PRESS RELEASE
WATCH: Michigan Voters Love Jocelyn’s Record as Secretary of State, Turn Out In Record Numbers in Governor’s Race
Last night, Secretary of State and Democratic Nominee for Governor Jocelyn Benson joined MS Now’s The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell to discuss her record-breaking win in Tuesday’s primary – earning more votes than any primary election candidate in Michigan history. With over 1.2 million votes, her landslide win made clear that Michigan voters love her successful record as Secretary of State – where she transformed the state’s most important agency, saved people time and money, and protected Michiganders’ rights – and trust her to be the next governor.
Key point: “I've stood unafraid to protect every single right of every single citizen in this state. And governors, in this moment, are those guardrails for our economy, for our democracy. What I think you saw in our primary is voters recognizing that and supporting me: someone who has stood firm and unwavering in support of their rights, their vote, and also to make their lives a little bit easier when they come to the Secretary of State office. That's what people want from leaders right now. People who will drive down costs, stand up to bullies, fight corruption and fight for them.”
In case you missed it…
O’Donnell: So, you got a vote last night that no one in Michigan has ever gotten in a primary. You're now polling in the latest poll nine points ahead of the Republican nominee, a Trump endorsed Republican nominee for governor. What does that tell you about how your service as Secretary of State has been perceived by Michigan voters?
Benson: This is my fourth statewide campaign, and I've been proud to earn the support of voters from all sides of the spectrum every time I've run. With that said, what it shows is how much voters want leaders who will simply make their lives easier, who will save them time, and save them money, which I've done as Secretary of State. [...] I also run the Department of Motor Vehicles and I've transformed how that works to actually be an efficient way to deliver services. And in addition to that, I've stood unafraid to protect every single right of every single citizen in this state. And governors, in this moment, are those guardrails for our economy, for our democracy. What I think you saw in our primary is voters recognizing that and supporting me: someone who has stood firm and unwavering in support of their rights, their vote, and also to make their lives a little bit easier when they come to the Secretary of State office. That's what people want from leaders right now. People who will drive down costs, stand up to bullies, fight corruption and fight for them.
O’Donnell: [...] I cannot think of a bigger curse to give to anyone who has hopes for elective office than to be responsible for the Department of Motor Vehicles in their state. How did you survive that? And apparently, according to the vote, turn it into an asset?
Benson: Because we transformed how this butt of bureaucracy actually operates. Here in Michigan every single voter has interacted with our office numerous times over the last near decade. And when they do, they see there's no wait time. It's easy to get your service done with the state. We have saved people time. We have eliminated wait times. We put kiosks in grocery stores, so you can renew your driver's license while you're doing your grocery shopping. Basic stuff that is about government showing up when you need it, and then getting out of the way when you don't. And at a time where it feels like, at the federal level, government is showing up everywhere we don't want it – like interfering in our elections – and nowhere where we actually need it, I've been able to demonstrate through actions, through results, through work, here in Michigan, that I know how to manage government in a way that will show up when you need it, save you time, save you money, and then get out of the way while making your life easier.
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