Benson pledges data center pause
The Democratic gubernatorial candidate promises to halt new builds until local protections are in place and negotiate direct trade deals with Canada.
By Anthony Lawson ·
Jocelyn Benson has pledged to pause new data center construction in Michigan until the state establishes strict rules for developers.
She made the announcement during an interview with Stateside host April Baer. The discussion took place as she prepares to face her opponent in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Benson has served as Secretary of State since 2019. During that time, she oversaw the Department of State and the Department of Motor Vehicles. She claims the state’s elections moved from a national rank of 30th to second in safety and security. She also notes that Michigan has seen record voter turnout in recent cycles.
She points to changes at the Department of Motor Vehicles as an example of efficient government. She says the department now uses kiosks in grocery stores to save citizens time and money. She wants to apply this model to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Benson proposes a moratorium on data centers to allow time for guardrails. She wants protections for water supplies and energy costs. She also wants to ensure local voices have a say in community benefits agreements. She plans to create a public portal where residents can review proposed data center projects in their neighborhoods.
She contrasts her approach with her opponent, whom she says voted four times against local say on data centers. She argues that local citizens should determine if a facility is suitable for their community.
The candidate also outlined a plan to address rising costs caused by federal tariffs. She intends to negotiate subnational agreements between Michigan and Canada. She cited Maine’s agreement on rock salt as a model. The goal is to exempt specific products from tariffs to lower costs for Michigan businesses.
She specifically mentioned auto suppliers as a sector that could benefit from these exemptions. She plans to work with the Department of Commerce to secure approval for these state-level deals. She believes this will protect jobs and reduce the impact of federal trade policies.
Benson also pledged to reinvest in public education. She noted that Republican efforts over the last three decades have defunded schools. She plans to improve teacher pay and change the funding structure to meet district needs. She also wants to expand free lunch and breakfast programs.
The election is scheduled for next month. Voters will choose the next governor to replace Gretchen Whitmer. Benson says she will focus on lowering health care costs and supporting small businesses. She plans to streamline government processes to help entrepreneurs grow.
