On Thursday, 22 GOP members of the Michigan House and Senate sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) send election monitors to oversee Michigan’s 2026 primary and general elections. The lawmakers expressed concern over the state's chief election official, Democrat Jocelyn Benson, who is running for governor and will oversee her own election results.
The GOP lawmakers highlighted the potential conflict of interest, stating, "Secretary Benson will be administering an election in which she has a direct personal stake in the outcome. Such a situation risks compromising the impartiality required for fair election oversight and demands external federal scrutiny to maintain public trust." They referenced recent DOJ monitoring efforts in California and New Jersey for the Nov. 4 election as a precedent for their request.
Benson has faced criticism for her refusal to share Michigan’s statewide voter registration lists with federal authorities. The DOJ filed a lawsuit on Sept. 25 to obtain these records from Michigan and four other Democrat-led states, arguing that it hinders enforcement of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Benson contends that she is protecting citizens' private information from federal access.
The lack of transparency in voter rolls has raised alarms, particularly after a lawsuit from the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) claimed that Benson failed to maintain accurate voter registration lists. The lawsuit noted over 25,000 deceased individuals remained on the voter rolls, including nearly 4,000 who had been deceased for 20 years or more.
The GOP letter also pointed to instances of alleged voter registration failures, including at least 16 noncitizens voting in the 2024 general election. They criticized Benson for allowing the mass mailing of absentee ballot applications to all registered voters in 2020 without legislative approval. Furthermore, the letter cited Benson's involvement in nearly 70 election-related lawsuits.
In addition to these concerns, the lawmakers referenced an incident involving Benson's campaign launch for governor, which they claimed violated Michigan’s Campaign Finance Act. She announced her candidacy in a state-owned facility housing her department, leading to an investigation by the Michigan attorney general's office. Although the attorney general issued only a warning, the GOP argued this exemplifies a pattern of disregard for election laws.
The letter was signed by several GOP state senators and representatives, including Aric Nesbitt, Ruth Johnson, and Rachelle Smit, among others. They emphasized the need for federal oversight to ensure the integrity of the upcoming elections in Michigan.
Why it matters
- Legal or policy outcomes depend on hearings, rulemaking, and potential court challenges.
- 22 GOP lawmakers express concerns over potential conflict of interest with Secretary Benson overseeing her own election results.
- Request for DOJ monitors highlights fears of compromised election integrity and aims to restore public trust in Michigan's electoral process.
- Benson's refusal to share voter registration lists raises alarms about transparency and accuracy, with allegations of deceased individuals on the rolls.
What’s next
- GOP lawmakers await response from Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the request for federal election monitors.
- Investigations into Benson's campaign launch and election practices may continue as scrutiny increases ahead of the 2026 elections.