Michigan · Governor
Jocelyn Benson
Governor-elect · Democratic
Open seatKey finding from the compilation
Won open seat replacing Whitmer; unofficial Wikipedia tally 2,594,262 (54.6%) to John James 2,079,333 (43.7%). Raised $16,700,000; COH $681,000.
Election
- Date
- 2026-11-03
- Votes
- 2,594,262 (54.6%)
- Opponent
- John James (R) · 2,079,333 (43.7%)
- Previous officeholder
- Gretchen Whitmer (D)
Money reported in the file
- Raised
- $16,700,000
- Cash on hand
- $681,000 as of 2026-10
- Individual share
- —
- PAC share
- —
- Self loans or contributions
- $0
- Outside spending for
- $507,000
- Outside spending against
- $0
- Committee
- —
- Coverage note
- campaign-finance disclosure sites: $16.7M raised through Oct 18, 2026 (MI Bureau filings)
Figures come from the original election pack, or the serving-member roster when marked roster only. Election results are unofficial until certification. 18 reported ties and 3 inferred ties are listed below.
Read the ties
Four money views plus a separate Trades view. Orbit 3D is the default. Solid lines are reported (18). Inferred ties are dimmer (3). This is not the full set of 17,703 ties.
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- IE supporting0
- IE opposing0
- PAC contributions0
- Party committees0
- Transfers0
- Vendors0
- Itemized contributions0
- Campaign committee0
- Election / opponents0
- Self-funding0
- Other0
- Reported, solid
- Inferred, dim particles
- Both on one name
- Node size and distance ≈ documented dollars
Jocelyn Benson is at the center. Choose a name in the active view, or use “Show on orbit” in the table. A shared name is not proof of coordination.
Documented ties (21)
| Relationship | Amount | Date | Evidence | Between | Record | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| principal campaign committee | — | 2025-2026 | Reported | Jocelyn Benson → Jocelyn Benson for Governor (MI Bureau of Elections) (Campaign site) | Wikipedia | |
| elected Nov 3, 2026 (unofficial) | $2,594,262 | 2026-11-03 | Reported | Jocelyn Benson → Governor of Michigan | Wikipedia | |
| general-election opponent(s) | $2,079,333 | 2026-11-03 | Reported | Jocelyn Benson → John James (R) (Campaign site) | Wikipedia | |
| previous officeholder / seat context | — | 2026 | Reported | Jocelyn Benson → Gretchen Whitmer (D) (Government site) | Wikipedia | |
| total raised / received (campaign-finance disclosure sites: $16.7M raised through Oct 18, 2026 (MI Bure) | $16,700,000 | 2026 | Reported | Jocelyn Benson for Governor (MI Bureau of Elections) (Campaign site) → Jocelyn Benson | Public record | |
| cash on hand ($681K cash on hand through Oct 18, 2026 (PaidForPo) | $681,000 | 2026-10 | Reported | Jocelyn Benson for Governor (MI Bureau of Elections) (Campaign site) → Jocelyn Benson | Public record | |
| independent expenditure / outside ads supporting | $400,000 | 2025-2026 | Reported | American Energy Action Fund (IE supporting) (Organization site) → Jocelyn Benson | Public record | |
| independent expenditure / outside ads supporting | $80,000 | 2025-2026 | Reported | Progress Michigan Political Action Fund (IE supporting) → Jocelyn Benson | Public record | |
| independent expenditure / outside ads supporting | $26,513 | 2025-2026 | Reported | Michigan Action / Farm PAC share of mail & ads (IE supporting) → Jocelyn Benson | Public record | |
| independent expenditures supporting (estimate from press/FEC) | $400,000 | 2026 | Reported | American Energy Action Fund → Jocelyn Benson | Public record | |
| independent expenditures supporting (estimate from press/FEC) | $80,000 | 2026 | Reported | Progress Michigan Political Action Fund → Jocelyn Benson | Public record | |
| independent expenditures supporting (estimate from press/FEC) | $26,513 | 2026 | Reported | Michigan Action / Farm PAC (shared mail/ads; Benson share) → Jocelyn Benson | Public record | |
| independent expenditures supporting opponent (context) | $3,330,937 | 2026 | Reported | Mission Michigan (for John James — opponent context) → John James (R) (Campaign site) | Public record | |
| incumbent SoS (elected 2018, re-elected 2022) | — | 2019 | Reported | Jocelyn Benson → Michigan Secretary of State (Government site) | Wikipedia | |
| dean 2012–2016 | — | 2012-2016 | Reported | Jocelyn Benson → Wayne State University Law School (Organization site) | Wikipedia | |
| succeeding term-limited governor | — | 2026-11-03 | Reported | Jocelyn Benson → Gretchen Whitmer (D) (Government site) | Wikipedia | |
| Democratic lieutenant-governor running mate | — | 2026 | Reported | Jocelyn Benson → Winnie Brinks (Government site) | Wikipedia | |
| VP; husband; pledged recusal from state projects if Benson elected | — | 2025-11 | Reported | Ryan Friedrichs → Related Companies / Related Digital | News report | |
| owner described as large Benson donor (Advance); amount not itemized here | — | — | Inferred | Related Companies (Organization site) → Jocelyn Benson for Governor (Campaign site) | News report | |
| both newly elected Democratic governors Nov 3, 2026 (roster; not a shared-donor finding) | — | 2026-11-03 | Inferred | Jocelyn Benson → Gina Hinojosa | Wikipedia | |
| both newly elected Democratic governors Nov 3, 2026 (roster; not a shared-donor finding) | — | 2026-11-03 | Inferred | Jocelyn Benson → Helena Foulkes | Wikipedia |
PDF dossier
Expected path: pdfs/benson/Benson_Know_Your_Politician_2026-11-05.pdf
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