Michigan · Governor · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on government and democracy?
Jocelyn BensonDemocrat
John JamesRepublican
Part of the full Michigan Governor comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
Government & Democracy
Each position is labeled by what it rests on: a campaign proposal, a public statement, a past action such as a vote or lawsuit, or an enacted policy. Where nothing is documented, the page says so.
Documented positions
Jocelyn Benson
Refused a federal demand for Michigan's unredacted voter roll and says she will resist presidential pressure on elections; calls transparency in executive offices important.
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- Past actionSept. 2025
As secretary of state, declined in 2025 to give the U.S. Justice Department Michigan's voter roll with voters' personally identifiable information, providing a redacted version; a federal judge dismissed the department's lawsuit seeking the full list, a Sixth Circuit panel affirmed the dismissal in June 2026, and the full court declined in August 2026 to rehear the case. 4 sourcesTrump administration lawsuit over Michigan voter rolls dismissed (opens in a new tab)Votebeat · Feb. 10, 2026 · NewsTrump DOJ suffers first appeals court loss — after nine lower court failures — in floundering voter roll crusade (opens in a new tab)Democracy Docket · June 24, 2026 · NewsUnited States v. Benson: Sixth Circuit Denies Federal Demand for State Voter Registration List (opens in a new tab)Congressional Research Service, via EveryCRSReport.com · July 14, 2026 · GovernmentUnited States v. Benson, No. 26-1225: Order on Petition for Rehearing En Banc (26a0233p.06) (opens in a new tab)U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit · Aug. 14, 2026 · Court record
- Public statementAug. 2026
After the August 2026 primary, said she would say no when the president tries to overturn elections or pressure her to turn over private citizens' data. In July 2026 she said transparency in how executive offices work would be important to her as governor. 2 sourcesMichigan governor's race enters general election after Benson, James primary wins (opens in a new tab)WDIV ClickOnDetroit · Aug. 12, 2026 · NewsDetroit crime hits decades-low as Michigan governor candidates debate how to keep progress going (opens in a new tab)WDIV ClickOnDetroit · July 16, 2026 · News
- Past actionSept. 2025
As secretary of state, declined in 2025 to give the U.S. Justice Department Michigan's voter roll with voters' personally identifiable information, providing a redacted version; a federal judge dismissed the department's lawsuit seeking the full list, a Sixth Circuit panel affirmed the dismissal in June 2026, and the full court declined in August 2026 to rehear the case. 4 sourcesTrump administration lawsuit over Michigan voter rolls dismissed (opens in a new tab)Votebeat · Feb. 10, 2026 · NewsTrump DOJ suffers first appeals court loss — after nine lower court failures — in floundering voter roll crusade (opens in a new tab)Democracy Docket · June 24, 2026 · NewsUnited States v. Benson: Sixth Circuit Denies Federal Demand for State Voter Registration List (opens in a new tab)Congressional Research Service, via EveryCRSReport.com · July 14, 2026 · GovernmentUnited States v. Benson, No. 26-1225: Order on Petition for Rehearing En Banc (26a0233p.06) (opens in a new tab)U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit · Aug. 14, 2026 · Court record
- Public statementAug. 2026
After the August 2026 primary, said she would say no when the president tries to overturn elections or pressure her to turn over private citizens' data. In July 2026 she said transparency in how executive offices work would be important to her as governor. 2 sourcesMichigan governor's race enters general election after Benson, James primary wins (opens in a new tab)WDIV ClickOnDetroit · Aug. 12, 2026 · NewsDetroit crime hits decades-low as Michigan governor candidates debate how to keep progress going (opens in a new tab)WDIV ClickOnDetroit · July 16, 2026 · News
John James
Proposes ending FOIA exemptions for the governor and Legislature, other ethics rules and an audit of voter rolls; says he would work with the Trump administration on election security.
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- Campaign proposal2026
His "Freedom from Corruption" agenda would end the Freedom of Information Act exemption for the governor's office and Legislature, ban fundraising during legislative session, bar former legislators and statewide elected officials from lobbying for four years and order an independent audit of voter rolls to remove noncitizens. 2 sourcesJohn James (Michigan) (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · ReferenceMeet the candidates running for Michigan governor (opens in a new tab)The Eastern Echo · July 2026 · News
- Public statementJune 8, 2026
Said in June 2026 that as governor he would work with the Trump administration to run secure elections "according to state and federal law," and criticized Benson for overseeing an election in which she is a candidate. SourceMichigan Gov. candidate John James on biggest state issues (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News · June 9, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposal2026
His "Freedom from Corruption" agenda would end the Freedom of Information Act exemption for the governor's office and Legislature, ban fundraising during legislative session, bar former legislators and statewide elected officials from lobbying for four years and order an independent audit of voter rolls to remove noncitizens. 2 sourcesJohn James (Michigan) (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · ReferenceMeet the candidates running for Michigan governor (opens in a new tab)The Eastern Echo · July 2026 · News
- Public statementJune 8, 2026
Said in June 2026 that as governor he would work with the Trump administration to run secure elections "according to state and federal law," and criticized Benson for overseeing an election in which she is a candidate. SourceMichigan Gov. candidate John James on biggest state issues (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News · June 9, 2026 · News
Recorded votes on government and democracy
Selected votes
Jocelyn Benson
No legislative record
John James
Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R. 22, 119th Congress)
DemocracyWould require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
Passed the House 220–208 on April 10, 2025.
2 sourcesRoll Call 102: H.R. 22, SAVE Act, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · April 10, 2025 · Legislative recordJohn James (Michigan) (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · ReferenceVoted yesU.S. House · April 10, 2025
On Passage
House roll call 102, 2025 (official record, opens in a new tab)SourceRoll Call 102: H.R. 22, SAVE Act, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · April 10, 2025 · Legislative record
In their own words
Statements
Jocelyn Benson
Federal pressure on elections and voter data
I have focused on what the people of Michigan need, including standing up to the president when he tries to overturn our elections or otherwise pressure me to turn over private citizens’ data. I’ll say no
Jocelyn Benson · Remarks reported by WDIV Local 4 in an Aug. 12, 2026 story after her Aug. 4, 2026 primary win · Aug. 2026
SourceMichigan governor's race enters general election after Benson, James primary wins (opens in a new tab)WDIV ClickOnDetroit · Aug. 12, 2026 · News
John James
Election security
As governor, I’m going to work with the Trump administration to make sure that we are running secure elections according to state and federal law
John James · Interview with Spectrum News during a campaign stop in Clarkston, Mich., asked about election integrity · June 8, 2026
SourceMichigan Gov. candidate John James on biggest state issues (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News · June 9, 2026 · News
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