PRESS RELEASE
WATCH: Jocelyn Benson Slams John James For Repeatedly Voting to Raise Prices Amid Affordability Crisis
Today, Secretary of State and Democratic nominee for Governor Jocelyn Benson joined CNN’s Dana Bash on Inside Politics and slammed John James for rubber-stamping Trump’s price-hiking agenda in Congress. Jocelyn is the only candidate in this race that works for the people and is prepared to stand up to anyone — no matter how wealthy or powerful — who tries to raise costs or threatens the rights and safety of Michiganders.
Key point: “When [John James] went to Washington, he did not fight for people. He fought for the highest bidder and did whatever Donald Trump asked: raising costs on all of us, voting three times to increase health care costs on the people of Michigan, supporting tariffs that have taxed Michiganders more than any other state, and voting six times to support a war in Iran that has directly impacted gas prices in Michigan. So what people are looking for in Michigan right now — and what Democrats are unified around delivering — are lowering costs, increasing wages, growing our economy, and frankly, ending the type of corruption at the federal level that has got us here.”
In case you missed it…
Dana Bash: …What do you say to voters who may have supported President Trump two years ago, and now are trying to figure out who to vote for for governor?
Jocelyn Benson: Look, in 2024, Donald Trump made a lot of promises to the people of Michigan: promises to lower costs, promises to make life more affordable. And then he failed to deliver on those promises. And not only that, here we are in 2026 and we're seeing not just failure to deliver, but also cost going up on just about everything. If it's a reckless war in Iran, it is causing our gas prices to increase. The reckless tariffs with Canada, that he and my opponent John James both support, have driven up costs on Michiganders and Michigan households more than any other state in the nation. And the people of Michigan are feeling that. We see our prices go up at the gas pump, at the grocery store, everywhere else and people are looking for leaders who will actually deliver results. I've done that as Secretary of State: reforming our office to actually save people time and money. And that track record, that results-oriented record, is ultimately what people are looking for in elections like this.
Bash: …What do you make of James’ comments about your party in Michigan?
Benson: Our party is the party of the Voting Rights Act. We are the party of the Civil Rights Act, the party of Medicaid, Medicare, the party that does big transformational things and actually drives down costs for the people. And my opponent, when he went to Washington, did not fight for people. He fought for the highest bidder and did whatever Donald Trump asked: raising costs on all of us, voting three times to increase health care costs on the people of Michigan, supporting tariffs that have taxed Michiganders more than any other state, and voting six times to support a war in Iran that has directly impacted gas prices in Michigan. So what people are looking for in Michigan right now — and what Democrats are unified around delivering — are lowering costs, increasing wages, growing our economy, and frankly, ending the type of corruption at the federal level that has got us here. I talk a lot about how governments kind of, at the federal level, showing up everywhere we don't want it and nowhere we actually need it. But here in Michigan, Democrats are united around showing up for people, actually delivering results, lowering costs, increasing wages, and making life better for everyone.
Bash: You mentioned tariffs…Would you be able to work with [Donald Trump] to try to lower the trade war’s burden on Michiganders?
Benson: My job as governor will be to fight for and represent the people of Michigan on all sides, in every county. And that's what I've done as Secretary of State. I'll always stand up to anyone who tries to interfere with our rights, our freedoms, and abuse their authority…But I also know that growing our economy, increasing access to well-paying jobs, is critical to ensuring everyone in Michigan can thrive. And I will work with the President and anyone else who is committed to those same goals. However, the President has to recognize that the tariffs he's imposed in this war with Canada has hurt Michiganders more than any other state. Households are paying $6,400 more as a result of these tariffs. So, as governor, I'll also work to negotiate agreements with Canada: subnational agreements that can carve out exceptions to these tariff wars to help protect Michiganders. And I hope the President would support that work.
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