Benson Plans Data Center Pause and Canada Trade Deals

Jocelyn Benson, the incumbent Michigan Secretary of State and the Democratic candidate for governor, announced a plan to pause new data center construction until the state establishes strict regulations. She also pledged to negotiate direct trade agreements with Canada to offset the financial impact of current tariffs on Michigan businesses.

Benson has served as Secretary of State since 2019. In an interview with Stateside host April Baer, she described her role as preparing the state for future leadership challenges. She stated that decisions made over the next eight years will define the future for children and families across the state. Her campaign focuses on lowering costs, creating well-paying jobs, and protecting voting rights.

The candidate cited improvements in election administration as a key achievement. She said Michigan’s election safety and accessibility ranking rose from 30th to second in the nation. She also noted that the state has held consecutive elections with the highest turnout in its history. Benson credited her department with transforming the Department of Motor Vehicles into a more efficient agency by installing kiosks in grocery stores to save residents time.

Health care affordability is a central part of Benson’s platform. She plans to make the Department of Health and Human Services more efficient to help residents appeal unfair insurance denials and manage medical debt. She said she would demand greater transparency in medical billing. Benson noted that her opponent voted three times to raise health care premiums while in Congress, contrasting that with her plan to lower them.

Regarding trade, Benson said tariffs on Canada hit Michigan harder than any other state. As governor, she would negotiate subnational agreements with Canadian provinces. She cited a Maine agreement regarding rock salt as a model for exempting specific goods from tariffs when they move between the state and Canada. These agreements would aim to protect local jobs and reduce costs for auto suppliers and other industries.

On data centers, Benson called for a moratorium to allow time for guardrails. These rules would include protections for water resources and energy costs. She also proposed a state portal where residents can review and evaluate proposed data center projects in their communities. This would give local voices a say in community benefits agreements, a power she said her opponent voted against four times.

Benson also outlined plans to improve public education and housing. She said she would reinvest in schools to address declining reading scores and improve teacher pay. For housing, she proposed increasing the supply of affordable units and supporting first-time and second-time homeowners. She also pledged to invest in clean energy infrastructure to lower electricity bills and make child care more accessible for working families.