Jocelyn Benson

Secretary of State of Michigan and academic

Jocelyn Benson

Benson in 2022

43rd Secretary of State of Michigan

Incumbent

Assumed office
January 1, 2019
Governor| Gretchen Whitmer
Preceded by| Ruth Johnson
Dean of the Wayne State University Law School
In office
December 2012 – September 2016
Preceded by| Robert Ackerman
Succeeded by| Richard Bierschbach
Personal details
Born|  (1977-10-22) October 22, 1977 (age 46)
Political party| Democratic
Education| Wellesley College (BA)
Magdalen College, Oxford (MA)
Harvard University (JD)
Website| Government website

Jocelyn Benson (born October 22, 1977) is an American activist, politician, and former academic administrator. She is the 43rd Secretary of State of Michigan. Benson is a former dean of Wayne State University Law School, a co-founder of the Military Spouses of Michigan, and a board member of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality. She is the author of State Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process (2010).

In 2018, Benson was elected Secretary of State by an 8.9 percentage point margin, defeating Republican Mary Treder Lang and becoming the first Democrat to hold the office since Richard H. Austin left office in 1995. She was reelected in 2022, defeating Republican Kristina Karamo by 14 percentage points, the largest margin and vote share of any statewide candidate that year.

## Education and career[edit]

Benson graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College in 1999, where she founded the now-annual Women in American Political Activism conference and was the first student to be elected to serve in the governing body for the town of Wellesley, Massachusetts. She subsequently earned her master's in sociology as a Marshall Scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford, conducting research into the sociological implications of white supremacy and neo-Nazism.

Prior to attending law school, Benson also lived in Montgomery, Alabama, where she worked for the Southern Poverty Law Center as an investigative journalist, researching white supremacist and neo-Nazi organizations. Benson has also worked as a summer associate for voting rights and election law for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and as a legal assistant to Nina Totenberg at National Public Radio.[1][2][3]

Benson received her JD from Harvard Law School, where she was a general editor of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review.[4][5] From 2002 to 2004, she served as the Voting Rights Policy Coordinator of the Harvard Civil Rights Project, a non-profit organization that sought to link academic research to civil rights advocacy efforts,[5] where she worked on the passage of the federal Help America Vote Act.

Upon graduation from Harvard Law, Benson moved to Detroit to serve as a law clerk to the Honorable Damon J. Keith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.[6][7]

### Wayne Law[edit]

Benson was appointed dean of Wayne State Law School in December 2012 at the age of 35, becoming the youngest woman to lead a top 100 law school in United States history.[8]

As dean she established two "marquee" programs: the Levin Center at Wayne Law,[9] chaired by former United States Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), and the Program on Entrepreneurship and Business Law,[10] which helps aspiring business professionals in underserved communities participate in the economic revival of Detroit.

Prior to being appointed Dean in 2012, Benson was the associate director of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, where she started the Michigan Allies Project, an effort designed to track hate incidents throughout Michigan and provide legal support for victims.[11]

### The Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality[edit]

From 2016 to 2018 Benson served as CEO of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE),[12]

### Military Spouses of Michigan[edit]

In 2012, Benson joined with three military spouses and family members in Michigan to create Military Spouses of Michigan, a network dedicated to providing support and services to military family members and veterans in Michigan. In January 2013, the group was selected to represent the state of Michigan in the Presidential Inaugural Parade, the only group of military spouses to receive that honor.[13]

### Civics education and election law[edit]

In 2011, Benson was selected to serve with retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the national board of directors of iCivics, Inc., a nonprofit created by Justice O'Connor to improve civics education throughout the country.[14] In addition to serving as an appointed member of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Election Law,[5] she is also the founder and current director of the Michigan Center for Election Law, which hosts projects that support transparency and integrity in elections. In 2011, the center hosted Michigan's first "Citizens' Redistricting Competition",[15] providing an opportunity for Michigan citizens to access software and draw their own redistricting maps for the state.[16]

Benson developed and supervised three statewide nonpartisan election protection efforts in Michigan in 2007, 2008 and 2012.[5] During the 2008 election, she was called to testify before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee,[17] where she called on Secretary Terri Lynn Land to ban the use of foreclosure lists to challenge voters' eligibility on Election Day.[18] She is a frequent commentator on voting rights and election law on local news and radio broadcasts.[19][20][21]

In 2007, Benson worked with several groups to successfully keep a Secretary of State branch office open in Buena Vista Township, Michigan. The U.S. Department of Justice, under then-President George W. Bush, concluded that the closure of the office would violate the Voting Rights Act.[22]

## Secretary of State[edit]

Benson receives the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Joe Biden in January 2023

In March 2010, Benson published her first book, State Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process. The book highlights best practices of secretaries of state from throughout the country and seeks to inform voters about how secretaries of state across the political spectrum can work to advance democracy and election reform.[23] After working with secretaries of state from around the country while researching the book, she was inspired to run for the office in her resident state of Michigan.[24] She lost to Republican candidate Ruth Johnson by a margin of 51 percent to 45 percent.[25]

On October 27, 2017, Benson announced her second candidacy for Michigan Secretary of State. She was elected on November 6, 2018, defeating Republican Mary Treder Lang, becoming the first Democrat to serve since Richard Austin left office in 1995.[26] In 2022, Benson secured her party's nomination uncontested and went on to win the general election with 56% of the vote, defeating Republican candidate candidate Kristina Karamo.[27][28]

Benson has gained national prominence, making frequent appearances on cable news shows, appearing on the cover of Time magazine alongside fellow election officials, and testifying before Congress about the challenges election workers have encountered in recent years.[27]

