Benson Talks Gas Tax Drop, Changing State Budget, FOIA In 1st Press Conference As Gov-Elect
(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/04/2026) (DETROIT) – Gov.-elect Jocelyn Benson said she is open to lowering Michigan's gas tax to provide relief at the pump as she explores changes to state spending and revenue ahead of taking office in 2027.
Benson, the Secretary of State, held her first press conference since winning Tuesday's gubernatorial race in Detroit's Midtown area, where she previously served as dean of Wayne State University's law school.
"I very much want to explore ways to bring relief to our drivers, and I think some sort of partnership, maybe even with the reduction of the federal and the state gas tax, can help provide that relief, and I want to explore that in the weeks ahead," Benson said.
More broadly, Benson said the state needs to rethink its budget process and identify new revenue sources to pay its bills. She said she would also explore streamlining state spending to cut costs.
The press conference included a lighter moment when the young daughter of Benson's political director launched herself into Benson's arms after her opening remarks. Wayne State students passing the auditorium's tall windows waved and jumped when they noticed her inside.
Standing alongside Benson was Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), who will become lieutenant governor next year.
Asked whether she would meet with House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) before the end of 2026, Brinks said a meeting was certainly possible. Hall's 58-seat Republican majority fell to a 47-seat minority Tuesday night.
As for policies they might pursue together, Brinks said, "You know, the world changed a lot yesterday, so that may have an impact on what is possible."
A reporter from The Detroit News asked Benson about Massachusetts voters' approval of a ballot measure extending that state's public-records law to the governor's office and Legislature.
"Once I am sworn in as the next governor of Michigan, we will voluntarily make the Governor's office open to FOIA, and we're looking right now about what that will look like, based on the fact that we've got plenty of examples in other states to craft our policies by," Benson said. "We'll release those specific policies in the weeks ahead, but they will begin with my administration in January."
The pledge would establish a voluntary disclosure policy for her administration. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act currently exempts the governor's office.
Benson said Michigan voters spoke loud and clear this week that they want leaders who will work together to lower costs and grow the economy.
"I know that the costs in people's pocketbooks hurt monthly. We cannot wait to get things done. We cannot wait to move the needle. So one of the things that this transition period will be is our opportunity to explore exactly what are those immediate things we can do," Benson said.
She said she would work with anyone to provide relief, including President Donald Trump, particularly to protect Michiganders from "the harm" of the White House's tariff policies.
Her Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), called her this morning to concede.
"I don't care who gets the credit. I just want those costs to go down," Benson said. "Same when it comes to bringing more well-paying jobs to the state. We need to work aggressively to recruit those employers, and we'll be working not just with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer but, in the months ahead, I hope in my administration as well, to bring new jobs and employers to Michigan."
Hertel To Run For Second Term
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel Jr., speaking to reporters after Benson's press conference, said he "absolutely" plans to run for another term as party chair in February.
MIRS asked what lessons the incoming Democratic trifecta in Lansing should take from the one Democrats won in 2022 and lost two years later. Hertel, who served as Whitmer's liaison to the Legislature in 2023, called the first six months of that year the "most productive time in Michigan history."
But Hertel said the previous trifecta faced limitations. Referring to outgoing Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit), who has distanced herself from the Democratic Party, he said Democrats had to work around "one member who when she couldn't get a dog sitter, she couldn't come to work. I think there were limitations in what was actually possible there."
"I think this trifecta has a larger mandate and a larger number of people, but I think one that I will say is that after that momentum was lost, we didn't solve some of the bigger problems that had to be solved," Hertel said.
"Until after the (2024) election, we didn't fix unemployment," he said. "We didn't solve that until after the election in Lame Duck session."
Democrats lost the Marquette-based 109th House District in 2024 and regained it Tuesday night. Hertel said he believes a major reason for the loss two years ago was that voters didn't know where the Legislature stood on unemployment.
"So we have an opportunity to fix the cost of childcare, the cost of housing, making it affordable to actually raise a family in Michigan again, and I think this Legislature has the opportunity and that mandate to do it," Hertel said. "I think with Jocelyn Benson at the lead in this legislature, we'll get it."
