Winnie Brinks (left) and Jocelyn Benson.
(FOX 2) - Jocelyn Benson announced Wednesday in Grand Rapids who she’ll be running for governor alongside.
Jocelyn Benson running mate
Big picture view:
Benson, Michigan’s top election official, has tapped Winnie Brinks, the state’s Senate Majority Leader, as her running mate.
Who is Winnie Brinks?
Big picture view:
Winnie Brinks is Michigan’s Senate Majority Leader. She is the first woman to ever hold the position in the Michigan Senate.
Dig deeper:
Previously, Brinks served three terms in the state House and was a case worker at The SOURCE, a nonprofit employee support organization on the west side of the state.
Brinks lives in Grand Rapids with her husband and their three daughters. She attended Calvin College.
Michigan’s governor race
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, so Michigan will be electing a new governor in November.
Benson will be facing Republican candidate John James and State House Rep. Jay DeBoyer. Libertarian candidate Anthony Hudson is also on the ballot.
What's next:
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from Jocelyn Benson’s announcement made on Aug. 19, 2026, and from the Senate Dems website.