Quick Info
| Profession | Politician |
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| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 22/10/1977 |
| Age | 49 years |
| Birthplace | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Jocelyn Benson is a Michigan Democratic politician and attorney who has served as Michigan Secretary of State since 2019. In 2026 she became the Democratic nominee for Governor of Michigan, with Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks as her running mate. She is also the author of the book The Purposeful Warrior. |
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Educational Qualification(s)
| Law | J.D., Harvard Law School; former dean of Wayne State University Law School |
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| Undergraduate | B.A., Wellesley College |
| Graduate | M.Phil./M.A., Magdalen College, Oxford |
Personal Life
| Family Status | Mother of a young son |
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Relationships & More
| Running Mate | Winnie Brinks |
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Family
| Spouse | Ryan Friedrichs (m. 2006) |
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| Children | One son |
Career
| Secretary of State | Elected Michigan Secretary of State in 2018 and re-elected in 2022; has served since 2019 and is term-limited |
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| Gubernatorial Campaign | Launched a campaign for Michigan governor, won the 2026 Democratic primary against Chris Swanson, and is the Democratic nominee for the November 2026 election |
| Office Initiatives | Reduced in-person wait times, expanded online services, placed self-service kiosks in grocery stores, and recruited over 30,000 election workers |
| Earlier Career | Built a career in civil rights advocacy and law, including volunteer work at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama, investigating hate groups |
| Academic Role | Dean of Wayne State University Law School |
| Civic Work | Co-founder of Military Spouses of Michigan |
| Awards | Received the Profile in Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation |
| Non-Profit Leadership | Chief executive of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (2016-2018) |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Her 2026 gubernatorial campaign would make her and Winnie Brinks the state's first all-female governor and lieutenant governor team if elected. | |
| 2. She has described herself as an administrator, in contrast to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, whom she describes as a policymaker. | |
| 3. She defended the integrity of election administration after the 2020 presidential election against false fraud claims by Trump allies. |
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