Winnie Brinks Meets Michiganders Hurting from “John James Tax” Across the State

Over the last few days, Senate Majority Leader and Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor Winnie Brinks has traveled across the state — from Traverse City to Saginaw — to meet with Michiganders suffering the consequences of the John James Tax hikes. Winnie called out James for putting Trump’s agenda ahead of Michiganders — continuing to back his reckless trade war even as Michigan households have faced an additional $5,619 in costs over the past year.

Winnie heard directly from small business owners and everyday Michiganders drowning under skyrocketing costs, from higher utility bills to higher prices at the gas pump. Michiganders need their next governor to work for them – not for Donald Trump – and focus on bringing down costs. Jocelyn Benson is the only candidate with a plan to do it.

In case you missed it…

On the airwaves: 

WUOM-AM — Ann Arbor, MI: Michigan Democrats are trying to link President Donald Trump's tariff policies to Republican candidate for governor John James. James’ Democratic opponent is Jocelyn Benson. She's calling higher prices for grocery, gas, and other items connected to the President's tariff policies, the “John James Tax.” James has supported tariffs in Congress. Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Winnie Brinks says James is putting the President ahead of Michiganders: “What people expect from a governor, and a lieutenant governor, and anybody who asks for their vote should be that they put Michiganders first.”

WDET-FM — Detroit, MI: This week, Michigan Democrats are trying to tie Republican gubernatorial candidate John James to what they say is the economic fallout from President Trump's tariff policies. The Trump administration's tariffs are being blamed for higher grocery, gas, and other prices by the Democrats. James has supported those tariffs in Congress. At a campaign event in Saginaw, Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Winnie Brinks said that James is not putting Michiganders ahead of the President's agenda: “He has really been a yes man for Trump from day one.”

In print: 

Mid-Michigan Now: Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor Winnie Brinks visits Saginaw

[9/14/26]

Winnie Brinks, the Michigan Senate Majority Leader, and Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor, spent some time meeting with Saginaw community members on Monday.

Brinks was joined by State Senator Chedrick Greene for a roundtable with local residents.

The roundtable focused on rising costs.

"Michiganders need a governor who is focused on driving down costs and making Michigan a place where anyone can afford to live, work, and raise a family — and that’s exactly what the Benson-Brinks administration will do. Meanwhile, John James is backing Trump’s reckless trade wars which have skyrocketed costs and forced Michigan families to pay an additional $5,600 over the past year," said the Benson campaign in a statement over the weekend.

Mid-Michigan NOW has reached out to John James' campaign for a response. We have yet to hear back.

Cadillac News: Winnie Brinks makes quick campaign stop in Cadillac

[Rick Charmoli, 9/12/26]

After the quick meet and greet, Brinks said visiting communities throughout Michigan is important even in areas like Wexford County, where Democrats face a more challenging political environment.

“It’s really important for us to reach Democrats, no matter where they live in the state of Michigan, but not just Democrats,” Brinks said.

In her role as the senate majority leader, Brinks said it has required her to consider issues affecting communities across the state and that meeting with residents during the campaign provides an opportunity to hear directly from them.

Brinks said issues she hears about in rural communities are often similar to those raised in more urban areas. Among the issues people bring up, Brinks said affordable housing, education and water infrastructure are often identified regardless of the area she is in.

She pointed specifically to aging water and sewer infrastructure, saying Michigan has invested heavily in roads but that additional resources are needed for water systems. Brinks said protecting drinking water and maintaining infrastructure are important to public health and the state’s communities.

PFAS contamination was also discussed, an issued that she is aware of that has received a lot of attention in the Cadillac area. Brinks pointed to her work with residents affected by PFAS contamination associated with Wolverine Worldwide in Kent County.

She said Michigan was among the first states to investigate the prevalence and sources of PFAS contamination and argued that additional work is needed to address existing contamination. The cleanup can require significant investments in water treatment, filtration systems and other infrastructure. She also said polluters should bear responsibility for cleanup costs when they contributed to contamination.

“There’s still so much work to do,” Brinks said.

Brinks also discussed the Benson-Brinks campaign’s focus on lowering costs including housing, groceries, gas and health care. She criticized Republican gubernatorial nominee John Jones over his support for tariffs and other policies, while saying the Benson-Brinks ticket would focus on making government work more effectively for Michigan residents.

“This really is about public service for me,” she said.

MIRS: Brinks Takes Tariff Attack To Traverse City Small Businesses

[9/11/26]

Senate Majority Leader and Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Winnie BRINKS (D-Grand Rapids) met with small business owners today to argue that President Donald TRUMP's tariffs on Canadian goods are raising costs for Michigan businesses and consumers.

Brinks continued the Benson-Brinks campaign's effort to brand the tariffs as the “John James Tax,” linking Republican gubernatorial nominee John JAMES (R-Shelby Township) to Trump’s trade policies. Canada is Michigan's largest export market, accounting for roughly 39% of the state's goods exports in 2025, making the state particularly exposed to the escalating U.S.-Canada trade dispute.

“We've got the rising cost of living: it's impacting your customers, but it's also impacting businesses,” Brinks said. She argued state government should put greater emphasis on homegrown and small businesses, including investments in local infrastructure, housing and walkable business districts.

Midland Daily News: Brinks, Greene talk rising costs at Saginaw affordability roundtable 

[Abigail VanderMolen, 9/14/26]

Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Winnie Brinks and state Senator Chedrick Greene, D-Saginaw, discussed affordability at a roundtable with community members in Saginaw’s First Ward Community Center on Monday.

[...]

Marcelle Smith, pastor at Historic Second Baptist Church of Bay City, told the lawmakers that he’s observed cost is a major reason why young people move out of the area.

“I plan on being here because I love Saginaw, I love mid-Michigan,” Smith said. “I want it to get better, but I do need y'all to help me help you because I can do some stuff pastorally, I can serve on the boards and stuff like that, but it goes back to the cost. The cost is always going to be a factor.”

Retired clinical social worker Pat Parker Person said she’s seen firsthand how rising costs disproportionately affect people with lower incomes.

“You can say some of that (rising cost) is obviously inflation, but it's inflation really impacting lower income," she said. "You know, when my income was higher, that kind of stuff wasn't a big deal. But now that it's fixed and with some part-time work, then it's just a huge difference.

Among the topics of discussion at the panel was the cost of electricity. Brinks told roundtable attendees that she wants to limit the frequency with which electricity providers DTE and Consumers Energy could ask for permission to raise their rates. 

[...]

Brinks said although she’s certain it would have passed in the state Senate, she believes it’s important to hear directly from the voters on the issue.

“We've seen the Republicans mess with legislation to change the intent of the voter-initiated efforts in the past, and I think it's only fair that we hear from the people and that that is loud and clear,” Brinks said. “I was not interested in an alternative at this point.”

After the event, Brinks told reporters that the roundtable drove home the importance of affordability for her.

“Anything that we can do to make sure that we're addressing those rising costs in all these areas — you heard talk about food, you heard talk about energy, housing, transportation — all of those have seen increasing pressure on them,” Brinks said. “It really is important that we have people in the governor's office and in the legislature who are really focused on that."

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