MI-GOV: Michigan laborers union endorses Jocelyn Benson for governor

Lansing — Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has won the endorsement of the Michigan Laborers District Council, as she and other candidates for governor compete for union support before next year's election.

On Thursday, Benson's campaign announced it had gained the backing of the laborers union, also known as LiUNA, which represents road and construction workers and has more than 14,000 members, according to the group's Facebook page. In a statement, Brent Pilarski, business manager of Michigan Laborers District Council, referenced Benson's efforts to revamp secretary of state offices through added online services and self-service stations.

"Secretary Benson’s track record of getting things done speaks for itself," Pilarski said. "You can’t mention the Secretary of State’s office without someone saying how much better it runs and how thankful they are to have a leader who cares about their time and money."

Benson, a former law school dean who has been Michigan's top election official for two terms, is in a race for the Democratic nomination for governor in the August 2026 primary. The other Democratic candidates are Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II of Detroit and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson of Fenton.



https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/28/michigan-laborers-union-liuna-endorses-democrat-jocelyn-benson-for-governor/85856026007/