Jocelyn Benson

Jocelyn Benson
Born	Jocelyn Michelle Benson 10/22/1977
Birthplace	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney, academic
Title	Secretary of State of Michigan
Known for	43rd Secretary of State of Michigan
Education	Harvard University (JD)
Spouse(s)	Ryan Friedrichs
Children	1
Awards	Profile in Courage Award (2022), Presidential Citizens Medal (2023)
Website	http://jocelynbenson.com/

Jocelyn Michelle Benson (born October 22, 1977) is an American politician, attorney, and legal scholar who has served as the 43rd Secretary of State of Michigan since January 1, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Benson became the first Democrat to hold the office since 1995 when she won the 2018 election by an 8.9-percentage-point margin over Republican Mary Treder Lang. She was reelected in 2022, defeating Republican Kristina Karamo by a 14-percentage-point margin, setting a record for the largest margin and vote share among statewide candidates in that election cycle. Before entering politics, Benson served as dean of Wayne State University Law School from 2012 to 2016, becoming the youngest law school dean in the country at the time of her appointment. An expert in election law and administration, Benson is the author of State Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process, a scholarly work examining the role of secretaries of state in American democracy. In January 2025, Benson announced her candidacy for governor of Michigan in the 2026 election.

Early Life

Jocelyn Michelle Benson was born on October 22, 1977, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She grew up in the greater Pittsburgh area before pursuing higher education on the East Coast. Details of her early family life remain largely private, though her career trajectory from Pittsburgh to some of the nation's most prestigious academic institutions reflects her early academic achievement.

Benson's interest in civic engagement and democratic processes developed during her formative years and continued to shape her academic and professional pursuits. Her later scholarly work on election administration and voting rights suggests an early awareness of the importance of democratic institutions in American governance.

Education

Benson holds degrees from three prominent institutions. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College, a private women's liberal arts college in Massachusetts. She then studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, where she earned a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree. Benson subsequently attended Harvard Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor (JD).

While at Harvard Law School, Benson was involved with the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, one of the nation's leading journals focused on civil rights scholarship. Her legal education provided the foundation for her later expertise in election law, voting rights, and democratic governance, subjects that would define both her academic career and her public service.

Career

Academic Career and Wayne State University Law School

Before entering elective politics, Benson established herself as a legal scholar specializing in election law and the role of state-level officials in safeguarding democratic processes. She joined the faculty of Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, Michigan, where she taught courses related to election law, civil rights, and education law.

In December 2012, Benson was appointed dean of Wayne State University Law School, succeeding Robert Ackerman in the role. At the time of her appointment, she was reported to be the youngest law school dean in the United States. She served as dean until September 2016, when she was succeeded by Richard Bierschbach.

During her academic career, Benson authored State Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process, a book examining the evolving responsibilities of secretaries of state across the United States and their critical function in administering elections and maintaining public records. The work established her as one of the foremost academic authorities on the subject. Her scholarly expertise in the office of secretary of state would later inform her own tenure in that position.

At Wayne State, Benson was also involved in honoring the legacy of Judge Damon J. Keith, a prominent federal judge with deep ties to the university and the civil rights movement.

2010 Secretary of State Campaign

Benson first sought the office of Michigan Secretary of State in 2010, running as a Democrat. She campaigned actively across the state, including outreach efforts to students at the University of Michigan and other campuses. She was defeated in the general election by Republican Ruth Johnson. Following the loss, Benson returned to academia and her role at Wayne State University Law School, where she continued her work in election law scholarship before making a second bid for the office eight years later.

2018 Secretary of State Election

In 2018, Benson again ran for Michigan Secretary of State and won the general election, defeating Republican candidate Mary Treder Lang by a margin of 8.9 percentage points. The victory was historic, making Benson the first Democrat to hold the office of Michigan Secretary of State since 1995. She took office on January 1, 2019, serving under Governor Gretchen Whitmer, with Aghogho Edevbie serving as her deputy.

Secretary of State of Michigan

As Secretary of State, Benson oversees Michigan's elections, vehicle registrations, and various public records. Her tenure has been defined in significant part by her efforts to expand voting access, modernize election administration, and defend the integrity of Michigan's electoral processes during a period of heightened national scrutiny of election systems.