### Customer service reforms[edit]

Throughout her tenure, Benson has implemented reforms in the Secretary of State's office, including filling vacancies, expanding online services, installing over 150 new self-service stations, and seeking state funding for additional mobile offices.[29] She significantly increased the proportion of services conducted outside of branches, reaching about 60% of transactions online, by mail, or at self-service stations as of May 2021, up from about 25% in 2018. In April 2021, Benson announced that appointment-only visits to secretary of state offices would become permanent.[30] Despite criticisms calling for the reintroduction of walk-in services, Benson defended retaining the system even after the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the benefits of next-day appointments for urgent matters and the overall reduction in wait times, providing a more efficient process.[31][32]

### Election initiatives[edit]

In the year of her election, Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing Election Day voter registration and unrestricted absentee ballots. Benson's office oversaw the implementation of these changes.[33] During Benson's tenure, in 2019, the Election Modernization Advisory Committee was established. Comprising 27 local and national experts, the committee played a pivotal role in shaping election reform and was considered a key component of Michigan's preparation for the 2020 elections.[34][35] She also established an Election Security Commission consisting of 18 experts in cybersecurity and election security. The commission, funded by a federal election security grant and facilitated by state employees, aimed to enhance election integrity.[36]

Since 2020, Benson has emerged as one of the prominent state-level advocates defending American elections.[37] Prior to the 2020 presidential election, Benson identified precincts across the state with the lowest participation rates and visited them to understand how she could assist residents in exercising their right to vote.[38] She has advocated for and enacted initiatives to streamline the registration process, maintain accurate voter identification, and increase the number of eligible voters. Benson facilitated voter registration by allowing online registration in advance with approved identification and in-person registration on Election Day. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, she initiated the distribution of absentee ballots well in advance of the election and spearheaded the state's inaugural campaign to enlist and train a new generation of poll workers.[38] Benson mailed absentee voter applications to all 7.7 million Michigan registered voters for the August primary and November general election, citing the need for equal access and health protection during the COVID-19 pandemic.[39][40] The effort was funded by $4.5 million in federal coronavirus relief funding from the CARES Act.[41] In June, she initiated a platform enabling registered voters to apply for an absentee ballot online, using their state ID and last four digits of their Social Security numbers. Voters were also allowed to submit a scanned, signed copy of their absentee ballot application via email.[42] Benson also played a role in developing an online ballot-tracking tool for absentee ballots.[43]

Benson's administration has worked on improving voter education for students in high schools and colleges statewide, a factor in Michigan achieving the highest youth voter turnout in the 2022 election, where 18 to 29-year-olds participated at a rate of 37%, surpassing the national average of 23%, according to Tufts University's Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. In August 2019, she initiated the Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force to address challenges that could hinder the voting capabilities of young citizens.[44] Her administration has collaborated with local clerks and colleges, such as the University of Michigan's robust early voting site, and has engaged in programs like MI Vote Matters with high schools, facilitating convenient voting for students and encouraged voter registration among 17- and 18-year-olds.[45][46]

Michigan's 2020 presidential election marked a historic turnout, exceeding 5.5 million voters. Benson credited the achievement to prioritized voter education, enhanced accessibility and a surge in absentee voting, with 3.1 million registered voters choosing to cast their ballots by mail.[47] She has upheld the integrity of the 2020 presidential election in Michigan and has refuted unfounded allegations of voter fraud from former President Donald Trump[48] and has stated that the attempts to delegitimize the election ultimately resulted in the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[49] Local elections in May also achieved a "record-breaking turnout," with 25% of registered voters participating, of which 99% voted by mail or in a drop box—significantly surpassing the 10-year average turnout of 12% in local May elections.[50]

In preparation for the 2024 presidential election, Benson, alongside other Democratic leaders, has collaborated on the Democracy Playbook, a set of over 40 recommendations by the NewDEAL Forum aimed at enhancing election systems nationwide, with a focus on election integrity, voting access, and civic engagement.[51] In July 2023, she confirmed that federal prosecutors interviewed her for "several hours" in March as part of the ongoing criminal probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. While not divulging specific details, Benson highlighted the investigators' focus on the impact of misinformation on election workers' lives and threats.[52] Benson is an advocate for stricter penalties against those who harass election workers and for increased funding to support elections. She aims both to explicitly prohibit and to enhance penalties for threatening election officials, 'doxxing,' and pressuring them to violate the law. She has highlighted legislative goals that involve tightening rules on petition signature gathering, holding accountable those who mislead voters, and securing more funds for municipalities to conduct elections.[53]

### Criticism, lawsuits and threats[edit]

As Trump voiced concerns about potential election fraud associated with absentee voting, his criticism particularly targeted Benson's mailing effort. He called Benson a "rogue Secretary of State"[54] and initially threated to withhold federal funds for coronavirus relief, but later retracted his threat.[55][56] Court rulings affirmed Benson's legal authority to mail absentee ballot applications to all registered voters in Michigan in 2020, while the state auditor discredited Republican claims of fraudulent ballots from deceased voters, highlighting that the 2,775 problematic votes represented only 0.02% of the 11,725,897 votes cast in the eight reviewed elections, with 98.5% of these few votes being cast by electors who died within 40 days of the elections.[57] On December 7, 2020, reportedly armed pro-Trump demonstrators gathered outside her home, echoing Trump's election fraud claims. The demonstrators chanted and made threatening demands to overturn Michigan's election results, linking the incident to broader efforts by Trump and his legal team to challenge the election outcome. No arrests were made and police confirmed that there were no breaches of criminal law throughout the demonstration.[58][59] Benson faced death threats for her role in overseeing the 2020 election. In January 2020, a 72-year-old man was arrested after evidence was found in his home related to violent threats he directed at Benson.[60] In December 2022, she stated that threats from election deniers that started in 2020 had not ceased.[61] In May 2023, she claimed in an interview that after the election, Trump suggested she be tried for treason and possibly executed, an accusation he denied.[62] In October 2023, a 60-year-old man from Detroit was sentenced to 15 months of probation after threatening to kill Benson and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.[63]

