In a move that has sparked a political firestorm, a group of 21 Republican lawmakers from Michigan have formally requested that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi deploy federal election monitors to oversee the state's 2026 primary and general elections.
The legislators cite an unprecedented conflict of interest and a history of election law violations by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson as the basis for their request.
According to the Gateway Pundit, the lawmakers' letter highlights a disturbing pattern of legal violations, federal non-compliance, and judicial rebukes, all of which underscore the need for federal oversight. "Secretary Benson will be running the very election in which she appears on the ballot as a candidate for governor," State Representative Rachelle Smit (R-District 43), one of the letter's signatories, said.
"This isn't just a theoretical conflict of interestit's an actual, unavoidable one. No candidate should be allowed to administer their own election. Federal oversight isn't partisan; its necessary to ensure fairness and restore public trust."
In response to the request, Benson's office and campaign have hit back hard. Angela Benander, Michigan Department of State Chief Communications Officer, accused the lawmakers of using "dangerous, false rhetoric to encourage President Trump to illegally interfere in our states ability to hold fair and free elections." Nikki Goldschein, Benson's campaign manager, defended the Secretary of State, stating that she has "overseen the most secure and transparent elections with the highest turnout in our states history."
However, Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Dist. 20) disagreed, stating, "From giving licenses to illegals, letting noncitizens vote, and her refusal to cooperate with the DOJ, to a Judge saying she manipulated the Presidential Ballot, Jocelyn Benson has demonstrated time and again that she will not separate her own political bias from her official duties.
Therefore, it is necessary that the Department of Justice provide oversight to ensure that she does not attempt to manipulate another election."
The request for federal oversight comes on the heels of multiple documented violations by Secretary Benson, starting from the first day of her gubernatorial campaign. On January 22, 2025, Benson announced her candidacy in the lobby of the Richard H. Austin Buildinga state-owned facility housing her own departmentin clear violation of Michigans Campaign Finance Act.
Despite this, Attorney General Dana Nessels office determined it lacked the authority to issue a fine or criminal charges.
More alarming is Bensons refusal to cooperate with federal authorities. On September 25, 2025, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Benson and the state of Michigan for failing to provide unredacted voter registration records, apparently in violation of the Civil Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, and the Help America Vote Act.
"Secretary Bensons refusal to hand over voter registration records to federal authorities isnt just obstructionits a red flag," said Representative Smit. "When election officials hide information from federal oversight, every Michigan voter should be asking: What are they trying to hide? Weve seen this pattern beforefrom the unauthorized mass mailing of ballot applications in 2020 to maintaining over 25,000 dead people on our voter rolls. Enough is enough."
Audits and investigations have revealed more than 25,000 deceased individuals remaining on Michigans voter rolls, prompting litigation that has escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court. Despite clear obligations under the National Voter Registration Act, Bensons office has resisted cleanup efforts, allowing ineligible entries to persist.
Furthermore, in the 2024 general election, at least 16 noncitizens were confirmed to have cast ballots under Bensons oversight, despite Michigan law prohibiting noncitizen voting. Her office downplayed this as rare, but legislators argue it reveals systemic failures in citizenship verification.
Secretary Benson has been involved in over 69 election-related lawsuitsmore than the combined total of Michigans previous four secretaries of state. On Oct 9, 2024, MFEI listed the eight election integrity lawsuits in which judges had ruled against Secretary of State Benson.
State Senator Ruth Johnson (R-District 24), a signatory to the letter and the plaintiff in one of the lawsuits, said, Having served in this office myself, I understand the sacred trust voters place in the Secretary of State to administer elections fairly and according to law. What were seeing now is a pattern of overreach, non-compliance, and partisan administration that violates that trust.
Pure Integrity Michigan Elections (PIME) has been sounding the alarm on Secretary of State Jocelyn Bensons recent promulgation of three sets of election rules that PIME claims directly violate federal election law and systemically quash citizen oversight. With the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) deadlocked 50-50, these rules are taking effect automatically with zero legislative review.
State Representative Rachelle Smit agrees that these arent just administrative updates, Secretary Benson is making legally unauthorized changes to election procedures in violation of federal and state law, and they all tilt in one direction: less transparency, less accountability, and systematic destruction of evidence needed to verify election accuracy.
The legislators are requesting that DOJ personnel observe polling places, absentee ballot processing, voter registration activities, and central count facilities across Michigan. Representative Jay DeBoyer (R-Dist. 63), chair of the House Oversight Committee, emphasized the gravity of the situation. This isnt about politicsits about protecting every Michigan voters right to a fair and transparent election. When the person running the election is also running in the election and has a documented history of legal violations and federal non-compliance, external oversight becomes essential.
State Senator Jim Runestad (R-District 23) told MFEI, The DOJ already monitors elections in other states to ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws. Given Secretary Bensons record and her unprecedented conflict of interest, Michigan clearly qualifies for such oversight. Were simply asking for the same standard to be applied here.
The legislators letter comes as Michigan prepares for what many expect to be a highly competitive 2026 gubernatorial race. With Benson both administering and participating in the election, legislators argue federal oversight is the only way to ensure impartiality.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel told MLive, Republicans are opening the door to try and interfere in the 2026 election in a pathetic ploy for attention. However, Representative Smit told PIME, Michigan voters deserve to know their elections are being run fairly, according to law, and without partisan manipulation. Federal monitoring provides that assurance. Its time to prioritize election integrity over political convenience.
The full letter details additional concerns and provides extensive documentation of the violations cited. The legislators stated they stand ready to provide any additional information to support the request and urged prompt attention to what they called a matter of national importance.
The letter was signed by Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt and includes signatures from Senators Ruth Johnson, Joe Bellino, Kevin Daley, Michele Hoitenga, Dan Lauwers, Jim Runestad, Lana Theis, and Michael Webber, along with Representatives Rachelle Smit, Steve Carra, Jay DeBoyer, Joseph Fox, Mike Hoadley, Nancy Jenkins-Arno, Gina Johnsen, Tom Kunse, Matt Maddock, Greg Markkanen, Dave Prestin, Jason Woolford, and Jennifer Wortz.
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