Morning Digest: First major Democrat enters race for Michigan governor

As secretary of state, Jocelyn Benson has long battled conspiracy theorists

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Democratic candidate for governor (credit: Jocelyn Benson campaign Facebook)

Leading Off

MI-Gov

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced her campaign for governor of Michigan on Wednesday, a declaration that makes her the first major Democrat to enter what will be one of the most closely watched races anywhere in the country next year.

Benson used her kickoff video to focus on her work as the top elections official in this swing state, a role that made her one of Donald Trump's top targets in 2020. Armed protestors camped outside the secretary of state's home following Trump's loss that year and chanted "Stop the steal," an incident she highlighted in her announcement.

Benson went on to win reelection in a 56-42 landslide against election conspiracy theorist Kristina Karamo in 2022 and spent the leadup to the last presidential election affirming the security of her state's elections. That put her on a collision course with Elon Musk, whom she called out for circulating "dangerous misinformation"—an admonition that didn't stop Musk from spreading more lies about her work.

Benson―whose official launch came the day after her team briefly tweeted out an announcement only to quickly delete it―will likely face intraparty opposition before long. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist last week hinted that he was close to launching his own campaign to replace termed-out Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a fellow Democrat. Several other notable Democrats have also expressed interest in leading this populous state.

On the Republican side, Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt is the sole declared candidate so far, but he could also be in for a busy primary. There's also the complication posed by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who said last year he was leaving the Democratic Party to run for governor as an independent, though the state's difficult signature requirements mean he's far from certain to make the ballot.

The Downballot Podcast

PA's Austin Davis on electing more LG's like him

Our guest this week on The Downballot podcast is Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, who tells us all about the importance of the job—and about his plans for electing more folks like him as the new chair of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association. These number-twos hold many additional roles, whether as tie-breakers in legislatures, state election administrators, and more. Davis highlights top races in 2025 and 2026, including Arizona, which will elect its first lieutenant governor ever next year.

Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also discuss a new effort by Virginia Democrats to pass amendments enshrining abortion, same-sex marriage, and voting rights into the state constitution, illustrating how states will once again be the central battlefront for protecting democracy in the second Trump era. And they explain why new Senate appointments in Ohio and Florida could yield messy GOP primaries—and a Democratic opportunity.

The Downballot podcast comes out every Thursday morning everywhere you listen to podcasts. Click here to subscribe and to find a complete transcript!

Governors

SC-Gov, SC-Sen

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace finally confirmed Wednesday that she's considering a bid for governor of South Carolina next year, indicating to the Associated Press' Meg Kinnard that she'd decide in the next few months.

"I believe I’ll have a better idea of where we’re going to be by the end of February, March, time-wise," the congresswoman said of a potential campaign to succeed termed-out Gov. Henry McMaster, a fellow Republican.

Mace, a one-time "pro-transgender rights" lawmaker who has refashioned herself as one of the nastiest transphobes in Congress, also noted that she's by no means the only Palmetto State Republican who wants to lead this conservative state. She called Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson the "two other people that are taking a serious look at" entering the primary.

Evette, a prominent businesswoman who ran as McMaster's running mate in 2018 and 2022, did not rule out running for the top job in November, while Wilson expressed interest earlier this month. Mace also told Kinnard that there are more potential candidates "on the periphery, on the outside, looking to see what moves individuals are making," though she didn't name anyone.

One of these possible "periphery" contenders is Rep. Ralph Norman, though he's also expressed interest in challenging Sen. Lindsey Graham. NOTUS' Reese Gorman reported last month that Mace herself was also thinking about taking on Graham, who defeated her in their 2014 contest, though she did not show any obvious interest in running for the Senate in her interview with Kinnard.

House

AZ-05

Former state Rep. Travis Grantham said Tuesday that he'd filed a statement of interest to run for Arizona's safely red 5th Congressional should Rep. Andy Biggs, a fellow Republican, seek the governor's office. The state requires candidates to submit such a statement when they start to gather petitions to appear on the ballot, though they're under no obligation to do so this far in advance.

Grantham previously took a close fourth place in the packed 2012 primary for the newly created 9th District in a race ultimately won by Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, though he went on to win a spot in the state House four years later. He attracted infamy in 2021 when he responded to Democrat Reginald Bolding's opposition to a voter suppression bill by arguing that his Black colleague had violated the chamber's decorum rules, saying Bolding "should be sat down and he shouldn't be allowed to speak."

Grantham, who is white, then griped that his "motives were arraigned … with regards to colored people, Black people, whatever people this individual wants to single out." The incident did not stop him from securing a fourth and final consecutive term allowed by state law the next year.

GA-13

State Sen. Emanuel Jones announced Wednesday that he would run for Georgia's 13th District, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he'd keep campaigning in the Democratic primary even if Rep. David Scott seeks reelection.

Jones, who at 64 is a decade-and-a-half Scott's junior, also told the AJC he'd heard speculation that the congressman wouldn't even serve out his entire term. Scott's camp pushed back and informed the paper that the ailing 79-year-old incumbent plans to run a 13th time for this safely blue district in the Atlanta suburbs.

