Jocelyn Benson - a name synonymous with 'election fraud'

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has declared her candidacy for governor in 2026. Yeah, this is the same Jocelyn Benson whose political ascent has been peppered with controversy, eyebrow-raising connections, and what some might call an opportunistic knack for ‘Teflon’ politics. Let’s take a little walk down memory lane and unpack her storied past.

2010: Fake Tea Party Shenanigans

You may recall that in 2010, Michigan witnessed a blatant attempt at election fraud: the creation of a fake Tea Party to siphon votes from legitimate candidates. Two Democratic operatives from Oakland County, Jason Bauer and Mike McGuinness, were convicted for their roles in this debacle. Bauer got probation and a slap on the wrist, while McGuinness faced perjury and forgery charges. Fun fact: both of these fine gentlemen were connected to none other than Jocelyn Benson.

McGuinness, her former operations director, and Bauer, a campaign contributor, were not exactly strangers to Benson’s political orbit. (like pilot fish to a shark perhaps?)  While she managed to keep her name off the indictment papers, the proximity to the scandal is hard to ignore. Birds of a feather, perhaps? (or chum feeding parasites)

The Benson Playbook as Secretary of State

Fast forward to her tenure as Secretary of State, and Benson’s actions have been anything but impartial. Some highlights:

• Election “Audits”: Following the 2020 election, Benson oversaw over 250 so-called audits to “confirm the integrity” of the process. Despite her proclamations of transparency and accuracy, critics argue these audits were more about optics than substance. A rubber stamp is not an audit, Jocelyn.
• Absentee Ballot Signature Fiasco: In 2020, she issued guidance to election officials to “presume the validity” of absentee ballot signatures. Unsurprisingly, this sparked a lawsuit, and a Michigan judge ruled the guidance unconstitutional in 2024. It’s almost like following the law is optional when you’re Jocelyn Benson.

The Gerrymandering Farce

Benson also presided over Michigan’s supposedly non-partisan redistricting process in 2022. Spoiler alert: it was about as non-partisan as a political rally. The process magically benefited her party while maintaining the illusion of fairness. Funny how that works. (note that the videos linked were 100% correct)

The J6 Pardons: Benson’s Latest Hypocrisy

Yesterday, Benson had the audacity to lambast President Donald Trump for pardoning individuals involved in the January 6 first amendment rally. Yeah..  And let me be clear: I’m calling them “political hostages,” because that’s what they are/were. Who the hell sits in a jail for 4 years for trespass??  Even our local lefty Betsy Coffia got two criminal trespass fines of $50 for her ‘protest’ arrests. And Benson, of all people, with her questionable track record and associations, should be the last person throwing stones. Isn’t meddling in elections and undermining processes her area of expertise?

The Bigger Picture

It’s baffling how someone with a history of dubious connections and questionable decisions keeps climbing the political ladder. Michigan voters deserve better than someone who seems to have mastered the art of playing innocent while dancing dangerously close to scandal.

As Jocelyn Benson campaigns for governor, remember her record—not just a carefully curated public persona. She may politic a good game, but her actions, associations, and legal atrocities speak louder than words.