Benson proposes light rail network to connect Detroit to Traverse City, Grand Rapids
MACKINAC ISLAND – Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says if elected governor she would prioritize creating a light rail network connecting the state.
Benson was speaking during a session promoting her book, 'The Purposeful Warrior: Standing Up for What's Right When the Stakes Are High,' during the Mackinac Policy Conference on Wednesday.
She said it would be part of her platform to make Michigan 'the best place to be a kid, raise a kid and call home.'
'Transit in our state, and mobility, is this massively unsolved problem an issue that is holding us back from attracting some of the best talent and some of the best businesses,' Benson said.
She said possible routes include from Detroit to Traverse City, with stops in Flint and Saginaw along the way; from Detroit to the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Ann Arbor and Chicago; and from Detroit, through Oakland County and onto Lansing and Grand Rapids.
'We can do it quickly, we can do it efficiently and we can deliver those results to make sure Michigan is the best place to call home, so people can move around with ease,' Benson said.
Benson said other states, like Florida, have been successful in implementing similar transit systems.
She said in an interview with the Michigan Advance that public-private partnerships would be key to making it happen.
'To me, getting things done as governor is getting things like that done – big things that we haven't been able to get done, but if we did, it would be transformational,' Benson said.
Benson said she would also create a department on arts, culture, tourism and sports if elected governor, which would 'lead the way in investing in places for people to move, to grow and to create industries that will generate content, whether it's filmmaking or more broadly in the arts.'
'What will be critical to us being able to turn around the population decline in the state is creating places where people want to create things and thrive,' Benson said.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
President Donald Trump endorses Mike Rogers in Michigan U.S. Senate race
President Donald Trump endorsed former congressman Mike Rogers July 24 in his Republican bid for an open U.S. Senate seat. Trump announced the endorsement on his Truth Social media platform in a move that strengthened already strong expectations that Rogers, who lost narrowly to U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin in 2024, will again be the Republican nominee in 2026, this time for a seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township. 'I'm grateful to have President Trump's complete and total endorsement," Rogers said in a news release. 'He knows that we have what it takes to win this seat and deliver real results for hard-working families." On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, announced on X that he would not run for the U.S. Senate, after discussions with his family and "in consultation with President Trump." That announcement largely cleared the field of major potential challengers to Rogers. Huizenga did not say whether he would seek a ninth term in Congress, where he represents the 4th Congressional District and where Republicans hold a slim majority in the U.S. House going into the midterm elections. Rogers, a former FBI agent from Livingston County, served seven terms in Congress and became chair of the House Intelligence Committee before stepping down in 2015 to become a radio talk show host. Rogers also had Trump's endorsement in the 2024 U.S. Senate race. Republicans and Democrats will choose their respective U.S. Senate candidates in a primary election next year. Peters announced in January that he wouldn't seek a third six-year term, setting the stage for Michigan's second open seat U.S. Senate election in two years. A competitive race is developing on the Democratic side, where announced candidates include U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham; state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak; former state House Speaker Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit; and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed of Ann Arbor, a former Wayne County health director who sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018. Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate election in Michigan since former U.S. Sen. Spencer Abraham won a single term in 1994. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: President Trump endorses Mike Rogers in Michigan U.S. Senate race
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Cuomo: Mamdani has advantage as the Democrat on ballot
New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo said in a Thursday interview that his opponent, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, has an advantage as the Democrat listed on the general election ballot this November. The former New York governor — who launched an independent bid after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary — said he fears voters will flock to the democratic socialist assembly member simply because he's listed as the Democrat. 'A multicandidate field favors Mamdani — because he's a socialist on the Democratic line. I'm a Democrat on an independent line,' Cuomo said in an interview on CNBC's 'Squawk Box.' 'Because politics is all upside down in this country right now,' he added. 'But you have a lot of people who knee-jerk go to the Democratic line, right? About 70 percent of the voters are Democrats in the general election, and he'll be on the Democratic line. So multicandidate field favors him,' Cuomo said. Cuomo formally announced he is running as an independent in New York City's mayoral race on July 14, shortly after losing the primary election to Mamdani. Mamdani defeated Cuomo by about 12 points, 56 percent to 44 percent, in the third round of ranked choice voting in the primary. Cuomo joins Mamdani, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the general election race. Mamdani's critics fear that a crowded general election could result in his opponents splitting the vote, easily handing Mamdani a victory. Cuomo has proposed an arrangement whereby he and Adams would agree that whoever is losing between the two would drop out of the race in mid-September and back the other, in order to consolidate support against Mamdani. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