Scott has spent years on the receiving end of criticism from fellow Democrats about his performance as the party's top member on the Agriculture Committee, with Politico reporting in 2022 that even his allies noted his "increasingly halting speech and trouble at times focusing on a topic." But while the outlet wrote the following year that his colleagues "widely expect him not to run," Scott forged ahead and claimed another term.

His effort to keep his prominent committee post, however, didn't go as well. Scott, who missed two weeks of votes in November for medical issues, received the support of just five out of 61 members of the Democrats' Steering and Policy Committee. (Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig went on to defeat California's Jim Costa for the ranking member spot.)

The Georgia Democrat earned more negative attention days later when Politico's Francis Chung snapped a picture of him in a wheelchair. An irate Scott responded, "Who gave you the right to take my picture, asshole?" while an accompanying staffer threatened to complain to Chung's editor.

Ballot Measures

VA Ballot

Virginia Democrats completed the first step in a multi-year process to enshrine abortion rights, same-sex marriage, and voting rights in the state constitution when the state Senate passed a trio of amendments on Tuesday. The move follows a similar step by the House last week, potentially setting up a statewide vote on all three measures in November of next year.

First, though, lawmakers must pass the amendments again, and under state law, they must do so after an election has intervened. That next election will take place this fall, when all 100 seats in the House will be up, though the Senate will not be on the ballot. Democrats, who currently hold a narrow 51-49 edge, will need to retain control of the chamber to send their amendments to voters because of broad GOP opposition to all three.

While abortion and same-sex marriage are currently protected under Virginia law, the third measure, which would automatically restore voting rights to anyone who finishes a felony sentence, would represent a major change.

Currently, those who complete such sentences must individually petition the governor for their rights to be restored. While previous Democratic administrations had essentially automated the process, Republican Glenn Youngkin abandoned those efforts after winning the governorship in 2021 and dramatically reduced the number of rights restorations.

Mayors & County Leaders

Detroit, MI Mayor

Attorney Todd Perkins announced Tuesday that he would compete in what's shaping up to be a busy race for mayor of Detroit. Perkins, the Detroit Metro News writes, has made a name for himself by "representing public officials accused of wrongdoing." One of his most recent clients was Tony Saunders, a former chief financial officer for Wayne County who last year pleaded no contest to domestic violence charges.

While Perkins does not appear to have run for office before, he's also no stranger to elections. He was a key figure in a successful 2021 ballot measure to create a task to study reparations for Black Detroiters, as well as a failed plan that same year to give residents more control over city spending.

New York, NY Mayor

The Democratic firm Bold Decision shows former Gov. Andrew Cuomo decisively prevailing in the June Democratic primary for mayor of New York City in a new survey for an unnamed client.

Initial preferences show Cuomo with 33% as Mayor Eric Adams edges out former City Comptroller Scott Stringer 10-9 for second, with six other contenders trailing behind. Stringer goes on to pass the incumbent only to lose to Cuomo 65-35 in the seventh and final round of ranked-choice tabulations. A poll last month for a separate group similarly showed Cuomo ultimately defeating Stringer 51-16.

Adams, who also failed to make the final round in that earlier survey, has forged ahead with his reelection plans, though he doesn't seem at all interested in winning over skeptical Democratic voters.

"People often say: You don’t sound like a Democrat and you seem to have left the party," Adams said in a Tuesday interview, continuing, "No, the party left me." The mayor made those comments to Tucker Carlson, whom Adams denounced in 2021 as someone "who perpetuates racist, anti-immigrant propaganda."

Bold Decision told the New York Post said it's not working for a candidate or a super PAC, but it did not say whether its client has a rooting interest in the contest.

Northampton County, PA Executive & PA-07

Pennsylvania Democrat Lamont McClure unexpectedly announced Tuesday that he would not seek reelection this year as executive of Northampton County, one of the most competitive in the entire nation.

Donald Trump carried this populous county 50-48 last fall, a result that came four years after Joe Biden took it by a similarly narrow 50-49 spread. So swingy is Northampton that Trump won it in 2016 while Barack Obama did so in 2012.

Those two most recent showings, which each closely mirrored the state's presidential vote, further solidified this Lehigh Valley community's longtime bellwether status. The last time a presidential nominee carried the Keystone State without the support of Northampton County voters was in 1948, when Republican Thomas Dewey won Pennsylvania. President Harry Truman, however, carried the county en route to his legendary upset victory.

It's also a major battleground in downballot races. Northampton County forms 40% of the 7th Congressional District, where Republican Ryan Mackenzie narrowly unseated Democratic Rep. Susan Wild last year. In announcing his decision not to run again, McClure declined to address speculation that he could instead challenge the new congressman, who will be a top Democratic target next year.

First, though, is this year's race to succeed McClure as executive. The incumbent had said that he'd seek a third term as recently as last month, and the March 11 candidate filing deadline doesn't give potential successors on either side much time to decide whether to jump into their respective primaries, which are on May 20.

For Democrats, though, County Controller Tara Zrinski, tells Armchair Lehigh Valley she's interested in running. Local Republicans, meanwhile, say they'll announce a candidate on Feb. 6.

Whoever wins the Nov. 4 general election will be the first county executive limited to two terms thanks to a ballot measure that voters approved last year. While the new rule would not have restricted the incumbent, McClure said that he decided to step aside because there was already an "expectation that lame duck status was occurring."