Michigan — Governor

D Democratic Jocelyn Benson

Lowers costs and curbs corporate greed

Benson prioritizes an Affordable Michigan agenda aimed at lowering costs on groceries, gas, housing, healthcare, and utilities. She emphasizes raising wages for working families, cutting red tape, and refusing campaign funds from energy utility PACs.

• Implement an Affordable Michigan agenda targeting housing, healthcare, childcare, and energy expenses.
• Refuse campaign contributions from utility companies and corporate PACs.
• Fight for higher wages and expand access to well-paying union jobs.

“As governor, lowering costs will be a top priority.”

“My Affordable Michigan agenda will tackle the costs hitting families hardest.”

R Republican John James

Eliminates state income tax and cuts spending

James proposes completely eliminating Michigan's state income tax while cutting at least $3 billion in corporate welfare, unspent slush funds, and pork. He argues that government spending in Lansing has made Michigan unaffordable for working families.

• Phase out and eliminate the Michigan state income tax.
• Reclaim $3 billion in corporate welfare slush funds, unspent General Fund balances, and legislative earmarks.
• Cut job-killing regulations to stimulate job creation and small business growth.

“We are eliminating the state income tax. Not someday. Not maybe. We are doing it.”

“We will make Michigan affordable again.”

D Democratic Jocelyn Benson

Transforms public schools and benchmark standards

Benson advocates for transforming Michigan's public school system to rank among the top 10 in the nation using data-driven, world-class standards. As the daughter of special education teachers, she stresses supporting public school educators, expanding early childhood care, and aligning instruction with future economic needs.

• Elevate Michigan's public schools to top-10 national rankings through data-driven benchmarks.
• Expand statewide early childhood education and access to childcare.
• Align public school curricula with future workforce and economic demands.

“Michigan's next governor has a moral responsibility to transform our public schools — for our kids, our economy, and our future.”

R Republican John James

Expands school choice and parental control

James champions a Parents' Bill of Rights and Education Freedom Agenda to expand school choice, protect parental oversight of curricula, and reform school performance. He supports opting into federal education tax credits, banning cellphones in class, and restricting biological males from competing in female sports.

• Opt Michigan into the Federal K-12 Education Freedom Tax Credit and expand charter schools.
• Enact a Parents' Bill of Rights guaranteeing advance access to curricula and health records.
• Protect Title IX by limiting girls' sports and sensitive spaces to biological females.
• Eliminate phone distractions in classrooms and focus on phonics and mastery-based promotion.

“Parents have the primary right to direct the education, moral, and religious upbringing of their children, free from undue state interference.”

D Democratic Jocelyn Benson

Streamlines government service and rejects corporate PACs

Benson highlights her track record as Secretary of State transforming agency operations to save residents time and money. She pledges to root out corruption, end backdoor deals, and refuse campaign contributions from energy utility companies and corporate PACs.

• Refuse campaign contributions from energy companies and corporate PACs.
• Streamline state agency processes and eliminate red tape.
• Enforce transparency and public hearing requirements for major economic development projects.

“That’s why as a candidate for governor I will not take campaign contributions from energy companies and other corporate PACs.”

R Republican John James

Enacts strict ethics reforms and audits

James proposes a Freedom from Corruption Agenda modeled on the West Point Honor Code to overhaul state government transparency. He commits to full financial disclosures, subjecting the executive and legislature to FOIA, banning session fundraising, and conducting forensic audits of state spending.

• End FOIA exemptions for the Governor's office, executive branch, and state legislature.
• Ban state officials from fundraising during legislative sessions and ban lobbying for four years post-office.
• Conduct comprehensive audits of state spending over the past ten years and audit Michigan voter rolls.

“As the only candidate for Governor who is a true outsider to Lansing, I’ll lead by example, lead the fight to clean up state government, and restore the people’s trust.”

D Democratic Jocelyn Benson

Expands affordable healthcare and caps prescription costs

Benson frames healthcare as a fundamental right and promises to defend Michiganders against federal Medicaid cuts or restrictions on reproductive health. Her agenda includes creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, passing a $5,000 caregiver tax credit, and addressing medical debt and surprise billing.

• Establish an independent Prescription Drug Affordability Board to review pricing and curb price gouging.
• Pass a $5,000 caregiver tax credit and expand medical debt relief.
• Protect Medicaid coverage and expand access to low-cost preventive healthcare services statewide.

“Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege.”

R Republican John James

Audits COVID mandates and protects Medicaid

James advocates for the CLEAR Initiative to review and remedy executive overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic, including clearing low-level citations and refunding fines. He supports protecting Medicaid for vulnerable populations while capping emergency executive orders at 14 days without legislative approval.

• Enact the CLEAR Initiative to audit COVID-era enforcement, clear low-level citations, and refund fines.
• Cap executive emergency orders at 14 days unless extended by the state legislature.
• Protect Medicaid benefits for vulnerable residents while reforming state health department oversight.

“CLEAR is about more than relief. It’s about restoring trust, rebuilding integrity, and ensuring government serves the people with honesty and accountability.”

D Democratic Jocelyn Benson

Protects natural resources and sets data center guardrails

Benson emphasizes protecting the Great Lakes, expanding renewable energy to lower utility bills, and holding corporate polluters accountable. She establishes strict, enforceable guardrails for data centers, requiring developers to pay their own energy costs, create union jobs, and undergo public hearings.

• Require data center developers to cover energy costs without shifting burdens to consumers.
• Mandate union contracts, environmental disclosures, and public hearings for data center approvals.
• Protect Great Lakes fresh water resources and invest in clean, low-cost renewable energy buildout.

“data centers [can] come to Michigan only if they can improve and deliver prosperity, well-paying union jobs, and affordable, low energy costs for our residents.”

R Republican John James

Opposes farmland development and green energy mandates

James criticizes current state leadership for paving Michigan farmland with data centers and spending taxpayer money on clean energy subsidies. He opposes state vehicle and energy mandates that he argues burden Michigan workers and automotive industries.

• Oppose state policies paving agricultural farmland for data center industrial developments.
• Repeal state vehicle and environmental mandates that threaten automotive and industrial jobs.
• Focus energy policy on cost reduction and grid reliability without corporate subsidies.

“Instead, they're paving our farmland with data centers, our schools rank 45th in the nation, and young people are leaving Michigan.”

D Democratic Jocelyn Benson

Increases housing supply and curbs corporate landlords

Benson treats housing as a top priority, proposing to cut bureaucratic red tape to accelerate home construction and incentivize starter homes. She pledges to crack down on out-of-state corporate investors and Wall Street landlords who buy up residential properties and drive up rents.

• Streamline state construction regulations to build starter homes and affordable units faster.
• Crack down on corporate investors and Wall Street landlords buying single-family homes.
• Address rural housing shortages and prevent long-term residents from being priced out of urban areas.

“I will work to increase housing availability and affordability by streamlining regulations that slow down construction, incentivizing development of starter homes and affordable units, and cracking down on corporate investors who buy up properties and drive up rents.”