Jocelyn Benson’s Chances of Beating John James for Michigan Governor: Poll

MichiganSecretaryofStateJocelynBenson,aDemocrat,hastakenaslightleadoverRepublicanRepresentativeJohnJamesintheraceforMichigangovernor,accordingtoasurveyreleasedthisweek. NewsweekreachedouttoBensonandJames’pressteamsforcommentviaemailonThursdayevening. WhyItMatters Michiganisakeyswingstate,andtheNovemberelectionstherewillbecloselywatched.ApollinJanuaryshowedBensonslightlytrailingJames,sothelatestresultssuggestasignificantrecentboostfortheDemocraticcontender. WhatToKnow Thesurvey,conductedbyImpactResearchfromFebruary9to16,showedBensonat39percentandJamesat36percent.FormerDetroitMayorMikeDuggan,anex-Democratrunningasanindependent,wasat20percent.Thepollsurveyed800likelyvotersandhadamarginoferrorofplusorminus3.5percentagepoints. BensonannouncedhercandidacyinJanuary2025,positioningherselfastheleadingcontendertosucceedterm-limitedGovernor GretchenWhitmer,whosomeviewasapotentialpresidentialcandidate,thoughshehasn’tdecl