(Source: MIRS.news, Published 01/23/2023) Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is seriously "looking at" running for the U.S. Senate in 2024, a friend and political advisor told MIRS this week.
"I don't know her timetable, but I do know she has gotten a lot of encouragement," the source said. "She is looking at it."
Another source said Benson, who received more votes than any other statewide candidate on the 2022 ballot, is getting calls from a lot of people asking her to run, but she remains focused on her job ensuring Michigan is prepared for the 2024 election cycle.
Benson told NBC News on Jan. 6 that she was "really happy in my current job" and had more interest in doing her job running elections in 2024 than being a candidate on the ballot.
However, MIRS has learned from a separate source that progressive-minded interest groups both statewide and nationwide are looking for a top-tier candidate to get behind in 2024 and they see U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) as being too moderate.
Benson and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II are the two most mentioned as being courted at the moment. Gilchrist said a couple weeks ago he was "thinking" about a U.S. Senate run, but there's been no public movement on that front recently. Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) hasn't ruled it out, nor has U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) or U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn).
At this point in the race, Eclectablog founder Chris Savage told MIRS Monday that he sees Slotkin as the favorite. He referred to her as accessible, personable, and smart. He also noted that "she's got her heart in it."
"She's proven that she can win tough elections in challenging districts," he said.
That said, Savage predicts there will be a competitive primary for the Democratic nomination and Slotkin will not "clear the field."
