Benson Agrees To 2 Televised October Debates, James Accepts 3 Debates

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/06/2026) Jocelyn Benson announced she would debate John James (R-Shelby Township) twice on television in October, once in Detroit and once in Grand Rapids, but James said he has accepted three debates.

Benson said her campaign is looking to hold the debates at WOOD-TV and WDIV. She challenged him to meet her on the stage.

“Voters deserve to hear where the nominees stand on the issues. For the past year and a half, I have shared plans to lower costs on everything from the grocery store to the gas pump, the doctor’s office to the housing market,” Benson said.

She said the same television markets were used during the 2018 and 2022 gubernatorial campaigns and the 2024 Senate campaign.

James's campaign manager, Jackson Gross, said Benson has already refused to debate James, and added s series of unproven allegations.

“He proposes five debates, has already accepted three, to make sure voters know why the Southern Poverty Law Center funded the KKK on her watch, how much her family is cashing in on the Saline data center, and why she opposes voter ID after letting 16 foreign nationals cast ballots,” Gross said.