WATCH: Jocelyn Benson Lays Out Michigan Democrats’ Agenda: Lower Costs, Higher Wages, & Protecting Michiganders’ Rights

Last night, Secretary of State and Democratic Nominee for Governor Jocelyn Benson joined MS Now’s The 11th Hour with Ali Velshi to discuss the Democratic tickets’  shared goal: making life more affordable for Michiganders and serving as guardrails against the cruelty and chaos happening at the federal level. For the last 18 months, Jocelyn has traveled the state sharing her comprehensive plans to bring down costs, grow the economy, and, along with the rest of the Democratic ticket, ensure government is working for the people – not corporations or Donald Trump.

Key point: “I think the real question facing voters this fall is, is who do your leaders work for? Do they work for you? Do they work for the people? Or do they work for Donald Trump, the highest bidder, and corporate interests? Every Democrat running in this election, this fall in Michigan, is committed to working for the people. And that's where the unity lies.”

In case you missed it…

WATCH HERE

Ali Velshi: [...] There were some doubts about whether the competing candidates can come together in order to win the election in three months, but it looks like it can happen.

Jocelyn Benson: We're all unified around our desire to make Michigan a place where you can afford to live and build a career and thrive. Frankly, the number one thing I hear from folks all across the state, and I'm sure every other candidate is hearing the same thing, is how high costs have gotten. From prescription drugs, to housing costs, to utility bills, to the cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, and all the fears of not being able to afford to live in a state like ours where wages have been stagnant and costs are going up. [...] So, we as candidates, all up and down the ticket, are focused on that issue which we know is top of mind for so many citizens in our nation and also, frankly, in many cases, a direct result of the failed and chaotic economic policies of the Trump administration. So we're all thinking the same thing, and singing the same song. 

Velshi: [...] I know that there are Michiganders who want freer trade and some who want more restrictive trade, but this isn't about that. This is just chaotic. 

Benson: Yeah, truly. And not only that, but corrupt and cruel. At a time where it feels like we see the federal government showing up everywhere we don't want it – literally in our polling places, observing our free, fair and secure elections and masked federal agents showing up in communities all around the state, scaring kids and law abiding community members. It's not okay, especially when so many folks are struggling just to make ends meet. So I think the real question facing voters this fall is, is who do your leaders work for? Do they work for you? Do they work for the people? Or do they work for Donald Trump, the highest bidder, and corporate interests? Every Democrat running in this election, this fall in Michigan, is committed to working for the people. And that's where the unity lies.

[...]

Velshi: Americans don't seem to understand what benefit they're getting from AI but they are seeing that AI leaders are benefiting.

Benson: It gets back to who are the leaders of Michigan working for? Are they working for the people? Are they trying to protect their voices? Are they trying to protect our jobs? Are they trying to prepare our young people for the jobs of tomorrow, whether they be in tech or elsewhere? And that's, again, where we're focused. And I know there's a lot of unknowns, particularly when it comes to technological advancements and and AI, and that's where government also has to come in with guardrails to actually protect the people. [...] That's why having state leaders and all leaders who are squarely focused not on what corporations want or tech billionaires want, but what the people need. It is a critical role for government to play. And frankly, it's why I'm really excited to be running for governor in this moment, because I've seen firsthand how important it is to have state leaders and governors who are unafraid to be those guardrails, to stand up to anyone, no matter what it takes [...] If we can do our part as governors to show that government can actually just show up for you, protect you, keep you safe, save you time and save you money, that's such an important contrast to the chaos and cruelty we are seeing, and the corruption we are seeing at the federal level.

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