Benson statement on Michigan Supreme Court ruling in 14th Amendment case

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson made the following statement on Dec. 27 regarding the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling that Donald Trump must appear on the 2024 Presidential Primary ballot in Michigan:
 
“Today the Michigan Supreme Court affirmed that, unless the U.S. Supreme Court rules otherwise, Donald Trump will be on the ballot for our Republican presidential primary on Feb. 27, 2024.

“As Michigan’s Secretary of State — and a former election law professor and law school dean — I am keenly aware of the responsibility I bear in reassuring voters that our democracy is secure, fair and accessible, and that election results are an accurate reflection of their will. This responsibility includes ensuring that the decisions I make are nonpartisan, follow the law, uphold the Constitution and protect democracy.

“I’m proud that our office has approached this complicated issue from that framework. We clearly stated months ago that, when it comes to ballot access for candidates in a presidential primary, my authority is limited to ensuring that any individuals “generally advocated by the national news media to be potential presidential candidates,” along with any recommended by state political parties, qualify to be on the ballot. We followed that law, and I am gratified our state Supreme Court and all lower courts have affirmed that approach.

“Ultimately, as our Constitution establishes, the U.S. Supreme Court must provide the clarity and finality to this matter. I continue to hope they do this sooner rather than later to ensure that we can move forward into 2024’s election season focused on ensuring all voters are fully informed and universally engaged in deciding the issues at stake.”