Ms. Benson, a Democrat, jumped into a high-profile and potentially crowded race to lead one of the country’s top battleground states.

The secretary of state is the first Democrat to announce a run for the seat, joining a field of three official candidates running for Michigan governor so far.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson became the first Democrat to announce her candidacy for governor in 2026 to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI). Benson announced her bid Wednesday morning,

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, announced Wednesday that she is launching a campaign for governor.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announces her bid for governor, emphasizing service and efficiency.

Jocelyn Benson, currently Michigan's secretary of state, announced her campaign Wednesday for the state's governor in the 2026 election cycle. Current governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, is facing a term limit situation and therefore unable to run again for that seat.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson becomes the first major Democratic candidate to launch a bid to be Michigan's next governor.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D), in a brief turn as acting governor, signed a bill Dec. 1, 2023, to allow voters to request an absentee ballot through a state portal, a policy first adopted during the early days of COVID-19.

Democratic Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is running for governor of the all-important swing state.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced she will be running for governor in 2026. Benson, a Democrat, is the latest person to throw their name in the gubernatorial race.

In Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson launched a Democratic gubernatorial candidacy, hoping to succeed Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who cannot seek a third term. A variety of other prominent figures in the Wolverine State have expressed interest in the race,