Democrat Jocelyn Benson has defeated Republican John James to become Michigan's next governor, succeeding Gretchen Whitmer.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Democrat Jocelyn Benson has won the Michigan gubernatorial race, defeating Republican Representative John James, according to projections from multiple media outlets including FOX News and the Associated Press.
As of 1:55 a.m. Wednesday, with 80.2% of the vote counted, Benson held more than 53.6% of the vote compared to 44.58% for John James, according to WXYZ. Other reports provided varying specific figures: Washington Examiner reported Benson won with 53.8% of the vote against James’s 44.5%, while The Center Square noted that with 33% of precincts reported, Benson led 54.5%-43.8% with 1.5 million votes counted. FOX News called the race for Benson with 54% of the vote.
Benson, who currently serves as Michigan’s secretary of state, will succeed Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Jan. 1, 2027. Michigan State Sen. Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, will serve as her lieutenant governor. Benson's victory marks the third consecutive Democratic victory in Michigan’s gubernatorial elections, as Whitmer won the previous two. This win also makes Benson the first Democrat to succeed a Democrat as Michigan governor since 1960.
Benson previously served as a dean of the Wayne State University Law School and worked as an attorney. She was first elected Secretary of State in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. In 2010, she published a book titled “State Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process.”
John James, a two-term congressman from Michigan’s 10th District, was seeking to be the first Republican governor of Michigan since Rick Snyder, who served from 2011 to 2019. James previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020 and ran for governor in 2022. He received an endorsement from President Donald Trump during this campaign.
According to AdImpact data, Democrats spent $23 million on TV ads leading into October, while James spent $1 million. James stated earlier in the race that he was relying on grassroots support and donations.
Reports noted several factors influencing the election. Washington Examiner reported that national concerns such as the war in Iran, high gas prices, the cost of living, and blows to Trump’s popularity contributed against the Republicans. The outlet also noted local factors, including the unpopularity of the trade war with Canada. FOX 2 Detroit reported that voters were also influenced by controversy over data centers and Flock cameras.
The gubernatorial race was overshadowed by a contentious Senate race pitting Democrat Abdul el-Sayed against Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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