Jocelyn Benson, in her own words: Glen Arbor Sun interview
From staff reports
Prior to her June 3, appearance at the National Writers Series in Traverse City, Michigan Secretary of State (and gubernatorial candidate) Jocelyn Benson spoke to the Glen Arbor Sun via Zoom about her book, The Purposeful Warrior: Standing up for what’s right when the stakes are high; about her candidacy for governor in 2026 and her leadership style; about standing up to Trump; about Michigan governors who have inspired her; about abortion rights; about state-funded school meals, and about the future of journalism.
Watch the interview here, and read a full transcription below:
Glen Arbor Sun: Why do you write this book, and what have you learned along the way in the process of writing it and publishing it?
Jocelyn Benson: Well, you know, it started as a I started writing it right after the the 2020 election. And it began as an opportunity to just kind of tell the story of what it was like to be in the eye of the storm during a very contentious, challenging election cycle. And it really evolved into a book about the power we all have to define a better world for ourselves, for the people we love, the places we call home, even in turbulent times. So even, you know, right after the 2020 election, when folks were feeling anxious and scared about their future and unknown, about the the state of democracy, it became an opportunity to say, well, here’s what I’ve learned over time, and here’s what I believe is necessary for us all to do, to protect democracy in moments like this.
But again, even now, five years later, we’re still in a situation of uncertainty and and changing things by the day. And so it’s a it’s now a book that is a reminder for all of us that everything that happens to us that is outside of our control does not take away from what we can control, which is our response, and our response can be rooted in our values, in integrity, in truth, and this book is really how to craft our responses to all of life’s uncertainties from a place of strength.
Sun: What’s the reception to the book been so far? What has surprised you?
Benson: I think the national reception, you know, overall, has been extraordinary. It’s a national bestseller. We’ve been, you know, able to sell books all across the country, which has been really encouraging, because it was also kind of, you know, there’s a lot about it that’s uniquely Michigan and so in particular, I’ve been really grateful for all the support we’ve received in Michigan and the hundreds of people who’ve come out at our events in Ann Arbor, in Grand Rapids, in Petoskey in Detroit, to talk about what this book means to them. And I think the one specific thing that really caught me off guard the.
I wasn’t expecting was a gentleman who came up to me at our Detroit event, and he shook my hand and he said, Thank you for helping me understand my wife more. And then his wife grabbed my hand and nodded with a smile. It was really beautiful as Detroit couple, and they had beautiful story about building a family and suffering loss and and reacting to that loss with strength. And it was beautiful. So that was really meaningful to hear how my stories about my life have maybe helped people understand other struggles as well.
Sun: You’ll be up here in Traverse City in a few days for the National Writers Series. How will you spend your time in Traverse? I assume you’ve spent some time here. Any favorite spots in Traverse or Leelanau County you’ll visit.
Benson: Oh yeah, I’m a runner, and so every time I get to Traverse City or anywhere in Leelanau, I run the trail as far as I can go. I really love that path, being able to run along the, you know, along the inlet, along the through the woods, on a flat trail. It’s one of my favorite places in Michigan to run other than the Marquette path, along Lake Superior. That’s great.
Sun: Michigan is long seen as a bellwether. We’re politically diverse, often setting the tone for the rest of the country. Voters here expect leaders who can hold on to their core values, but also still finding common ground in your run for governor. Are you aiming to be a leader in the mold of someone like, say, Senator Slotkin, who reaches across the aisle, or are you more aligned with a progressive platform?
Benson: You know, Bill Milliken, Alyssa Slotkin, those folks have really, you know, set the set the tone for exactly as you say, it our ability as leaders to stay true to our values and also get things done. And that’s exactly what I’ve done as Secretary of State for these last seven years. I’ve stood up for democracy. I’ve stood up for the rights and freedoms and the voices and the votes of every citizen in the state, no matter who they vote for, and I’ve also worked with folks across the aisle in our legislature and beyond, mayors, local officials to ensure our Secretary of State services are being effectively administered throughout our state, because I’ve seen firsthand how every community needs different things, and those partnerships are at the local level, are critical for us, making sure that our delivery of services at the state level is in line with what everyone needs, whether it’s our Suttons Bay branch office or our Traverse City or Kalkaska office, or anywhere in between and all across the state. So I’ve, I’ve, lived the need to work across the aisle and the benefits of public service in that regard, and learned how to balance that with also standing up with for what you believe in and staying true to your values.
Sun: Since you’re running for governor, since we’re talking governors, how would you characterize the way Governor Whitmer has dealt with and worked with Trump and the Trump administration, since he returned to The White House. And how will you deal with or stand up to Trump?