Benson's efforts to modernize and expand access to elections have faced legal challenges, with GOP officials claiming the mailings are illegal and could result in fraudulent activities, although the decision was compliant with the Michigan constitution and upheld in court.[64] Michigan GOP lawmakers, such as Benson's predecessor Ruth Johnson, criticized her for using COVID-19 relief funds to mail absentee ballot applications to all registered voters. Republicans argued that the move could compromise election security and lead to voter fraud. Despite disputes and claims of potential fraudulent activities, experts argued that the multiple verification requirements in place make a significant increase in fraud unlikely.[65] In response to concern over applications reaching dead or relocated individuals, Benson has contended that the mass mailing aids in identifying and removing inactive or deceased voters, and emphasized the long-standing signature verification measures as safeguards against fraud.[66]

Benson has been named in multiple lawsuits. In October 2019, she was specifically named in a lawsuit filed by Priorities USA, a Democratic group, over the elimination of absentee votes due to disparities between a voter's signature and other filed documents with election officials. In November, the group targeted her in a lawsuit challenging the state's automatic registration law and alleging undue burdens on young voters' constitutional rights.[67] In March 2021, Michigan’s Court of Claims ruled against Benson, saying that although the instructions' content did not breach election law, she had not followed the appropriate procedural measures while providing guidance to clerks on verifying signatures on absentee ballots.[68] In September 2022, the Election Integrity Force and others sued Benson and Michigan’s governor, Gretchen Whitmer, in a bid to decertify the 2020 election.[69] Controversies also arose during Benson's administration regarding the Michigan Bureau of Elections' guidance on signature matching for absentee ballots in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election. The guidance, maintaining the presumption of a valid signature, faced legal scrutiny, and in March 2021, State Court of Claims Judge Christopher M. Murray ruled that such instructions should be issued as an administrative rule. The court found the process used to send the content to the clerks did not follow the state Administrative Procedures Act, prompting the Bureau to undergo the APA rulemaking process, which is now in effect.[70][71]

In November 2023, Trump's legal team sued to prevent Benson from excluding him in Michigan's 2024 elections. The lawsuit argues Benson lacks authority to disqualify him under the 14th Amendment, seeking an injunction against barring him from the ballot. Despite Trump's request for confirmation, Benson's reported silence adds uncertainty. The dispute traces back to a Free Speech for People lawsuit, asserting Trump's Capitol riot involvement violates Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Benson has indicated she won't oppose Trump's ballot inclusion.[72] In an opinion piece for The Washington Post, Benson argues that secretaries of state, including herself, shouldn't unilaterally decide Trump's eligibility, and emphasizes that the courts, particularly the Supreme Court, are the appropriate forums for such determinations.[73][74]

### Ethics reforms[edit]

Aiming to address the state's 2015 ranking as the lowest in the U.S. for ethics and transparency, Benson has advocated for ethics reforms and emphasized the need for transparency in the state's government in the wake of various scandals.[75] She has aimed to enhance citizens' understanding of influence in Lansing, with financial disclosures as a starting point and the possibility of addressing dark money accounts.[76] In March 2021, Benson introduced a legislative agenda called "From Worst to First" to enhance government transparency, coinciding with Sunshine Week. The proposed measures included expanding the Freedom of Information Act to cover the governor and Legislature, requiring personal financial disclosures from elected officials, demanding more frequent campaign disclosures, and tightening regulations to prevent secret and foreign money in Michigan elections.[77] In 2023, she criticized inaction from legislators, describing the state's lobbying and campaign finance laws as "far, far behind" other states.[78]

## Personal life[edit]

A long-distance runner, Benson averages two full marathons per year. She has completed twenty-three full marathons since 2005,[79] including races in New York City, Honolulu, San Francisco, Washington DC, Florence, Venice, Chicago and Philadelphia. She completed her 18th marathon representing Team Red White and Blue in Rome, Italy. She completed her second Boston Marathon, and became one of a handful of women in history to complete the Boston Marathon while more than eight months pregnant.[80] She is married to Ryan Friedrichs, retired army airborne infantry and former Chief Development Officer for the City of Detroit, and has one son.[81]

## Political career[edit]

Benson was among several high-profile Democratic officials viewed as potential contenders for the 2024 U.S. Senate race in Michigan to take the seat of retiring Senator Debbie Stabenow. [82] Benson announced that she would not enter the race in a March 2023 Twitter video and said she would instead be focused on protecting democracy and elections in Michigan in her role as Secretary of State. She is considering a run for the open Michigan Governor's seat in 2026 according to reporting. [83]

## Awards[edit]

Crain's Detroit Business named her one of Michigan's "Most Influential Women" in 2016[84] and in October 2015, she became one of the youngest women in the state's history to be inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame, second only to Serena Williams.[85] In 2022, Benson was named as one of five recipients of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for her efforts to protect democracy.[86]

On January 6, 2023, Benson was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Joe Biden, for her "undaunted and unflinching" work in performing "exemplary public service to advance free and fair elections."[87]