How the NJ-bred head of Young Democrats of America views the youth vote
Good Friday morning! HABBA HUBBUB — The saga over the United States attorney for the District of New Jersey continues. 'Donald J. Trump is the 47th President. Pam Bondi is the Attorney General. And I am now the Acting United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey,' Alina Habba wrote on Thursday evening, days after federal judges sought to replace her as the state's U.S. attorney. The Trump administration believes it has found a workaround to keep Habba in the role. That involves 'President Donald Trump withdrawing Habba's nomination to permanently take the post,' POLITICO's Ry Rivard and Kyle Cheney report. 'Then, Attorney General Pam Bondi would appoint Habba as First Assistant U.S. Attorney — typically the second-ranking official in the office. Because the U.S. attorney's post is vacant, Habba would automatically fill the role on a temporary basis; she can't simultaneously be the president's nominee and serve as acting in this way.' But that's not the end of the story. The judges earlier this week selected Desiree Leigh Grace, a longtime career prosecutor, to succeed Habba. In a LinkedIn post on Wednesday, Grace said she planned to assume the role of interim U.S. attorney at the request of the judges. FOR THE YOUTHS — The head of the New Jersey Young Democrats is taking her experience national. Fatima Heyward — who was elected president of the Young Democrats of America over the weekend — has led the state group since 2019. Now, she is the first New Jerseyan to be elected president of the national youth organization. Heyward spoke to Playbook about her goals for the YDA and how she views youth engagement ahead of this year's race for governor. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. I saw this research from Pew that came out this week about party affiliation. It said the youngest group of adults are fairly evenly split between the two parties, but their predecessors were more Democratic on balance. And there's also conversation about young men in particular who are less Democratic leaning. What are your thoughts on that? That is a great concern, to be honest. But I'm going to start by saying that I am a very proud Democrat. That does not mean that there are not things that need to continue to improve within our party so we can truly affect that change that we wish to see. … One of the key things that I believe that we should continue to strengthen and have a very high focus on is not only the fact that we are reaching people, but what our messaging actually looks like. And we have to make sure that we are simplifying it and that we are concise and we are clear in regards to what is happening … and making sure that it is connecting for people in regards to how it's directly impacting them. There's a lot of conversation among the Democratic Party about ushering in this new generation of leadership. What's your perspective on younger Democrats primarying incumbents? I personally believe that everyone is going to have a different feeling about this, but as of right now, we need to make sure that we are unified and that we are on the same page. So whoever would like to run has every right to run. If you want to challenge a particular person, that is on your own accord. But when it comes to the way that we are operating, we have to make sure that we are a united front and that we are providing a space where everybody feels as though that they can run, and everyone has a fair chance at being able to run. And that should be decided by the people. Earlier this year, we saw that turnout in the Newark school board elections for 16- and 17-year-olds was low. I'd like to hear what you thought contributed to that, and what the path forward looks like. I think that first and foremost, we're already headed in the right direction. The fact that that's even something that we're able to do, and was historic that happened, is something that should be celebrated. Now, going beyond that, we have to make sure that people are actually fully informed. … One of the key things I want to highlight right now is that we have to go beyond just people who are already in these circles, who are already staying kept abreast of what is happening in the political spaces. We have to reach people that are not typically a part of these conversations or as engaged as they should be. I truly believe that we are intentional in the way that we are reaching out to people and the way that we're collaborating with other organizations that have been doing the work for so long as well, that are deeply embedded in the ground. We're going to continue to see more and more turnout. Youth turnout in New Jersey gubernatorial races has hovered around 20 percent in recent years. How do you get that percentage up? It really does go back to what I was saying. We have to truly reach people. But beyond that, I believe that we should be creating a space for young people. If we want to see a higher turnout, if we want to see more engagement, we need to make sure that we have a proper hub that is inclusive, where young people can come, they can shine a light on the skills they already have. They can hone in on the skills that they want to continue to develop, and that they have the backing of an organization that's going to do everything in their power to make sure that they are positioned where they need to be positioned so they can make that impact. And what I am getting to at this point is, that is Young Democrats of America. We should be the hub, and we should be at the forefront of the youth movement when it comes to preparing our young leaders. FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfernandez@ WHERE'S MURPHY? In Colorado for the National Governors Association summer meeting. Acting Gov. Tahesha Way has no public schedule. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'The alphabet never made sense to me.' — Part-time Municipal Court of the Township of Edison Judge Gary M. Price, to a police officer who asked him to recite a portion of the English alphabet while investigating a one-car crash on July 5, 2024, per a complaint filed against him. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Saturday for Steve Oroho, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. Sunday for Dalin Hackley, Mike Porch, Ed Farmer, Samantha Maltzman, David Adinaro MORNING MONEY: CAPITAL RISK — POLITICO's flagship financial newsletter has a new Friday edition built for the economic era we're living in: one shaped by political volatility, disruption and a wave of policy decisions with sector-wide consequences. Each week, Morning Money: Capital Risk brings sharp reporting and analysis on how political risk is moving markets and how investors are adapting. Want to know how health care regulation, tariffs or court rulings could ripple through the economy? Start here. WHAT TRENTON MADE RACE FOR GOV — Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill will choose Dale Caldwell, the president of a college in Warren County, to be her running mate in the race for governor, according to two people familiar with the selection. Caldwell has served as president of Centenary University since 2023. Caldwell is also pastor of Covenant United Methodist Church in Plainfield, which can help Sherrill make inroads with Black faith leaders. Sherrill's opponent, Republican Jack Ciattarelli, named his lieutenant governor pick earlier this week: Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon. UNDER INVESTIGATION — A virtual meeting of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission on Thursday was interrupted by a 'Zoom bomb' of pornographic, racist and antisemitic images and audio. Attorney General Matt Platkin told your host that the incident is being investigated by the Division of Criminal Justice. The commission was holding the meeting to select its sponsors for two gubernatorial general election debates this fall between Ciattarelli and Sherrill, and one debate between the lieutenant governor candidates. Nine sponsors were set to give their presentations to the commission, which would then decide who was awarded a debate. ELEC Chair Thomas Prol wrote in a social media post that he has asked the offices of the governor and state attorney general to investigate what he called a 'shocking breach of public trust.' 'They have put their top investigators on the hack that occurred,' Prol wrote. 'On behalf of my fellow commissioners and myself, I say this to those responsible: 'You will not disrupt democracy in New Jersey. We will find you and prosecute you.'' The meeting will be rescheduled for next Tuesday 'with safeguards in place,' he added. HEALTH HIKES — 'N.J. public workers facing massive health insurance hikes could get relief under this controversial plan,' by NJ Advance Media's Susan K. Livio: 'With huge health insurance premium hikes looming for hundreds of thousands of public government employees next year, a panel of lawmakers Thursday approved a proposal that would tie increases to worker salaries. But the bill's prospects for passage are uncertain, at best. Officials close to Gov. Phil Murphy privately say the governor won't sign the bill, (A5903), as he sees it as a giveaway to unions that doesn't guarantee enough savings.' — 'Heated debate over bill to establish state definition of antisemitism' — 'Top N.J. students would automatically get into colleges under plan to stop 'brain drain'' — 'Want lower utility bills and well-paying jobs? Create clean energy here in NJ | Opinion' TRUMP ERA IMMIGRATION WATCH — 'Union County leader says defunct jail will not be used for immigration enforcement,' by the New Jersey Globe's Zach Blackburn: 'Amid fears from activists that Union County's defunct jail could be used for migrant detention if sold, the county's manager said Thursday that the property will not be used for immigration law enforcement. Edward Oatman, the Union County manager, said in a release that county officials are still in the beginning phases of selling the jail. He said that while no official proposals have been submitted, officials have heard 'a wide range of ideas from various sectors' about potential uses for the property. He said the county did receive one request for a detention-related purpose, but ensured the county would not go in that direction. … In his statement, Oatman said any buyer for the property will have to contractually agree not to use the facility for immigration detention or any similar purpose.' — 'NJ congressmen to inspect immigrant detention site at military base' REDISTRICTING REDUX — 'Democrats Have Few Tools to Counter G.O.P. Redistricting,' by The New York Times' Nick Corasaniti and Laurel Rosenhall: 'With Republicans in Texas planning to redraw more favorable congressional maps this summer, as the party vies to maintain control of Congress next year, national Democratic leaders are vowing to use every tool at their disposal to counter what they see as a nakedly partisan power grab. But the toolbox for Democrats is relatively sparse, aside from litigation or legislative protests. … New Jersey's maps are drawn by a political commission, and with off-year elections for both governor and parts of the State Legislature, appetite for a risky political move may be waning.' — 'Almost everyone in New Jersey's congressional delegation has committed to running again in 2026' LOCAL BUDGET BLUES — 'Newark's Failure to Introduce 2025 Budget May Come with a Cost,' by TAPInto Newark's Nicole Zanchelli: 'Newark has racked up a $575 tab in penalties from the Division of Local Government Services, Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for its ongoing failure to introduce a 2025 municipal budget, which is now nearly four months late. The $575 in fines breaks down to $25 a day for the 23 days that Newark's 2025 budget has been unintroduced since June 30. But there may not be a need to panic just yet, as Newark and DCA officials both reported that no fines have been formally processed against the city.' — 'NJCU votes to remove Acebo's interim tag, making him school's 13th president' — '[Toms River] Mayor Says Town Won't Seize Episcopal Church if Public Doesn't Support Plan' EVERYTHING ELSE — 'A Little Leaguer Was Suspended for a Bat Flip. So He Went to Court.'