Benson: I think for me, it’s, you know exactly how I’ve been these, these last few years as Secretary of State, where I’ve been able to stand firm and and in fighting for who we are and what we believe in. And you know, I’m willing to stand up to anyone, anytime, to to do my job. You know, as the chief democracy officer, my job is to protect the votes and the voices of the people of Michigan, and I have not and will not waver in standing up to anyone who threatens our economic well being or the rights and freedoms of our citizens, no matter how powerful or how many threats they may throw at me, but we also know that Michiganders want leaders who will lower the cost of living when they’ve elected leaders on either side of the aisle. That’s the message that’s been clear and unequivocal. So when we see that not happening, it is incumbent upon us to call that out too, to talk about how cuts to Medicaid, as governor Whitmer has been doing, will impact millions of Michiganders to talk about how high grocery bills and and and and high housing prices have also made life harder for so many of our residents. So I’m grateful for the governor’s leadership. She’s a great friend. I’ve been proud to work alongside her, but I also have been very focused, and will be focused on talking about the Michiganders and who have been hurt by a lot of economic policies and and our need to work together to ensure we’re investing in our communities, investing in our people, and making sure that when there are federal funding that is cut, whether it’s in education or in Medicaid, we here in Michigan have a plan to protect our citizens from the brunt of and the impact of those negative decisions.
Sun: You mentioned Governor Milliken earlier. Which Governor governors from our history do you hold in high regard?
Benson: Well, he’s certainly one of them. I think he says, you know, as long as I’ve worked in in Michigan, it’s been very clear that he set the tone and the standard for being able to work across the aisle and and really get things done for the people of Michigan. It’s something that we’ve also seen from from past governors across the board, on both sides of the aisle, and really when, whether it’s a governor with a D or an R after their name, the governors who’ve been most effective are those who’ve been able to build bridges lead with data and build solutions to get things done. And I’ve seen firsthand how Governor Whitmer has done that. I saw very closely how Governor Snyder did that in many regards. So I’m looking forward to being a governor that will similarly govern for all and recognize that no one party has all the best solutions, but together, through collaboration, we can set bold goals for our state, like having rapid, high speed transit around our state, like being having an education system that’s in the top 10 nationwide, those are goals we all share as we all want our loved ones to be happy and healthy and safe and nearby, and so for my my role as governor will be to build that bipartisan consensus around things that we all want and will benefit everywhere in Michigan, no matter what party you affiliate with.
Sun: What’s your reaction to the news that Trump is considering pardoning the plotters who plotted to kidnap Governor Whitmer?
Benson: You know, I believe in justice, and I believe in accountability, and I think those are really hallmarks of our democracy. And what ensures that when people do violate the law, that accountability enables, and there’s, you know, evidence of that, that accountability enables us to ensure it doesn’t happen again, and send a clear message about the need to to seek justice in circumstances like that. I’ve also lived through the impact of a lot of hateful rhetoric and noise and threats, and how that directly leads to physical threats that both the Governor has experienced and I have as well as Secretary of State. So I think in that regard, legal accountability is critical, and it’s critical not just for those in leadership positions, but also for all of us to be able to be, feel, be and feel safe in our communities. So I, you know, I stand with the governor, and I’m grateful for her, for her steady leadership in in even in the midst of what has been some unnerving decisions around these pardons. But that doesn’t, that doesn’t change her focus, or mine, on just doing what’s best for Michiganders every day, no matter what noise or threats or other things are thrown our way.
Sun: Where do you see the legal battles over abortion and abortion rights headed next and if elected governor, how will you defend reproductive health care in Michigan?
Benson: Well, as Secretary of State, my job has been to take rights on paper and make them real. Our voting rights, do you have right to vote, a right to register automatically when you go through our branch office, a right to vote from home, a right to vote early? And I’ve made those real. So similarly as an administrator, it’s now time to make these reproductive rights and freedoms real for all of our citizens. What that means is addressing the shortage of OBGYNs we have in our state, and working with hospitals and educational institutions to ensure that reproductive freedom means reproductive health services are truly available to everyone in our state, no matter if you live in a rural area or the Upper Peninsula or throughout the northern side of the part of the state, or in our urban areas, it should be affordable, it should be accessible, and it should be real, and it should be quality. That means supporting the training of new physicians and addressing physician shortages. It makes it means making sure health care, whether it’s cuts to Medicaid or other things, continues to be affordable. So making those rights real will be my job as governor, and really working to make sure all the whole panoply of health needs for our state are real for every citizen, and working with our hard working nurses and physicians and providers and healthcare institutions to make sure those health services are real and affordable for everyone.
