Every voter should be aware of where candidates stand on critical issues, and no issue is more critical than our right to life. Where does Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson stand?
Views on Abortion
During her campaign, Benson was endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan. To be endorsed, candidates must:
- Oppose any limit on abortions, including bans on partial-birth abortion and abortions targeting disabled children.
- Oppose any regulation of abortion facilities.
- Support repealing all conscience protections for prolife doctors and nurses who refuse to perform abortions.
- Support taxpayer funding of all abortions.
Dismemberment Abortions
As Secretary of State, Benson is responsible for impartially overseeing the Bureau of Elections, which verified the signatures from Right to Life of Michigan’s petition drive to ban dismemberment abortions in Michigan. Governor Whitmer highlighted her as opposing the petition drive: “The good news is we’ve got three pro-choice women at the top of state office here in Michigan, and we are all absolutely committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose.” After submitting petition drive signatures, the Bureau of Elections took several unprecedented steps, including taking months to begin the signature review process. They also wrongly threw out legal signatures in the initial count.
Prolife Organizations Designated “Hate Groups”
Before her time in office, Benson worked at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama. Several mainstream, high-profile prolife organizations have been deemed “hate groups” by her former employer: Alliance Defending Freedom, C-Fam, and the Family Research Council.