## Electoral history[edit]

2010 Michigan Secretary of State election[88] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Ruth Johnson  | 1,608,270  | 50.68%  | -5.55%
| Democratic | Jocelyn Benson  | 1,434,796  | 45.22%  | +3.26%
| Libertarian | Scotty Boman  | 58,044  | 1.83%  | N/A
| Constitution | Robert Gale  | 41,727  | 1.17%  | N/A
| Green | John A. La Pietra  | 30,411  | 0.96%  | -0.93%
Total votes  | 3,173,248  | 100.0%  | N/A
| Republican hold
2018 Michigan Secretary of State election[89] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | Jocelyn Benson  | 2,203,611  | 52.87%  | +9.93%
| Republican | Mary Treder Lang  | 1,833,609  | 44.00%  | -9.53%
| Libertarian | Gregory Stempfle  | 81,697  | 1.96%  | -0.02%
| Constitution | Robert Gale  | 48,724  | 1.17%  | +0.05%
Total votes  | 4,162,389  | 100.0%  | N/A
| Democratic gain from Republican
2022 Michigan Secretary of State election[90] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | Jocelyn Benson (incumbent)  | 2,467,859  | 55.86%  | +13.93%
| Republican | Kristina Karamo  | 1,852,510  | 41.93%  | −13.93%
| Libertarian | Gregory Scott Stempfle  | 52,982  | 1.20%  | −0.76%
| Constitution | Christine Schwartz  | 27,937  | 0.63%  | −0.54%
| Green | Larry James Hutchinson Jr.  | 16,615  | 0.38%  | N/A
Total votes  | 4,417,903  | 100.0%  | N/A
| Democratic hold

