of small businesses to start up, and scale up, enables the innovators in our communities, and all throughout our state, to monetize their great ideas and build wealth for themselves. It's an all of the above approach to ensuring we are growing our economy. I have a vision for doing that, and that will help us make Michigan more affordable for everyone.
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