Michigan’s top election official wins Democratic primary for governor, advances to battleground race

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Tuesday captured the Democratic nomination for governor in the crucial Great Lakes battleground state in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Benson defeated Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, The Associated Press reported.

Michigan's top election official for the past eight years will now work to keep the governor's office in Democratic Party hands as Republicans aim to flip the seat.