Jocelyn Benson

Economy and cost of living

Benson says she would bring down costs for families on housing, health care, childcare and energy, and that she would build more homes by cutting red tape. She also says she would ban sales of homes to private equity firms and large investors for a set period, expand the first-time homebuyer and homestead property tax credits, and bring Rx Kids statewide.

Taxes and government spending

Benson says she would expand the first-time homebuyer tax credit and the Michigan Homestead Property Tax Credit, raising income limits so more working families, seniors and fixed-income homeowners qualify. She also says she would pass a $5,000 caregiver tax credit and tax short-term rentals to fund local services.

Health care

Benson says she would create an independent board to review drug prices and approve price increases, require hospitals to show patients costs upfront, and let the state investigate and penalize insurers that wrongly deny care. She also says she would expand low- or no-cost preventive care, including mobile health centers, and expand medical debt relief.

Social Security and Medicare

Benson says she would expand the homestead property tax credit so more seniors and fixed-income homeowners qualify, and pass a $5,000 caregiver tax credit for families caring for a loved one.

Immigration and the border

No stated position on their website.

Abortion

No stated position on their website.

Energy and climate

Benson says she would ban utility rate increases used only to pad profits, increase outage credits, and bar regulated utilities from political spending. She says she would also require data centers to pay for their own energy use, put a moratorium on data centers until rules are in place, and launch a home weatherization program. She also says she would audit the power grid and create more union jobs in clean energy.

“As Governor, I will put a moratorium on data centers.”

Guns

No stated position on their website.

Crime and policing

No stated position on their website.

Education

Benson says she would require starting teacher pay of at least $60,000, expand Pre-K to all 3- and 4-year-olds, and ensure every child reads by third grade. She also says she would fund schools based on student needs, protect the School Aid Fund for Pre-K-12, and seek a constitutional right to a high-quality education.

Foreign policy and defense

No stated position on their website.

Elections and ethics in government

Benson says she would bar regulated utilities from spending money to influence or elect politicians, and that she will not take campaign contributions from energy companies and other corporate PACs. She also says she would require open public hearings and disclosure for data center projects.