2026 Gubernatorial Candidates

Our friends at PIME (Pure Integrity Michigan Elections) researched John James and Jocelyn Benson for you.

Don’t vote your feelings, vote the facts. Vote common sense.

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Citations

[1] Bridge Michigan, “Bridge Listens: How Michigan’s next governor would change elections, transparency,” July 27, 2026. https://bridgemi.com/michigan-government/bridge-listens-how-michigans-next-governor-would-change-elections-transparency/

[2] Bridge Michigan, “In their own words: Michigan governor candidates on voting rules, democracy,” July 27, 2026. https://bridgemi.com/michigan-government/in-their-own-words-michigan-governor-candidate-on-voting-rules-democracy/

[3] United States v. Jocelyn Benson, No. 1:25-cv-01148 (W.D. Mich.), complaint filed Sept. 25, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1415131/dl

[4] Mantravadi v. Michigan Bureau of Elections, Mich. Court of Claims No. 24-000038-MZ (Hon. Christopher P. Yates), Opinion and Order Granting Summary Disposition to Plaintiff, May 4, 2026. Not a final order — case remains. https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/4c/9d/7a769b4949c2bf93589f74e3ab32/2026-05-04-24-000038-mz-98-order-20260504-ord-sd.pdf

[5] Steve Gruber Show, “A Handful of Signatures Could Sink Michigan Voter ID Petition as John James Cries Foul,” Aug. 25, 2026. https://www.stevegruber.com/2026/08/a-handful-of-signatures-could-sink-michigan-voter-id-petition-as-john-james-cries-foul/

[6] Spectrum News, “Michigan Gov. candidate John James on biggest state issues,” June 9, 2026. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mi/michigan/news/2026/06/09/gov-candidate-johnjames-keyissues

[7] Letter from Michigan Republican congressional delegation (incl. Rep. John James) to Secretary Benson, Apr. 4, 2025, citing her testimony before the House Committee on House Administration (2024). https://mcclain.house.gov/_cache/files/3/e/3e83a424-c7bb-4ad6-813b-a9c1ffea5c64/F815EDE4061A27D19B37F9CFB7CDC9F11A29B671C7B810A7FD37301820464292.mi-delegation-letter-to-secretary-benson-re-noncitizen-voting.pdf

[8] Detroit News, “US, Michigan supreme courts won’t intervene in Michigan ballot fight,” Sept. 3, 2026. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/09/03/us-supreme-court-declines-to-intervene-in-michigan-ballot-fight/91599261007/

[9] Michigan Advance, “State of Michigan responds to Americans for Citizen Voting appeal to US Supreme Court,” Sept. 2, 2026. https://michiganadvance.com/2026/09/02/state-of-michigan-responds-to-americans-for-citizen-voting-appeal-to-us-supreme-court/

[10] Bridge Michigan, “Where Michigan governor candidates stand on taxes, housing, affordability,” July 31, 2026. https://bridgemi.com/michigan-government/where-michigan-governor-candidates-stand-on-taxes-housing-affordability/

[11] WWMT/Sinclair, “Congressman John James defeats Perry Johnson, wins Republican nomination for governor,” Aug. 4–5, 2026 (“nearly $5,000 a year” claim). https://fox23maine.com/news/nation-world/john-james-primary-election-perry-johnson-michigans-republican-primary-governor-michigan-race-politics-education-tax-credit-

[12] Michigan Public, “Fact check: Perry Johnson’s $4,747 plan overstates Michigan tax cut savings,” Apr. 2, 2026 (context/caution on a comparable rival claim). https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-04-02/fact-check-perry-johnsons-4-747-plan-overstates-michigan-tax-cut-savings

[13] Bridge Michigan, “Where Michigan governor candidates stand on schools, literacy,” July 28, 2026. https://bridgemi.com/michigan-government/where-michigan-governor-candidates-stand-on-schools-literacy/

[14] CBS Detroit / AP, “Michigan House sues SOS Jocelyn Benson over access to election training materials,” June 5, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/michigan-house-sues-jocelyn-benson-election-training-materials/

[15] Michigan Advance, “Michigan Court of Claims orders mediation in House v. Benson subpoena lawsuit,” July 24, 2025. https://michiganadvance.com/2025/07/24/michigan-court-of-claims-orders-mediation-in-house-v-benson-subpoena-lawsuit/

[16] WZZM13, “Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson pushes back against GOP subpoena requesting election materials,” Nov. 20, 2025. https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/politics/michigan-politics/michigan-secretary-state-jocelyn-benson-pushes-back-gop-subpoena-requesting-election-materials/69-268a16b8-c3e4-43c4-be5d-f7dc78e03d00

[17] Washington Examiner, “DHS asks DOJ to review voter data sharing tied to Zuckerberg-funded group,” Sept. 4, 2026 (obtained and published Mullin’s Sept. 2, 2026 letter). https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/4714388/mullin-doj-voter-data-sharing-zuckerberg/

[18] Center for Election Innovation & Research, “Michigan Joins ERIC, Half of States Now Members,” Jan. 16, 2019 (Benson’s announcement). https://electioninnovation.org/update/michigan-joins-eric-half-of-states-now-members/

[19] ERIC, Inc., official member list; InfluenceWatch profile (Jonathan Brater, as of May 2023, was board chair, InfluenceWatch, Capital Research Center project. https://ericstates.org/about/ and https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/electronic-registration-information-center-eric/

Additional Information:

ClickOnDetroit, “Meet the candidates running in the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial race,” Aug. 8, 2026. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2026/08/08/meet-the-candidates-running-in-the-2026-michigan-gubernatorial-race/

U.S. DOJ, indictment of Southern Poverty Law Center (primary document), announced April 2026; Daily Caller, Apr. 24, 2026. https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1437146/dl

ClickOnDetroit, “Mike Cox sues Jocelyn Benson over FOIA request seeking records tied to Southern Poverty Law Center,” July 17, 2026. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2026/07/17/mike-cox-sues-jocelyn-benson-over-foia-request-seeking-records-tied-to-southern-poverty-law-center/

Bridge Michigan, “Fact check: Republicans tie Jocelyn Benson to criminal case involving KKK,” Aug. 17, 2026 (confirms Benson not named in indictment; links PBS NewsHour reporting on KKK-robe purchases). https://bridgemi.com/michigan-government/fact-check-republicans-tie-jocelyn-benson-to-criminal-case-involving-kkk/

Votebeat, “Supreme Court: Michigan won’t vote on proof-of-citizenship amendment in 2026 election,” Sept. 4, 2026 (446,198-signature threshold; 709,841 submitted; Board found 626 valid against a 629 threshold). https://www.votebeat.org/michigan/2026/09/04/proof-of-citizenship-americans-for-citizen-voting-supreme-court/