Jocelyn Benson elected next Michigan governor

Michigan. Wow. It has been, well, my friends, it's been quite a night. I think it's been a really great night for Democrats all across the country and right here in Michigan. The voters of Michigan have spoken in record breaking turnout. And I, and I, and I am honored to stand before you as the next governor of Michigan. I am equally thrilled that I will be heading Heading to Lansing with a Democratic trifecta. For 22 months I have been asking you one question. Who do you want your leaders to work for? And my friends, the voters of Michigan have answered loud and clear. They want leaders who will work for you and every person in the state of Michigan. In this election, from the western reaches of the Upper Peninsula to downtown Detroit, voters sent a clear message. They want leaders who will fight for them, fight to lower costs, fight to grow our economy, fight the corruption that too often protects the powerful and hurts the people. And in this election, we showed the nation that in our democracy, the power of the people will always rule the day. My friend, this win is a victory for every one of us, every Michigander, like my friend Gwen and so many others. It's so beautiful to see you tonight. My friend Gwen has to look at her bills every night and wonder how to make ends meet, and I know so many Michiganders feel that same way. But Gwen, tonight, this is a victory for you and all of us. Thank you. It is a win for our kids. to grow up in a state that is the best place in the nation to call home and it is a win for our young girls who tonight can look up and for the first time for the first time in our state's history see two women leading this state governor and lieutenant governor who will work together every day to ensure that young girls and women always have access to the health care they need and the rights and freedoms they deserve. My friends, it's also a win for democracy because our democratic trifecta, doesn't it? Our democratic trifecta is going to go to Lansing and pass a Voting Rights Act for the state of Michigan, ensure that every citizen in the state is protected at the ballot box in every election. Tonight, I just want to say thank you. Thank you to those of you who stay here much longer and many longer hours than you might have thought. But who worked also for days and months and the better part of two years to knock doors, make phone calls, have thousands of conversations with voters in all 83 counties. This win is for you. And I wanna say a special note to the hardest working campaign staff in the business. Group of people led by women, including my day one campaign manager, Nikki Make your gold shine. And the best communications policy deputy campaign manager in the nation, Alyssa Bradley. They along with so many of our teams from Jesse to Ashley to Wes to Alec to Mary, I love all of you. You worked the long nights, you took on the tough challenges and you never stopped believing in our mission. Your work, your dedication, your commitment made this victory possible. And I hope everyone takes a moment tonight to be proud of what we've all accomplished together. To Winnie Brinks, our incredible lieutenant governor, together we've made history and with you as my partner we are going to deliver for the state of Michigan. And finally to my family, you know this campaign was quite a journey. It wasn't always an easy one but on the good days and the bad you were always there to light the way forward. In Ryan you will have the first spouse of a governor in state history who is a combat veteran. Thank you, Catherine. You bet! And in Aiden, you will have a first kid who reminds us every day why this fight matters. All of you, we know that every family deserves the chance to keep their loved ones happy, healthy, safe, and thriving. And every child deserves a future that is limitless. Michigan, we're going to build that future for all of our kids together. And now we are. And now the work begins. The challenges ahead are serious. There will be disagreements, difficult decisions and days when the work feels harder than we imagined. But I know what Michiganders can accomplish when we come together around a common purpose. Because... Because here in Michigan, I will. Because here in Michigan, we lead. We put the world on wheels. We built the middle class. We built the Mackinac Bridge, a constant reminder that we can do big transformational things when we work together. And look, you all know, I will proudly work with anyone who is ready to deliver for the people of Michigan. But make no mistake, I will be unafraid to stand up to any bully, no matter how powerful. Who brings chaos to our communities or tries to put their profits ahead of our people or threatens the rights or freedoms of Michiganders. Because I will always fight for you, no matter who you are, where you live, how you pray or how you vote. So tonight, you've given us the opportunity to build a Michigan that works for everyone, with communities full of people who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Wendy Brinks and I, as the first team of women in history leading the state, will carry the work forward. We'll carry the work forward of the women who came before us, including Gretchen Whitmer, who I want to say a particular thank you to for your leadership and love for the state of Michigan and for your friendship and support. And to every Michigander waiting for government to make a difference in your life, we're ready to get to work for you. Let's lower costs, let's raise our wages, let's end corruption. Let's make Michigan the best place in the nation to call home.