Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson accidentally let it slip on social media Tuesday night that she’s running for governor. After quickly deleting the post, the Democrat officially announced her candidacy for governor at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday.

The 47-year-old Democrat becomes the third major candidate to declare for the race to replace Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced in December that he would run as an independent and Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt said earlier this month he would seek the Republican nomination.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has become the first Democrat to announce a run for governor in 2026. In announcing her run Wednesday, Jan. 22, Benson said she’s running because the state needs a leader who will save Michiganders time and money,

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has officially thrown her hat into the ring for Michigan’s 2026 gubernatorial race, setting the stage for what could be a defining moment in the state’s political future.

Jocelyn Benson, 47, of Detroit, said she wants to be known as "the governor who puts transparency and efficiency at the forefront."

Jocelyn Benson is the first Democrat to announce her candidacy for governor in 2026 after the state voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) announced she is running for governor on Wednesday, becoming the first major Democratic candidate to jump into the race. “I’m running for governor to truly make government truly work for everyone,