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Jocelyn Benson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
2. ^ Wayne State University (June 12, 2014). "Jocelyn Benson appointed Wayne Law's 11th dean - Law School - Wayne State University". Law.wayne.edu. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
3. ^ "Wayne State Names New Dean of Law School - DBusiness Magazine". Dbusiness.com. June 12, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
4. ^ "Archive". Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021.
5. ^ a b c d "Wayne State University Law School Bio for Jocelyn F. Benson". Law.wayne.edu. Archived from the original on July 2, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
6. ^ Wayne State University (July 23, 2019). "Wayne Law remembers Judge Damon J. Keith - Law School - Wayne State University". Law.wayne.edu. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
7. ^ "Jocelyn Benson - Michigan Women Forward". Miwf.org. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
8. ^ Vassallo, Jim (June 13, 2014). "Wayne State Law School Names Jocelyn Benson Dean". JDJournal. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
9. ^ "Levin Center at Wayne Law". Levin Center. March 6, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
10. ^ Wayne Law PEBL Program Archived October 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
11. ^ "Contributor Biography". www.icle.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
12. ^ "Benson drew salary from RISE while seeking office". Crain's Detroit Business. March 17, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
13. ^ "Military spouses march in today's inaugural parade", michiganradio.org. Accessed November 6, 2022.
14. ^ "About". iCivics. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
15. ^ About the 2011 Michigan Citizen's Redistricting Competition at michiganredistricting.org
16. ^ Gregory Korte. Technology allows citizens to be part of redistricting process. USA Today. March 21, 2011
17. ^ Wayne Law Professor Benson Invited to Testify Before U.S. Congress Wayne State University - News and Announcements Archive
18. ^ Shawn Wright, Law professor announces bid for state office The South End, March 3, 2009
19. ^ Pennsylvania Inside Out: Voting Rights WPSU TV, originally aired on March 16, 2008
20. ^ Weekly Edition #3839 Archived June 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Off the Record, WKAR Public Broadcasting, originally aired March 27, 2009
21. ^ Jocelyn F. Benson Never turn away a voter Detroit Free Press February 23, 2009
22. ^ U.S. Department of Justice rules with NAACP to prevent closure of local Secretary of State office Michigan Chronicle Online, January 2, 2008
23. ^ Benson, Ms Jocelyn F. (February 28, 2013). State Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process. Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4094-9699-1.
24. ^ Stanton, Ryan J. (September 17, 2010). "Secretary of state candidate Jocelyn Benson calls on help from University of Michigan students". The Ann Arbor News. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
25. ^ Wisely, John. "Jocelyn Benson wins race for Michigan Secretary of State". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
26. ^ "2018 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/06/2018". mielections.us. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
27. ^ a b "Jocelyn Benson faces Kristina Karamo in Michigan secretary of state race: What to know". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
28. ^ "Jocelyn Benson beats Kristina Karamo in Michigan's Secretary of State race". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
29. ^ Rahal, Sarah. "Benson says 60% of SOS transactions are done without visiting branch offices". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
30. ^ "Appointment-only visits to secretary of state here to stay". AP News. April 30, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
31. ^ Eggert, David (May 30, 2021). "Benson defends appointment system amid legislative scrutiny". WWMT. The Associated Press. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
32. ^ "Benson defends appointment system amid legislative scrutiny". AP News. May 30, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
33. ^ "Jocelyn Benson beats Kristina Karamo in Michigan's Secretary of State race". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
34. ^ Dunaj, Mikhayla (December 25, 2020). "No-reason absentee voting in Michigan: How it worked, how it can be improved". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
35. ^ Coleman, Ken (February 22, 2019). "SOS forms panel to enact Proposal 3, update election procedures ⋆ Michigan Advance". Michigan Advance. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
36. ^ Manes, Nick (March 21, 2019). "Benson forms election security commission ⋆ Michigan Advance". Michigan Advance. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
37. ^ Parks, Miles (November 9, 2022). "Democrat Jocelyn Benson is reelected as Michigan secretary of state". NPR.
38. ^ a b Kurz, Ellen (June 16, 2020). "Opinion | Want Better Elections? Choose Better Elections Officials". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
39. ^ Burke, Beth LeBlanc and Melissa Nann. "All state registered voters to be mailed Aug., Nov. absentee ballot applications". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
40. ^ "Michigan mails absentee ballot applications to all voters". AP News. May 19, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
41. ^ Beggin, Riley. "Jocelyn Benson orders Michigan to mail absentee applications to all voters | Bridge Michigan". Bridge Michigan. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
42. ^ Beggin, Riley. "Michigan GOP lawmakers claim Jocelyn Benson's absentee ballot mailings illegal | Bridge Michigan". Bridge Michigan. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
43. ^ Rich, Samantha (November 9, 2022). "Jocelyn Benson wins re-election bid as Michigan Secretary of State". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
44. ^ Donahue, Allison R. (March 7, 2020). "Young people gear up for the 2020 election, whether they can vote or not ⋆ Michigan Advance". Michigan Advance. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
45. ^ "Michigan's youth voter turnout in 2022 was best in US, report says - CBS Detroit". CBS. April 18, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
46. ^ Orner, Ben (April 18, 2023). "Why Michigan led the nation in young voter turnout in 2022 midterms". mlive. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
47. ^ Weykamp, George (September 14, 2021). "Jocelyn Benson speaks at UMich Law School about voter rights". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
48. ^ Rich, Samantha (November 9, 2022). "Jocelyn Benson wins re-election bid as Michigan Secretary of State". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
49. ^ Weykamp, George (September 14, 2021). "Jocelyn Benson speaks at UMich Law School about voter rights". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
50. ^ Beggin, Riley (May 19, 2020). "Jocelyn Benson orders Michigan to mail absentee applications to all voters | Bridge Michigan". Bridge Michigan. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
51. ^ Coleman, Ken (February 20, 2023). "Benson works on national voting reforms, including big penalties for threatening election workers". Michigan Advance. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
52. ^ Cohen, Zachary (July 12, 2023). "Federal prosecutors interviewed Michigan secretary of state in special counsel's election interference probe | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
53. ^ Gibbons, Lauren (January 17, 2023). "Jocelyn Benson wants tougher penalties for harassing election workers". Bridge Michigan.
54. ^ Beggin, Riley. "Michigan GOP lawmakers claim Jocelyn Benson's absentee ballot mailings illegal | Bridge Michigan". Bridge Michigan. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
55. ^ Gray, Kathleen (July 12, 2020). "Trump vs. the Women Who Lead Michigan: A Battle With 2020 Implications". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
56. ^ "Jocelyn Benson beats Kristina Karamo in Michigan's Secretary of State race". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
57. ^ Mauger, Craig. "New Michigan audit debunks dead voter theory in 2020 election". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
58. ^ "Jocelyn Benson: Armed protesters flock to Michigan official's home". BBC News. December 7, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
59. ^ Grayer, Annie; Andrew, Scottie (December 7, 2020). "Michigan secretary of state says armed protesters gathered outside her home, claiming voter fraud". CNN. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
60. ^ Ramirez, Charles E. "Man, 72, arrested for making threats against Michigan's secretary of state". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
61. ^ "Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson still facing threats stemming from 2020 election — "The Takeout"". CBS. December 2, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
62. ^ McFadden, Cynthia; Monahan, Kevin; Chaidez, Alexandra (May 19, 2022). "Michigan election chief: Trump suggested I be arrested for treason and executed". CNBC. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
63. ^ "Detroit man who threatened to kill Whitmer, Benson sentenced to 15 months probation". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
64. ^ Gibbons, Lauren (July 20, 2022). "Michigan absentee applications nearly double from 2018: 1.2 million so far | Bridge Michigan". Bridge Michigan. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
65. ^ Beggin, Riley. "Michigan GOP lawmakers claim Jocelyn Benson's absentee ballot mailings illegal | Bridge Michigan". Bridge Michigan. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
66. ^ LeBlanc, Beth. "Michigan ballot application mailings to dead people raise Republican hackles". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
67. ^ LeBlanc, Beth. "Dem group files third voting rights lawsuit, this one targeting Benson". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
68. ^ "Michigan Appeals Court rules that secretary of state improperly set limits for poll challengers". Votebeat. October 25, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
69. ^ Berzon, Alexandra; Bensinger, Ken (November 8, 2022). "Fueled by Falsehoods, a Michigan Group Is Ready to Challenge the Vote". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
70. ^ "Judge rules Secretary of State Benson's Ballot signature verification invalid - 03/15/2021". thedetroitnews.com. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
71. ^ "Fact Checks". michigan.gov. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
72. ^ Irwin, Lauren (November 1, 2023). "Trump sues over efforts to keep him off Michigan ballot". The Hill. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
73. ^ Benson, Jocelyn (September 13, 2023). "Opinion It's not up to secretaries of state like me to keep Trump off the ballot". The Washington Post.
74. ^ "SOS Benson says Trump will be on Michigan ballot unless court rules otherwise". The Detroit News. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
75. ^ Nichols, Anna Liz (June 22, 2023). "Benson asks Legislature to make Michigan 'worst to first' for government transparency ⋆ Michigan Advance". Michigan Advance. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
76. ^ Schuster, Simon (May 2, 2023). "Jocelyn Benson: lift Michigan lawmakers' 'cloak of secrecy'". Michigan Live. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
77. ^ Hendrickson, Clara. "Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson unveils plan to improve government transparency". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
78. ^ Robinson, Samuel (May 5, 2023). "Benson calls for transparency reforms — will Democrats listen?". Axios.
79. ^ "Meet Jocelyn". Jocelyn Benson for Secretary of State. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
80. ^ "Wayne Law Dean Completes Boston Marathon While Pregnant". Detroit News. April 18, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
81. ^ "Youth Policy Lab - University of Michigan". youthpolicylab.umich.edu. University of Michigan. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
82. ^ Manchester, Julia. "Stabenow retirement scrambles calculus for Michigan Democrats". The Hill. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
83. ^ Burke, Melissa. "Jocelyn Benson won't run for U.S. Senate in Michigan in 2024". Detroit News. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
84. ^ "Most Influential Women 2016," http://www.crainsdetroit.com/awards/mostinfluentialwomen/2016 Archived August 23, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
85. ^ "Wayne Law Dean inducted into Michigan Women's Hall of Fame," http://law.wayne.edu/news.php?id=17695 Archived June 11, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
86. ^ Egan, Paul. ""Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson honored with JFK Profile in Courage award"". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
87. ^ "'A true leader,' Michigan SOS Jocelyn Benson receives presidential medal". January 6, 2023.
88. ^ "2010 Official Michigan General Election Results - Secretary of State 4 Year Term (1) Position". Department of State. Michigan. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011.
89. ^ "2018 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/06/2018".
90. ^ "2022 Michigan Election Results". Michigan Election Results.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jocelyn Benson.

