PRESS RELEASE
LISTEN: Jocelyn Benson Commits to Cleaning Up John James’ Mess, Bringing Costs Down for Michiganders
Last week, Secretary of State and Democratic nominee for Governor Jocelyn Benson joined the Meidas Touch Podcast to share what she’s been hearing from Michiganders as they’re facing the consequences of John James’ failed economic policies. From Detroit to Muskegon, Jocelyn has heard from Michiganders struggling to afford their healthcare, housing, groceries, and electricity, due to rising costs amidst the trade war with Canada and ongoing Iran War. While John James is raising household costs, and allowing gas prices to skyrocket to $5/gallon, Jocelyn vows to get to work on day one to bring down costs for Michiganders.
Key Point: “This is [John James’] mess. This is his mess that we have to clean up for our economy and for our democracy…And so the choice facing voters in Michigan in this critical battleground state couldn't be more clear: who do you want the next Governor of Michigan to work for? I will work for the voters, I will work for Gwen, I will work for the people. And my opponent, he's already shown us who he'll work for: Donald Trump and the highest bidder.”
In case you missed it…
Meidas Touch: Where do you see the race right now and just talk to us generally about what the people in Michigan are facing…
Jocelyn Benson: …Our campaign is fundamentally about three things: costs down, wages up, and ending the corruption that got us here. And yes, every bad economic policy decision Trump has made has hurt Michigan, more than any other state. This bizarre tariff war with Canada, our neighbor to the North, has increased costs on Michigan households up to $5,600 each. And that's more than any other state. And then you add the war in Iran, driving up our gas prices so that they're close to or over $5 a gallon. It's unsustainable in a state like ours, where health care premiums are also on the rise, and my opponent has voted multiple times to increase those health care premiums. Hurting Michigan families. He has supported Trump's tariffs, hurting and costing Michigan's families. And has voted six times to support the war in Iran, even though it's driving up the cost uniquely significantly on Michiganders. And that's the choice facing voters this fall: who do you want the next Governor of Michigan to work for? The people driving down costs and raising wages, as I will. Or, as my opponent has shown us, he’ll work for Donald Trump and for himself. That's not the leadership we need in Michigan.
[...]
Benson: Everything they're saying is so out of touch with the people I talk to every day…I live in Detroit and a neighbor of mine named Gwen has been diagnosed with cancer. And she told me the other day that she has to look at her bills every month and choose, does she pay for her chemotherapy or does she pay her electricity bill? And, first of all, a gut wrenching choice that she shouldn't have to be faced with, but is faced with because of the failed leadership in Washington. And her story is not an anomaly. Every nurse I talk to, every doctor at every healthcare roundtable that I host, I hear very similar stories of these impossible choices that are life-and-death decisions people are having to make as a result of these failed economic policies. The Big Beautiful Bill, that's designed to get people off healthcare, not make them healthier. They're doing everything wrong at the federal level, showing up everywhere we don't want [them] to show up. Here in Michigan, state leaders, and I as Governor, can make sure government is showing up for our people — saving them time, saving them money, and then hopefully making their life a little bit easier.
Meidas Touch: …Talk to us about how [the tariffs are] impacting Michigan.
Benson: Significantly. As governor, on day one, I will begin talks with Canada to negotiate carve-outs to these reckless tariff agreements, and sub-national agreements between Michigan and Canada, that will go around Trump's reckless tariffs that are driving up costs more than any other state, and make sure we can try to lower costs and save our jobs. Getting this right is critical to creating better paying jobs and raising wages. I was in Muskegon a few months ago, and someone who's building affordable housing there said the uncertainty that these tariffs have created have made it impossible for him to meet his deadlines, and even know if he's going to actually complete this affordable housing development, and provide housing for the residents of Muskegon. These tariffs are driving up building costs — from lumber, to steel, to copper — in our state, and that is directly impacting citizens' ability to afford to live in this state. And it's also impacting employers' ability to recruit, and build a workforce.
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Meidas Touch: The person you're running against…he voted for everything that Donald Trump did that hurt the state of Michigan and hurt the country…So what's [John James] running on?
Benson: This is [John James’] mess. This is his mess that we have to clean up for our economy and for our democracy. Because remember, my opponent was also on the ballot, running for the US Senate back then in 2020. He lost that race and he denied the election result. So we're in a scenario where the path to future elections, the Presidency and the like, run right through Michigan. We cannot have a governor who does not know what it takes to defend the vote and protect our elections. Not in this moment. And not only has my opponent shown he has no interest in protecting the vote, he has done everything he could to parrot and repeat Trump's lies about our elections and our economy. Sure, every bad economic policy Trump promotes he supports my opponent supports. And in addition to that, he denies election results, as I defend them. And so the choice facing voters in Michigan in this critical battleground state couldn't be more clear: who do you want the next Governor of Michigan to work for? I will work for the voters, I will work for Gwen, I will work for the people. And my opponent, he's already shown us who he'll work for: Donald Trump and the highest bidder.
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