Democratic nominee for Michigan governor on Canada tariffs, mail voting and election fraud

(CBS, KYMA) - Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State and Democratic nominee for Michigan governor, spoke with Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation Sunday about Canada tariffs.

According to Brennan, one of the challenges Michigan faces is that a large portion of the state's exports, 36%, go to Canada.

Canada's tariffs on steel and aluminum products, U.S.-made dairy and appliances will go into effect Tuesday as part of the trade dispute with the U.S.

When asked how much of it is going to hit Michigan, Secretary Benson said:

"It already has. 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. The average Michigan family is paying $5,600 more. That's a tax on our groceries. That's a tax on our small businesses, on gas. And what's frustrating to me in this race is that my opponent has been fully supportive of these tariffs. He's voted multiple times in support of them instead of in support of the people of Michigan. That is cowardice, and that is not leadership. And Michiganders need a governor who will lower their costs and stand up to the president, as I've done as Secretary of State."

During the interview, Brennan and Benson talked about mail voting, with Brennan saying two million Michigan residents vote by mail.

Brennan also said a federal judge blocked the postal service from enforcing President Donald Trump's new mail ballot rules after he tried to put those in through an executive order.

This prompted Brennan to ask the secretary if she'll see any impact on voting in Michigan, to which Benson said:

"First, we have to see this as the latest attempt by this Trump administration to try to create chaos and confusion about our democracy. We've been battling this for the better part of six years now since 2020. And what we will do here in Michigan is continue to ensure that states run elections. And that means in Michigan, where citizens have a right to vote by mail, we'll use every tool in our toolbox to ensure they know the truth about our elections. We'll follow the law. We'll protect the right to vote. And that's why, frankly, state officials who know how to do that and stand up to the president are so important right now. Because this isn't just about 2026, this is about 2028, when we will need a governor in Michigan who will know how to protect democracy and protect our voters' voices and votes. I've done that as Secretary of State. And notably, when my opponent lost his last statewide race in 2020, he did not stand by the will of the voters. He joined the president in trying to overturn and undermine that election. That makes him unfit to be governor in this moment, and it's why it's all the more important that in this race, Michigan is led by a governor who knows how to protect democracy and protect citizens' right to vote from home."

Later in the interview, Brennan and Benson talked about election fraud, with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charging six people with election law violations.

This led Brennan to ask the secretary how she'll verify the names on her voter rolls, and Benson said:

"We've done more in Michigan than any other state to ensure that our rolls, our voter rolls, are accurate, and that's why we see non-citizen voting so rare in this state. With 5.5 million people voting in 2024, the highest turnout election in our state's history, I'm really proud that our elections have been ranked among the most secure and accessible in the nation. And we, you know, the- the fact that we have identified a handful of individuals who are ineligible to vote, we were able to hold them accountable. That shows the system is working. And I'm proud of the work that our 1,500 local officials do every day to continue to ensure that every eligible vote and only eligible votes are counted in every election."

To watch more of Brennan's interview with Benson, click here.