* Government website
* Campaign website
* Appearances on C-SPAN

* Profile at Vote Smart

Party political offices

Preceded by

Carmella Sabaugh

|  Democratic nominee for Michigan Secretary of State
2010 | Succeeded by

Godfrey Dillard

Preceded by

Godfrey Dillard

|  Democratic nominee for Michigan Secretary of State
2018, 2022 | Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by

Ruth Johnson

|  Secretary of State of Michigan
2019–present  | Incumbent

* v
* t
* e

Statewide political officials of Michigan

U.S. senators|

* Debbie Stabenow
* Gary Peters

State government|

* Gretchen Whitmer, Governor
* Garlin Gilchrist, Lieutenant Governor
* Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State
* Dana Nessel, Attorney General
* Rachael Eubanks, Treasurer (appointed)

Senate|

* Garlin Gilchrist, President
* Jeremy Moss, President pro tempore
* Winnie Brinks, Majority Leader
* Aric Nesbitt, Minority Leader

House|

* Joe Tate, Speaker
* Laurie Pohutsky, Speaker pro tempore
* Abraham Aiyash, Majority Leader
* Matt Hall, Minority Leader

Supreme Court|

* Beth Clement, Chief Justice
* Brian K. Zahra
* David Viviano
* Richard H. Bernstein
* Megan Cavanagh
* Elizabeth M. Welch
* Kyra Bolden

* v
* t
* e

Secretaries of state in the United States

▌Wes Allen (R)

▌Nancy Dahlstrom (R)

▌Adrian Fontes (D)

▌John Thurston (R)

▌Shirley Weber (D)

▌Jena Griswold (D)

▌Stephanie Thomas (D)

▌Jeffrey Bullock (D)

▌Cord Byrd (R)

▌Brad Raffensperger (R)

▌Sylvia Luke (D)

▌Phil McGrane (R)

▌Alexi Giannoulias (D)

▌Diego Morales (R)

▌Paul Pate (R)

▌Scott Schwab (R)

▌Michael Adams (R)

▌Kyle Ardoin (R)

▌Shenna Bellows (D)

▌Susan C. Lee (D)

▌Bill Galvin (D)

▌Jocelyn Benson (D)

▌Steve Simon (D)

▌Michael Watson (R)

▌Jay Ashcroft (R)

▌Christi Jacobsen (R)

▌Bob Evnen (R)

▌Cisco Aguilar (D)

▌David Scanlan (R)

▌Tahesha Way (D)

▌Maggie Toulouse Oliver (D)

▌Robert J. Rodriguez (D)

▌Elaine Marshall (D)

▌Michael Howe (R)

▌Frank LaRose (R)

▌Josh Cockroft (R)

▌LaVonne Griffin-Valade (D)

▌Al Schmidt (R)

▌Gregg Amore (D)

▌Mark Hammond (R)

▌Monae Johnson (R)

▌Tre Hargett (R)

▌Jane Nelson (R)

▌Deidre Henderson (R)

▌Sarah Copeland-Hanzas (D)

▌Kelly Gee* (R)

▌Steve Hobbs (D)

▌Mac Warner (R)

▌Sarah Godlewski (D)

▌Chuck Gray (R)

Federal districts:

▌Kimberly Bassett (D)

Territories:

▌Salo Ale (D)

▌Josh Tenorio (D)

▌Dave Apatang (I)

▌Omar Marrero (PNP)

▌Tregenza Roach (D)

Political party affiliations
28 ▌Republican (28 states)
26 ▌Democratic (22 states, 3 territories, 1 district)
1 ▌Independent (1 territory)
1 ▌New Progressive (1 territory)
Italics indicate no secretary of state in this state, closest equivalent listed
An asterisk (*) indicates that the officeholder is serving in an acting capacity.