Benson's administration of the 2020 presidential election in Michigan drew national attention. Michigan was among the key battleground states in the contest between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and Benson's office managed a significant increase in absentee voting driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her defense of the state's election results in the face of challenges and allegations of fraud placed her at the center of national debates about election security and voter access.

Throughout her tenure, Benson has taken public positions defending the personal data of Michigan voters. In September 2025, she issued a statement after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Michigan and its Secretary of State seeking access to Michiganders' personal data. Benson opposed the effort, framing it as a matter of protecting voter privacy and the integrity of state records. The League of Women Voters of Michigan subsequently filed a motion to intervene in the case on behalf of voters, underscoring the broader civil liberties implications of the legal dispute.

In January 2026, Benson publicly responded to accusations from the Macomb County clerk regarding the eligibility of certain Michigan voters, calling the accusations "reckless" and arguing that they put eligible voters at risk. The statement was released while Benson was attending the National Association of Secretaries of State winter conference.

2022 Reelection

Benson sought reelection as Secretary of State in 2022 and won by a commanding margin, defeating Republican nominee Kristina Karamo by 14 percentage points. The margin represented the largest victory and highest vote share among statewide candidates in Michigan that year. The decisive result was interpreted by political observers as a reflection of voter confidence in Benson's administration of the state's elections during a turbulent period in American electoral politics.

2026 Gubernatorial Campaign

In January 2025, Benson announced her candidacy for governor of Michigan in the 2026 election. She is considered the presumptive Democratic nominee for the race.

As a candidate, Benson has outlined policy proposals focused on economic affordability and housing. In March 2026, she unveiled a housing plan that includes homebuyer tax credits and a proposed tax on short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb, aimed at building Michigan's housing supply and driving down costs. Benson has argued that a lack of affordable and accessible housing in Michigan threatens the state's economic development.

In March 2026, Benson campaigned in Flint, Michigan, where she highlighted her broader "affordability agenda," centered on reducing the cost of living for Michigan residents. She also sat down with FOX 47 News to discuss her vision for tackling the state's housing crisis.

Political analysts have noted that Benson faces the challenge of galvanizing urban voters while also building support across other parts of the state in order to win the general election.

Personal Life

Benson is married to Ryan Friedrichs. The couple has one child. Benson resides in Michigan, where she has lived since joining the faculty of Wayne State University Law School. Her personal life has intersected with her public role, particularly during periods of heightened political tension surrounding Michigan's elections, when she and other state officials faced public scrutiny and security concerns.

Benson has been recognized by the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame, which has profiled her contributions to public life in the state.

Recognition

Benson has received several notable awards and honors for her work in election administration and defense of democratic processes.

In April 2022, Benson was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. The award recognized her efforts to administer Michigan's elections with integrity and to defend the state's electoral process against attempts to undermine public confidence in election results. The Profile in Courage Award is among the most prominent honors in American public service, presented annually to public officials who act in accordance with their conscience regardless of political consequences.

In 2023, Benson received the Presidential Citizens Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States. The medal is awarded by the President of the United States to citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for the nation.

Benson has also been featured by C-SPAN as part of its coverage of prominent American public figures.

Publications

Benson is the author of State Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process, published by Ashgate Publishing. The book provides a comprehensive examination of the office of secretary of state across the United States, analyzing how these officials serve as administrators of elections and custodians of public records. The work draws on case studies from multiple states to assess the evolving challenges facing election administrators in the modern era.

Her academic writing has also appeared in legal journals, including during her time affiliated with the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review.

Legacy

Benson's tenure as Michigan Secretary of State has coincided with one of the most contentious periods in American election administration. Her role in overseeing Michigan's elections during the 2020 presidential contest and the subsequent challenges to the results positioned her as a prominent figure in national debates over voting rights, election security, and the responsibilities of state election officials. The awarding of both the Profile in Courage Award and the Presidential Citizens Medal within a two-year period underscored the national significance attributed to her work during this period.

As an academic, Benson's scholarship on the office of secretary of state contributed to a deeper understanding of how state-level officials function as stewards of democratic processes. Her transition from studying the role academically to holding the office itself is a notable aspect of her career.

Benson's 2022 reelection margin — the largest among statewide candidates in Michigan that year — reflected the political standing she built during her first term. Her subsequent decision to seek the governorship in 2026 represents an effort to leverage her statewide profile into the state's highest executive office.