Sun: A few specific policy questions. As governor, would you recommend a statewide septic code?
Benson: It’s certainly something I’d consider, I believe, strongly, though, in collaboration with folks at the local level. So certainly, a statewide septic code could, I think, address some of the inequities we’re seeing around the state, but wouldn’t want to set it and develop it in conjunction with folks on the ground to make sure we’re achieving unity and equity while also taking in consideration any local needs and issues.
Sun: And would you recommend driver’s licenses for all folks in Michigan?
Benson: Well, my job is, the is, the chief motor vehicle officer is to make sure that when people that people are driving safe and have access those who are able to drive, and under our laws, have access to everything they need to be able to drive. So in addition to making sure that our current laws are followed, and then everyone has access under the current laws to driver’s licenses, which has been my job as Secretary of State, I’ll continue to do that as governor, but what I also recognize is that you should be able to get around our state even if you don’t have access to a vehicle or or be able to drive from A to B. So one of the things I’ve announced, and I’m supportive of, is rapid light rail transit and investing in public transit to help folks get from from A to B in states like ours, where everything is spread out, and particularly in rural areas as well as downstate. It’s important to me that we have, that we’re investing in, in upgrading our ability to be mobile, and our mobility plan for the state, so that you don’t necessarily need a car, especially if you can’t afford one to get around, whether it’s to hospitals or schools or to work every day.
Sun: Could you speak to your perspective on the importance of school meals and funding them?
Benson: Yeah, I mean, certainly all the research shows you can’t learn on an empty stomach, and so I’ve been really grateful for the investment in healthy meals for kids all across the state, and we’ve seen already, whether it’s in Michigan or elsewhere, the benefits of that through all the data over these last few years. So I’d like to see us continue that. But certainly funding our schools needs to include wraparound services, not just like healthy meals that sets kids up to make healthy decisions about what they what they how they fuel their bodies and how they show up every day, which yields dividends down the road as well for our healthcare system. But in addition to that, I think we need wraparound mental health services in our schools as well, so that we’re not just for our students, but for our educators, so that we’re doing everything we can to ensure in these critical moments, these critical educational settings, people are not just well fed, but they have the mental health support as well to be able to show up and learn and and for our students in particular, to be to have their best foot forward, to be prepared for The jobs of tomorrow, as
Sun: I know that you’ve been a one time journalist. Just any thoughts on media literacy, news deserts, how we revive journalism?
Benson: Well, we can’t have a healthy democracy without a healthy information ecosystem, and I’m deeply concerned in the with the rise of misinformation, about how, how much we have to do to ensure every citizen can be a critical consumer of information, certainly finding ways and supporting nonprofit institutions that are rebuilding and seeking to build ecosystems at the local level, and information deserts that have seen the decline in local news over time is important to me now. I’ve run for office now four times statewide. The first time I ran statewide in 2010 I had, you know, almost three dozen local newspaper interviews for endorsements and the like this, most recent round in 2022 when I ran, I had two. So just to see the steep drop off in local news outlets and how that impacts our ability as voters to understand what’s happening decisions that are being made that, in fact, impact our daily lives. So it’s incredible critical we have to find ways to invest in those opportunities and then also really inspire citizens to be part of getting accurate information into their communities. And that’s something we’ve worked with faith leaders, business leaders, community leaders and other leaders around the state to do when it comes to educating people about our democracy. So I’ll continue a lot of that work as governor. But it all, it all, all boils down to empowering our citizens to be critical consumers of information as a way of keeping our democracy and our economy healthy.
Sun: I know our time is up. I just wanted to ask about the warrior shirt you’re wearing. Is that your go-to uniform for the book tour.
Benson: I actually had it made before the book came out, but it’s become the uniform, because it does so succinctly say what I need, but I also have a necklace that says warrior two, if, if I don’t have the sweater on. So either way, it’s a reminder. I think we all can use symbols or things to remind us who we are and make sure we show up with that strength in every moment. And so, yeah, I’ve, I’ve gotten a lot of requests for for other folks who want to get the sweater, but I just got it on Etsy and had it made there.
Sun: Secretary Benson, thank you so much for the time. I appreciate it.
Benson: Thank you for having me. And hope people can come out on June 3 at the Traverse City Opera House to learn more about being a purposeful warrior in their own lives. We’ll see you in Traverse City in a few days.
Audio transcription by Otter.AI.