* v
* t
* e

Secretaries of State of Michigan

* Prichette
* Manning
* Rowland
* Eldredge
* Whittemore
* Peck
* Redfield
* Taylor
* Graves
* McKinney
* Isbell
* Porter
* Spaulding
* Striker
* Holden
* Jenney
* Conant
* Osmun
* Soper
* Blacker
* Jochim
* Gardner
* Stearns
* Warner
* Prescott
* Martindale
* Vaughan
* DeLand
* Haggerty
* Fitzgerald
* Brown
* Atwood
* Case
* Kelly
* Dignan
* Alger
* Cleary
* Hare
* Austin
* Miller
* Land
* Johnson
* Benson

* v
* t
* e

Michigan Women's Hall of Fame

1980s

| 1983|

* Harriette Simpson Arnow
* N. Lorraine Beebe
* Mamie Geraldine Neale Bledsoe
* Elizabeth Margaret Chandler
* Mary Stallings Coleman
* Wilma T. Donahue
* Grace Eldering
* Josephine Gomon
* Martha W. Griffiths
* Dorothy Haener
* Laura Smith Haviland
* Mildred Jeffrey
* Pearl Kendrick
* Helen W. Milliken
* Rosa Parks
* Anna Howard Shaw
* Lucinda Hinsdale Stone
* Sojourner Truth

|

1984|

* Virginia Allan
* Helen J. Claytor
* Caroline Bartlett Crane
* Marguerite De Angeli
* Emma Genevieve Gillette
* Icie Macy Hoobler
* Magdelaine Laframboise
* Martha Longstreet
* Elly M. Peterson
* Jessie Pharr Slaton
* Mary C. Spencer
* Bertha Van Hoosen

1986|

* Patricia Boyle
* Elizabeth C. Crosby
* Gwen Frostic
* Elmina R. Lucke
* Marjorie Swank Matthews
* Marjorie Peebles-Meyers
* Mary Chase Perry Stratton
* Helen Thomas

1987|

* Marion Isabel Barnhart
* Patricia Hill Burnett
* Ethel Calhoun
* Georgia Emery
* Betty Ford
* Rosa Slade Gragg
* Clara Raven

1988|

* Louise (Sally) Langdon Brown
* Ethelene Crockett
* Marcia J. Federbush
* Frances Alvord Harris
* M. Jane Kay Nugent
* Agnes Mary Mansour
* Helen M. Martin
* Sarah Goddard Power

1989|

* Clara Arthur
* Anna Sutherland Bissell
* Alexa Canady
* Anne R. Davidow
* Bernadine Newsom Denning
* Isabella Karle
* Jean Ledwith King
* Olga Madar
* Mary Anne Bryant

1990s

| 1990|

* Emily Helen Butterfield
* Erma Henderson
* Dorothy Leonard Judd
* Elba Lila Morse
* Fannie M. Richards
* Emelia Christine Schaub
* Mary P. Sinclair
* Merze Tate
* Delia Villegas Vorhauer

|

1991|

* Rachel Andresen
* Mary Beck
* Jan BenDor
* Janet K. Good
* Jo Jacobs
* Virginia Cecile Blomer Nordby
* Dorothy Comstock Riley
* Edith Mays Swanson

1992|

* Cora Brown
* Mary Lou Butcher
* Sarah Emma Edmonds
* Violet Temple Lewis
* Luise Ruth Leismer Mahon
* Gilda Radner
* Martha Romayne Seger
* Ann M. Shafer
* Sylvia M. Stoesser
* Lucy Thurman
* Charleszetta Waddles

1993|

* Edith Vosburgh Alvord
* Catherine Carter Blackwell
* Jean W. Campbell
* Katherine Hill Campbell
* Lenna Frances Cooper
* Roberta A. Griffith
* Bina West Miller
* Jeanne Omelenchuk
* Sippie Wallace
* Edna Noble White
* Irene Clark Woodman

1994|

* Marie-Therese Guyon Cadillac
* Ruth Carlton
* Flossie Cohen
* Bertha A. Daubendiek
* Genora Johnson Dollinger
* Flora Hommel
* Sarah Van Hoosen Jones
* Aleda E. Lutz
* Helen Walker McAndrew

1995|

* Yolanda Alvarado-Ortega
* Irene Auberlin
* Hilda R. Gage
* Lucia Voorhees Grimes
* R. Louise Grooms
* Odessa Komer
* Laura Freele Osborn
* Jacquelin E. Washington

1996|

* Carrie Frazier Rogers-Brown
* Anna Clemenc
* Waunetta McClellan Dominic
* Margaret Muth Laurence
* Claudia House Morcom
* Betsy Graves Reyneau
* Shirley E. Schwartz
* Joan Luedders Wolfe

1997|

* Ellen Burstyn
* Marion Corwell-Shertzer
* Four Sisters of Charity
* Della McGraw Goodwin
* Alice Hamilton
* Nancy Harkness Love
* Maryann Mahaffey
* Sharon E. Sutton
* Matilda Dodge Wilson

1998|

* Connie Binsfeld
* Hilda Patricia Curran
* Marie Dye
* Eleanor Josaitis
* Dorrie Ellen Rosenblatt
* Ella Merriman Sharp
* Martha Jean Steinberg
* Ruth Thompson
* Lily Tomlin

1999|

* Patricia Beeman
* Olympia Brown
* Doris DeDeckere
* Margaret Drake Elliott
* Elizabeth Homer
* Eleonore Hutzel
* Ella Eaton Kellogg
* Emily Burton Ketcham
* Ardeth Platte

2000s

| 2000|

* Loney Clinton Gordon
* Katherine G. Heideman
* Dauris Gwendolyn Jackson
* Cornelia Groefsema Kennedy
* Marjorie J. Lansing
* Chuan-Pu Lee
* Marilyn Fisher Lundy
* Katharine Dexter McCormick
* Kathleen N. Straus
* Clarissa M. Young

|

2001|

* Cora Reynolds Anderson
* Lucile E. Belen
* Theresa Maxis Duchemin
* Aretha Franklin
* Francie Kraker Goodridge
* Marian Bayoff Ilitch
* Mary Ellen Riordan
* Joesphine Stern Weiner

