Jocelyn Benson: ‘None of my family is profiting from data centers’

July 15, 2026

Michigan gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson is conducting a statewide affordability tour focused on lowering costs and raising wages, but her campaign faces persistent questions about data centers due to her husband's work at The Related Companies. While her husband Ryan Friedrichs has stepped away from Michigan projects after public backlash, the connection remains a political vulnerability that even her Democratic primary opponent has highlighted. Benson has proposed strict regulations for data centers, including mandatory public hearings and environmental protections, with potential moratoriums for violators.

Who is affected

Jocelyn Benson (gubernatorial candidate facing scrutiny over data center connections)
Ryan Friedrichs (Benson's husband, vice president at The Related Companies)
Michigan voters and residents, particularly young voters concerned about data centers
Chris Swanson (Democratic primary rival)
Perry Johnson (Republican candidate)
Michigan cherry farmers struggling with environmental regulations and low prices
Small business owners across Michigan
Communities where data centers are being proposed, including Saline Township
Governor Gretchen Whitmer (current governor whose policies are being implicitly critiqued)

What action is being taken

Benson is conducting a statewide affordability tour, visiting small farms, jam shops, and breweries
Friedrichs is taking a new role at The Related Companies and no longer working on Michigan projects
Benson is campaigning on proposed data center guardrails requiring public hearings, developer-funded energy costs, and environmental protections
Republican candidates are attacking each other in their primary race
Chris Swanson is running a positive Democratic primary campaign with limited criticism of Benson

Why it matters

This race will determine Michigan's next governor after eight years of Democratic leadership under Whitmer, with historical trends suggesting voters typically prefer switching parties at this point. Data centers have emerged as a crucial political issue affecting voter sentiment, with 55% of Michiganders opposing facilities within 25 miles of their homes, making Benson's familial connection a significant political liability despite her proposed regulations. The outcome will shape Michigan's economic development strategy, potentially shifting from Whitmer's focus on large manufacturing megaprojects toward greater emphasis on small business growth and economic diversification. The election also carries implications for how Michigan balances technological development with environmental protection and community input.

What's next

Benson stated that companies violating her proposed data center rules would be held accountable "up to and including a moratorium." She indicated she would sign nine bills into law that Whitmer recently vetoed, which Democratic legislators spent nearly two years fighting in court to advance. Benson plans to focus more on supporting small business growth and economic diversification as governor.

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com