Michigan’s top elections official is facing a campaign finance complaint from the state Republican Party.

Republicans argue Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson should be fined for taking questions from reporters about her gubernatorial campaign in a state office building when she first filed to run.

Tyler Henningsen, political director of the Michigan Republican Party, said the complaint merits action.

“We call on the Bureau of Elections to take this complaint seriously and to hold Jocelyn Benson accountable for her flagrant abuses of the public’s trust. We also request that the Bureau of Elections enjoin Secretary Benson and her campaign from future violations and fine them the maximum amount permitted by law,” Henningsen said in a press release. “The integrity of our public office holders must be maintained, and the misuse of taxpayer-funded resources for personal political gain will not be tolerated.”

Michigan election law bans the use of public resources, including state offices, for political causes.

“A public body or a person acting for a public body shall not use or authorize the use of funds, personnel, office space, computer hardware or software, property, stationery, postage, vehicles, equipment, supplies, or other public resources to make a contribution or expenditure or provide volunteer personal services that are excluded from the definition of contribution,” the statute reads.

But the law does make an exception for public facilities, “if any candidate or committee has an equal opportunity to use the public facility.”

When asked earlier this month about why she was speaking inside the Richard H. Austin Building when other candidates typically address reporters outside when filing their paperwork, Benson noted the single digit weather.

Benson said it’s never come to her attention if other candidates have been unable to do the same, replying, “Of course,” when asked if others would have the same opportunity.

On Monday, after the MIGOP complaint had been filed, Benson’s campaign defended the location of her address.

Alyssa Bradley is a campaign spokesperson.

“The lobby space used is a public space where First Amendment activity can occur as long as it doesn’t interfere with the operation of the building,” Bradley said in a written statement.

 A spokesperson with the Michigan Department of State confirmed Monday that the Bureau of Elections had received a complaint from Henningsen and noted that, since the complaint deals with Secretary Benson, who heads that department, it will automatically go to the Michigan Department of Attorney General for consideration, as required by law.

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s announcement she is running for governor; rising home values in Detroit; school closures amid frigid temperatures and more.

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Jocelyn Benson running for governor 

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced early Wednesday that she is running for governor. The Democrat says her priorities will include: ensuring a government that works for all state residents, cutting costs, and protecting citizens’ rights and freedoms. Benson gained national attention in 2020, when she defended Michigan’s vote count during that year’s presidential election as Republicans made false claims of election fraud.  She was first elected as Michigan’s Secretary of State in 2018 and was reelected in 2022.  Current Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and cannot run again next year. 

Detroit housing values rise

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says home values in the city increased by an average of 19% last year. While assessed values rose, most homeowners will see a property tax increase of just over 3% under Michigan law. Duggan says the change can be seen in almost every Detroit neighborhood. 

“So there’s a relatively lazy story that says things are happening in downtown and Midtown, when 99% of our neighborhoods have seen 40% increases in their home values in just two years,” he said. “Anyplace else in America, the narrative would be ‘this is amazing!'”

Duggan says the value of all residential property in the city grew by $1.4 billion last year. He says it’s the second largest increase on record. 

Schools close amid frigid temperatures

Students across metro Detroit had another day off from school Wednesday because of the bitterly cold weather. Temperatures Wednesday morning started below zero.  School systems around the region said they didn’t want students endangered by standing at bus stops or walking to school. Wind chills as low as -20 degrees could cause frostbite on exposed skin within 30 minutes. A cold weather advisory expired at noon. Temperatures will rise into the lower 20s on Thursday, meaning most schools will return to normal operations. 

Stellantis to build new Dodge Durango in Detroit

The United Auto Workers union says its negotiations with Stellantis have yielded a victory for Detroit. Stellantis has announced that it will build the next generation of the Dodge Durango SUV at the Detroit Assembly Complex on the city’s east side. The union says a deal to do that was originally included in its 2023 contract, but that former CEO Carlos Tavares pulled back on that agreement. The automaker says it will also re-open its Belvidere, Illinois assembly plant to build a new mid-sized pickup truck. 

Ben Johnson accepts Chicago Bears’ top job

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been hired as the new head coach for the Chicago Bears.  Johnson has received national attention in the past three years as the architect of the Lions’ powerful offense. The team won a record 15 games this season — tied for the best record in the NFL. ESPN reported that Chicago interviewed 17 different candidates for the team’s head coaching job. The Bears finished the season with a record of five wins and 12 losses. The team failed to make the playoffs. 

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson officially launched her Democratic bid for governor on Wednesday, running to succeed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2026.

Benson is the first high-profile Democrat to launch a gubernatorial campaign in the state, with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan — a longtime Democrat — announcing he’ll be running for the seat as an independent. 

I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, we can and must all work together to build a better Michigan.

Choosing our next governor isn’t about politics — it’s about the values we share and the future we want for ourselves, our families, and our communities. pic.twitter.com/fmP0vaPbNj

— Jocelyn Benson (@JocelynBenson) January 22, 2025

Whitmer, whose own statewide wins mirror Benson’s in 2018 and 2022, is term limited and has said she does not plan to endorse anyone in the race to be her successor.

Reporting by Isabella Volmert, Associated Press. WDET’s Jenny Sherman contributed.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s top Republican leader in the state Senate announced Tuesday a candidacy for governor, becoming the first high-profile Republican to enter the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt is the second well-known candidate to enter the race to succeed Whitmer, who has two years remaining in her final term after being reelected in 2022. The open governor’s seat in 2026 is expected to spark competitive primaries.

In December, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan surprised many by announcing his departure from the Democratic Party to run for governor as an independent.

Democrats have yet for a top candidate to enter the race, but those weighing runs include Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg — who moved to Michigan in recent years — has also fielded calls pushing for him to run.

Nesbitt called himself a “small town farm boy” raised on “faith, patriotism, traditional family values” in a campaign video announcing his 2026 gubernatorial bid. A southwest Michigan Republican, Nesbitt has served in the state Senate since 2019, following his tenure in the state House.

Nesbitt, who has led Republicans in the Democratic-controlled Senate since 2023, was among the top names many in the party hoped would enter the race. Other potential candidates include U.S. Rep. John James and former state House Speaker Tom Leonard.

Nesbitt and Duggan both criticized inaction in Lansing, the state’s capitol in their announcements. While Democrats spent much of 2023 advancing their agenda after gaining control of all branches of government the previous year, 2024 saw fewer session days and stalled legislation.

The year ended with turmoil in the state House, as Republicans walked out in protest and Democrats struggled to coalesce, hindered by one lawmaker’s refusal to attend sessions.

“Michiganders deserve so much better than what they’re getting from these Democrats up in Lansing,” Nesbitt said in a video. “What we’ve seen is higher taxes, more spending, more debt and less jobs.”

Nesbitt’s campaign video released Tuesday mirrored much of the messaging that brought Republicans success in 2024, including flipping the Michigan state House and securing the state for President-elect Donald Trump.

In the video, Nesbitt called for ending electric vehicle “mandates,” expressed his support for Trump and pledged to pursue “a renaissance on manufacturing here in Michigan.”

Reporting by Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press