Yesterday, following the news that the Department of Justice will send election monitors to Michigan in 2026, Jocelyn Benson joined MS NOW to discuss how she is standing up to the Trump administration to prevent interference and intimidation at the polls. Jocelyn also highlighted her commitment to lowering costs and raising wages in Michigan while one of her potential opponents, John James, tries to distract from his record of raising healthcare costs. 

Key point: "What I've learned is how important it is for state leaders to be guardrails in this moment, and have the moral courage to stand up to anyone, anytime, anywhere who would try to interfere with the rights and safety of our citizens. I've done that as secretary of state, and I'm ready to do it as the next governor of Michigan."

In case you missed it… 

WATCH HERE

Symone Sanders Townsend: First, what is your reaction to this news that the Department of Justice could send election monitors to Michigan for the primaries? Has the Department of Justice spoken directly to you or your office?

Jocelyn Benson: No, and thanks for having me to talk about this important issue. The President and his administration continue to sow seeds of doubt, baseless, evidence-free as you said, about our elections in Michigan and everywhere else. Our elections are transparent, accurate, accessible, and secure. And transparency is our friend. We welcome observers into our elections to see just how secure they are. But what we're seeing here is the President and the Department of Justice continuing to pursue these baseless allegations to confuse voters about the facts. They’re going to local officials to try to pressure them to be afraid or scared or worried and through that, pressure voters in these critical communities in Michigan – East Lansing, Lansing, Detroit – into worrying about the elections process, or worrying about whether they might face intimidation if they show up to vote. But the bottom line is, Michigan's professional local clerks are committed to ensuring our elections are safe, accessible, and fair. And we're going to continue to make sure every Michigan citizen can cast their ballot with confidence, free from interference and obstruction. And I'll always stand up to anyone who tries to stand in the way of that. 

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What we draw the line at is disruption, interference, intimidation, breaking the law. And we will be there if anyone tries anything like that to ensure those disruptions are stopped, minimized, and that voters are protected as they exercise their sacred right to vote.

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Symone Sanders Townsend: I want to get your reaction to this, because one of the Republican candidates in the governor's race, Rep. John James, who has been endorsed by Donald Trump, he was actually on Fox News tonight and he broadly called you and other Democrats Marxists. And Donald Trump has similarly been repeatedly calling Democrats communists. What is your reaction to this escalating line of attack? And do you think it's effective in Michigan or anywhere in the country, frankly?

Jocelyn Benson: I'm in the middle of a statewide tour of Michigan, where I've been talking to voters all across the state for the last several days. And what I hear time and time again are how many residents on both sides of the aisle are worried about whether or not they can pay their basic bills, whether they have to choose between paying for medicine or food, child care or rent. And here's someone, John James, who voted not once, not twice, but three times to raise health care premiums on Michiganders all across the state. Hundreds of thousands of Michiganders seeing their price of health care go up because of what he did. So, if he's trying to distract from that, and make this election about anything other than my commitment to lower costs for Michiganders and grow our economy – well, good luck with that. Because I'm actually meeting people where they are and talking to people about the real issues. And what I found is what citizens of Michigan want is someone who will stand up to the president and his failed economic policies, that are making their life harder. My job as governor will be to make their life easier and ensure that no matter who you are or where you live in this state, you have access to well-paying jobs and can thrive.

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Symone Sanders Townsend: You know, Madam Secretary, you did earn an endorsement this evening. Pete Buttigieg, who is a Michigan resident, endorsed you in the governor's race in Michigan. And in his statement, he recalled the threats and the protests that you experienced following Trump's lies about the 2020 election. And frankly, it takes me back to where we started this conversation. It reminds me of the dangers that election workers have faced in recent years, how some people may be hesitant to come out and participate this year as an election worker. Do you have that concern ahead of the midterms? And what's your message to folks out there, across the state, who are considering maybe this isn't something they want to do this fall?

Jocelyn Benson: With all the chaos and the cruelty that we're seeing from the Trump administration – at a time where it feels like, at the federal level, government is showing up everywhere we don't want it and nowhere where we actually need it — that state leaders like myself, and other leaders like Pete Buttigieg, and Democrats up and down the ticket are focused on driving down costs and improving people's lives. And yes, sometimes that means we have to be prepared to stand up to the President of the United States and his failed chaotic tariffs or other policies that are making life harder for Michiganders. But the muscle I've honed over these last several years defending our democracy against powerful interests like the President – and the threats that come with that, and the challenges that come with that – what I've learned is how important it is for state leaders to be guardrails in this moment, and have the moral courage to stand up to anyone, anytime, anywhere who would try to interfere with the rights and safety of our citizens. I've done that as secretary of state, and I'm ready to do it as the next governor of Michigan.

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