Whitmer encourages Michiganders to vote early
In light of a recent statement issued by the Michigan Attorney General’s office announcing plans by the U.S. Department of Justice to send DOJ election monitors to polling places in seven Michigan municipalities, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is urging constituents to vote early.
At the launch of gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson’s “Driving Down Costs” bus tour outside the Michigan Education Association headquarters in East Lansing, Whitmer addressed concerns about possible federal interference in the upcoming midterm election.
“We will do everything we can to ensure that people have absolute confidence they will be safe to go to the polls,” she said to reporters.
By casting a ballot early, voters can “avoid any shenanigans that the Trump administration may or may not explore undertaking as we get closer to this election.”
Benson and Whitmer were accompanied by Benson’s running mate Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks.
Brinks broke records as the first female Senate Majority Leader, and the Benson-Brinks ticket is a first for the state’s major-party election history.
The job now is to get voters to submit their ballots, Brinks said. “We know there are lots of Republicans and Independents out there who are dissatisfied with Trump and all of his cronies.”
Lansing Mayor Andy Schor also attended the event and called the all-female ticket a strong team. “Jocelyn Benson has Winnie Brinks. Winnie Brinks has gotten the job done in our state senate.”
“Her opponent has someone for lieutenant governor … I don’t even know his name.”
Speakers at the kickoff, like MEA President Chandra Madafferi, highlighted the candidates’ links to public schools as a sign of loyalty to educators. The MEA officially endorsed Benson in Aug. just after the primary election.
Both of Benson’s parents were public school teachers. Brinks was an educator in Grand Rapids Christian Schools and Godfrey-Lee public schools, according to the her biography in the Library of Michigan.
Educators need better compensation and labor rights protection, and the Benson-Brinks ticket promises that, Madaferri said.
State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglu, from the 75th District, highlighted successes of Brinks’s leadership in the state Senate, like repealing Right-to-Work laws and codifying reproductive rights in the state constitution and expanding protections for Michigan’s LGBQT+ community.
“We’re looking to these strong, powerful women to bring us back into a trifecta, so we can get back to work for you and everyone in Michigan,” Tsernoglu said.
In her speech, Benson urged the crowd to help push voter turnout.
“Because whether it comes to education, creating well-paying jobs, ensuring we’re protecting labor and union rights, ensuring we’re protecting our kids,” she said, “it all comes down to what we do over these next 12 days.”
Benson tied her opponent, U.S. Rep. John James, to higher costs to the policies pushed by President Trump. “[James] has already shown us who he is fighting for … Every lie Trump tells, he repeats,” she said. “Every bad economic policy, the war in Iran, driving up our health care costs, tariffs that are taxing basically everything we buy, he supports.”
When it comes to the election, Benson called herself “an election defender,” even if it “means sheltering in my home in Detroit.”
She was referring to an incident in Dec. 2020, when armed protesters who were upset about the results of the recent election descended on her home.
Benson did not provide a firm answer when asked about working with President Trump on issues, instead telling reporters that she would “fight aggressively” to bring well-paying jobs to the state.
“Let me also be clear. When or if he lies, if he tries to overturn our elections, if he tries to violate the law and send federal troops to terrorize our communities or interfere with our democracy, I will be there to stand in the way.”
