Jason BeetsA Secretary of State, who heroically defended American democracy, after pro-Trump demonstrators protested outside her house in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, is running for Governor in Michigan.
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Jocelyn Benson served as Dean of Wayne State University Law School from December 2012 to September 2016.
https://law.wayne.edu/profile/ax9860
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Jocelyn Benson was elected Michigan Secretary of State in 2018, and she was reelected in 2022.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jocelyn_Benson
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Michigan certified its 2020 election results on Nov. 23, 2020.
Joe Biden won the swing state and its electoral votes.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/23/politics/michigan-certify-election-results-monday/index.html
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Michigan certifies Biden’s win as Trump challenges in other key states fizzle
The Michigan State Board of Canvassers voted Monday to certify the state’s election results, formally granting President-elect Joe Biden the state’s 16 electoral votes – and all but erasing any pathway for President Donald Trump’s to overturn the election results through legal challenges that have been dismissed in key states.
President Trump has relentlessly promoted baseless claims of voter fraud after the 2020 election, including that the election had been stolen from him.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/us/politics/trump-2020-election-claims-fact-check.html
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On Dec. 5, 2020, dozens of pro-Trump demonstrators protested outside Jocelyn Benson’s home in an attempt to reverse the state’s certified election results based on Trump’s lies about voter fraud.
https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-55220570
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The protest began as Benson was putting up Christmas decorations with her son.
https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-55220570
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According to the BBC, part of the demonstration was streamed live on Facebook.
The BBC quotes Genevieve Peters, who posted the video, as saying, "We are not standing down, we are not giving up, you are not going to take this election from a man that has earned it completely 100% by a freaking landslide."
https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-55220570
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Benson called the protest “an extension of the noise and clouded efforts to spread false information about the security and accuracy of our elections.”
“The individuals gathered outside my home targeted me as Michigan’s Chief Election officer. But their threats were actually aimed at the 5.5 million Michigan citizens who voted in this fall’s election, seeking to overturn their will. They will not succeed in doing so,” Benson said on Twitter.
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Michigan secretary of state says armed protesters gathered outside her home, claiming voter fraud
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said dozens of armed protesters gathered outside her Detroit home, chanting and shouting obscenities about overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election.
According to a CNN article, published on Dec. 7, 2020, about the demonstration outside Benson’s home, every court case filed by Trump, or those who support him, in Michigan, had been lost or withdrawn.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/07/us/michigan-secretary-of-state-armed-protesters-trnd/index.html
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Michigan secretary of state says armed protesters gathered outside her home, claiming voter fraud
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said dozens of armed protesters gathered outside her Detroit home, chanting and shouting obscenities about overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election.
In 2022, Jocelyn Benson received a profile in courage award from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum for her work defending democracy.
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From the library’s profile of Benson:
“In December 2020, shortly after the presidential election, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was at home putting up Christmas decorations with her young son when armed protestors massed in front of her house demanding that Michigan's presidential election result be reversed. Protesters called Benson a "traitor” and a “criminal” for defending the certification of Michigan's accurate results, which favored Joe Biden.”
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The profile continued:
“Benson, the state's chief elections officer, did not waver, and defended the will of Michigan voters and assured them that she would protect and defend the integrity of Michigan's vote in accordance with state law.
“Throughout the 2020 election cycle, Benson repeatedly refused to back down from fulfilling the duties of her office, even as threats and harassment from then-President Trump and his allies grew increasingly aggressive.”
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The profile concluded:
“Benson continues to speak out about the risks to free and fair elections in Michigan and nationwide, as Trump supporters continue to perpetuate false claims and work to seize control of state and local election processes from duly elected or appointed public servants.”
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In 2023, on the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, President Joe Biden awarded Jocelyn Benson with the Presidential Citizens Medal for her work defending democracy.
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After serving as Michigan's Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson is now running for Governor.
Benson’s campaign platform for the 2026 Michigan Governor’s Race is available on her website.
https://www.jocelynbenson.com/issues
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Benson wants to address the cost of housing by, "streamlining regulations that slow down construction, incentivizing development of starter homes and affordable units, and cracking down on corporate investors who buy up properties and drive up rents."
https://www.jocelynbenson.com/issues/Affordability?source=66eb3007-2567-4337-a0df-a885e68892dd
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Benson wants to address healthcare costs by, "increasing transparency in medical billing, passing a $5,000 caregiver tax credit, and ensuring that pharmaceutical companies can't price gouge Michigan families."
https://www.jocelynbenson.com/issues/Affordability?source=66eb3007-2567-4337-a0df-a885e68892dd
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Benson also wants to reduce the cost of childcare in Michigan.
https://www.jocelynbenson.com/issues/Childcare?source=66eb3007-2567-4337-a0df-a885e68892dd
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The Cook Political Report considers the Michigan Governor’s race to be a tossup.
https://www.cookpolitical.com/governor/race/479531
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Grovewest@jasonbeets The regulations that need to be streamlined are those related to owner builders and national standards that allow the manufacture of homes. Most builds of single family homes are already cookie cutter designs done with off the shelf parts that require moderate skills to build by contractors who are trained to maximize profits while minimizing labor and have a monopoly in the area via licensing and political lobbying. (1/2)
It would be far less expensive, and provide for the buyers needs, to manufacture most of the parts in a factory and send a specially trained crew to assemble the structures on site. (2/2)
All of that sounds reasonable to me.
I am glad that we have Democratic candidates who want to lower the cost of housing, and have plans on how to do so.
As far as the merits of specific proposals, that's a bit beyond my expertise.