2002|

* Hortense Golden Canady
* Julia Wheelock Freeman
* Lillian Mellen Genser
* May Stocking Knaggs
* Naomi Long Madgett
* Lucille Hanna McCollough
* Lana Pollack
* Martha Louise Rayne
* Muriel Dorothy Ross

2003|

* Mary Agnes Blair
* Verne Burbridge
* Nellie Cuellar
* Alice Scanlan Kocel
* Joyce Lewis Kornbluh
* Eliza Seaman Leggett
* Ida Lippman
* Marion Weyant Ruth
* Bernice Steadman
* Pamela Withrow
* Ruth Zweifler

2004|

* Geraldine Bledsoe Ford
* Jennifer Mulhern Granholm
* Lystra Gretter
* Florine Mark
* Cathy McClelland
* Constance Mayfield Rourke

2005|

* Margaret Chiara
* Eva Lois Evans
* Georgia A. Lewis Johnson
* Lida Holmes Mattman
* Olivia Maynard
* Deborah Stabenow
* Caroline Thrun
* Margaret Sellers Walker
* Elizabeth Weaver

2006|

* Cynthia Yao
* Mary Esther Daddazio
* Margery Feliksa
* Nancy Hammond
* Viola Liuzzo
* Marge Piercy
* Dora Hall Stockman
* Martha Strickland Clark
* Helen Hornbeck Tanner

2007|

* Mary Brown
* Gertrude Buck
* Emma Cole
* Haifa Fakhouri
* Carolyn Geisel
* Jane Briggs Hart
* Abigail Rogers
* Kathleen Wilbur
* Woman's Hospital Association (charter members)

2008|

* Carol Atkins
* Patricia Cuza
* Carol King
* Vicki Neiberg
* Jane Johnston Schoolcraft
* Leta Snow
* Sister Mary Francilene Van de Vyver

2009|

* Carol Atkins
* Grace Lee Boggs
* Margaret Chandler
* Ruth Ellis
* Edna Ferber
* Glenda Lappan
* Kay Givens McGowan
* Elizabeth Phillips
* Jessica Rickert
* Betty Tableman
* Marlo Thomas

2010s

| 2010|

* Mary Aikey
* Laura Carter Callow
* Augusta Jane Chapin
* Sandra Laser Draggoo
* Annie Etheridge
* Sherrill Freeborough
* Dorean Marguerite Hurley Koenig
* Terry McMillan
* Edith Munger
* Cynthia J. Pasky

|

2011|

* Lois A. Bader
* Jumana Judeh
* Marilyn Kelly
* Valeria Lipczynski
* Edelmira Lopez
* Kary Moss
* Rose Mary Robinson
* Tricia Saunders

2012|

* Gladys Beckwith
* Patricia Caruso
* Mary Jane Dockeray
* Judith Karandjeff
* Les Meres et Debutantes Club of Greater Lansing
* Serena Williams
* L. Anna Ballard
* Eva McCall Hamilton
* Mary E. McCoy

2013|

* Elizabeth W. Bauer
* Judith Levin Cantor
* Paula Cunningham
* Joan Jackson Johnson
* Gladys McKenney
* Marina von Neumann Whitman
* Con-Con Eleven
* Elizabeth Eaglesfield
* Harriet Quimby

2014|

* Elizabeth Lehman Belen
* MaryLee Davis
* Jeanne Findlater
* Dorothy A. Johnson
* Julie Krone
* Mary Carmelita Manning
* Barbara Roberts Mason
* Marylou Olivarez Mason
* Andra M. Rush
* Mary Ellen Sheets
* Lucille Farrier Stickel

2015|

* Jocelyn Benson
* Maxine Berman
* Sue Carter
* Janet C. Cooper
* Mabel White Holmes
* Candice Miller
* Esther K. Shapiro
* Maggie Walz
* Myra Wolfgang
* Linda M. Woods

2016|

* Elizabeth Sparks Adams
* Anan Ameri
* Daisy Elliott
* Faith Fowler
* Evelyn Golden
* Olivia Letts
* Mary Free Bed Guild
* Diana Ross
* Lou Anna Kimsey Simon
* Charlotte Wilson

2017|

* American Legion NUWARINE Post 535
* Ella Mae Backus
* Clara Bryant Ford
* Lisette Denison Forth
* Mary Kay Henry
* Verna Grahek Mize
* Bernice Morton
* Rosie the Riveter
* Rosemary C. Sarri
* Elizabeth Wetzel

2018|

* Agatha Biddle
* Mona Hanna-Attisha
* Clara Stanton Jones
* Angela K. Wilson
* Kym L. Worthy

2019|

* Margaret Kirchner Stevenson
* Lucile A. Watts
* Martha Baldwin
* Gilda Z. Jacobs
* Vernice Davis Anthony
* Terry Blackhawk

2020s

| 2020|

* Najah Bazzy
* Elizabeth Jackson (Michigan)
* Glenda Price
* Martha Teichner
* Atlas Ruth Westbrook
* Dorothy Zehnder

|

2021|

* Rosalind Brewer
* Debra White-Hunt
* Lila Neuenfelt
* Fannie B. Peck
* Sarah Elizabeth Ray
* Diana Sieger

2022|

* Esther Gordy Edwards
* Carol Hutchins
* Mary Kramer (Michigan)
* Mary Locke Petermann
* Danielle Camille Woods

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* France
* BnF data
* Israel
* United States

Other|

* IdRef

Portals:

* Politics
* United States

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template