The following is the transcript of the interview with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Democratic nominee for governor, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sept. 6, 2026.
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that → follow → Sept.
We turn now to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is the Democratic nominee for governor in Michigan.
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who → turn → Michigan
I want to get to that issue of affordability.
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I → want → affordability
A new University of Michigan analysis revealed 40% of the state's population struggles to pay for basic necessities.
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% → reveal → necessities
Is that affordability issue something you can improve on as governor?
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you → improve → governor
Our campaign is ultimately about driving down costs, growing our economy so that we can increase well-paying jobs in our state, protecting democracy and ending corruption.
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we → drive → corruption
And everywhere I go in Michigan, I hear heartbreaking stories about choices that residents are having to make.
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Moms having to choose between whether to pay for food or childcare.
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Moms → have → food
Seniors on a fixed income trying to decide how they're going to still pay for medicine with these rising costs.
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they → fix → costs
The next governor of Michigan must address these, and I've done that as Secretary of State.
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I know how to fix broken systems.
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I → know → systems
I've run our state agencies well.
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I → run → agencies
I've improved our democracy.
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I → improve → democracy
I improved our Department of Motor Vehicles in a way that has saved people time, saved people money and made their lives easier.
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lives → improve → money
I've done that as Secretary of State.
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I'm ready to do that as Governor.
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I → do → Governor
Well, one of the challenges in Michigan, of course, is the fact that a large portion of your state's exports, 36%, go north to Canada.
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portion → go → Canada
On Tuesday, Canada's tariffs on steel and aluminum products, U.S.-made dairy and appliances will go into effect as part of this trade dispute.
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tariffs → go → dispute
It's going to be between 15 to 50% on $20 billion worth of American-made goods.
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How much is that going to hit Michigan?
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that → go → Michigan
It already has.
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I mean, since Trump took office, we've seen our- our expenses go up, and these tariffs, particularly with Canada, have increased prices in Michigan more than any other state.
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The average Michigan family is paying $5,600 more.
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family → pay → 5,600
He's voted multiple times in support of them instead of in support of the people of Michigan.
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He → vote → Michigan
And Michiganders need a governor--
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.
SEC. BENSON: --who will lower their costs and stand up to the president, as I've done as Secretary of State.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.
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I → need → State
So I announced this week my intention as governor to ensure we're negotiating subnational agreements, partnering with other governors if necessary, to ensure we're developing ways to, in spite of the federal government's best efforts to drive up costs--
MARGARET BRENNAN:
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we → announce → costs--
SEC. BENSON: --with these taxes and tariffs, negotiate subnational agreements that will drive down costs and protect the people of Michigan.
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that → negotiate → Michigan
That's what we need the next governor to be able to do, and that's what I've done and will do as governor.
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He said he doesn't want more trade dispute and will talk to the White House about it.
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You just said subnational agreements, but practically speaking, how at the state level can you do anything to cancel out the costs coming from the federal government's dispute?
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Well, first, it's important to note my- my opponent could talk a good game, but the bottom line is he's either been silent or he's voted for these tariffs.
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he → note → tariffs
And that means we call these tariffs in Michigan the John James tax.
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we → mean → Michigan
Because of his actions, because of his inability to stand up to the president as a congressman, we are hit with these taxes, we are hit with these increased prices, and he has to take responsibility for that instead of running away from it.
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But in addition to that, subnational agreements are things that governors in other states have already talked about and negotiated to drive down costs when the federal government won't do that.
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So, as governor, I can meet with officials in Canada and identify specific ways we can ensure trade between--
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.
SEC. BENSON: --Michigan and Canada gets around these tariffs, reduces costs.
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BENSON → meet → costs
And in particular, when it comes to our auto industry, we need a governor who's going to stand up for our auto workers, who's going to stand up for this critical industry in our state, and ensure that our partners to the north are working with us collectively--
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well--
SEC. BENSON: --to create jobs and drive down costs.
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partners → come → costs
That's what a subnational agreement can help guarantee.
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Just quickly, what vote are you talking about?
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Because most of the tariffs have come from executive action.
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most → come → action
There was a vote in February in Congress in which our- my opponent voted in support of these tariffs.
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opponent → be → tariffs
…and 29 more, not listed.
The Aporia
