In their words: How Michigan governor candidates would fix health care

How Michigan gubernatorial candidates say they’d tackle Michigan’s most pressing health care problems
Eight candidates responded in the primary. Bridge updated this story to focus on general election winners Jocelyn Benson and John James
Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 300 words

Editor’s note: This story was updated on Aug. 19, 2026, to focus on candidates who won their primary elections.

Michigan’s next governor will face a litany of issues, from an overloaded mental health system to rising premiums and a Medicaid funding shortfall.

Bridge Michigan readers have identified health care as one of the most pressing issues in 2026 elections, so we asked related questions to the major party candidates, including both who qualified for the general election ballot:

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat
US Rep. John James, a Republican

Here’s what they had to say, in full:

Cost and affordability

The question: Amid soaring hospital costs and rising drug prices, Michiganders are seeing major increases to their insurance premiums. Plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace have risen more than 20% over the past year. What specific steps would you take, if any, to tackle the rising cost of health care in Michigan?

Benson (D): As I meet residents across our state I hear countless stories of Michiganders crushed by medical bills and making unthinkable sacrifices to cover the rising cost of healthcare.

We need to address the unchecked escalating cost of medicine in Michigan.

Related:

As governor I will establish an Independent Prescription Drug Affordability Board that will hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for price gouging and identify ways to reduce the overall cost of care and increase the fairness and transparency in healthcare decisions — including forcing hospitals to share costs upfront to eliminate surprise billing.

We also need to take on a broken healthcare system that too often puts profits over patients. My plan will take on insurance companies who consistently and unfairly deny doctor-prescribed care, reform the MDHHS to assist patients in appealing decisions and filing complaints when insurers prioritize profits over patients’ health and wellbeing, and empower MDHHS to investigate and penalize insurers with patterns of inappropriate denials.

Finally, we’re going to relieve the burden of medical debt. Under my plan, MDHHS will implement expanded and effective debt forgiveness programs, increase access to financial counseling, and partner with hospitals to limit aggressive collections. Medical debt should not prevent families from being able to put a roof over their heads or put food on the table. “

James (R): When I ran my family business in Detroit, my family and I were on the same health care plan as our employees. I watched premiums climb and choices shrink. That experience is personal, and it is exactly why I reject the idea that more government spending is the answer.

The 20-plus percent premium increases under Obamacare are not a surprise. The law was never sustainable and never lived up to its promises. It distorted the market, reduced access, drove insurers out, and created dependency. Propped up by reckless Democratic spending, it left more Americans underserved, prescription drugs less affordable, and families drowning in medical debt. The numbers don’t lie: Obamacare has been a fiscal disaster and a nightmare for consumers.

The single greatest driver of rising costs is increased utilization, and that starts with sicker Americans. The best way to lower health care costs is to have healthier Michiganders, and secure borders. We need to address the root causes of poor health and stop subsidizing the consequences of failed border policy.

As Governor, I will pursue three concrete, market-based reforms to increase access, improve transparency, and lower costs. First, I will work with the legislature to overhaul Michigan’s Certificate of Need laws, which artificially limit competition and drive up costs, especially in rural communities. Second, I will push for full medical price transparency, building on the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act I introduced in Congress and Senator Jonathan Lindsey’s companion legislation here in Michigan. Third, I will take on Pharmacy Benefit Managers. These middlemen are legally pocketing the difference between what your insurance plan pays for your prescription and what the pharmacy actually receives. You pay more. They profit. As Governor, I will ban that practice and require every dollar of drug rebates to flow back to patients, not corporate middlemen.

Michigan families work too hard to be secretly price gouged on their prescriptions. I also support tort reform and cross-state insurance sales to further drive down costs. Market competition and healthier communities, not government dependency, are how we fix health care in Michigan.

Social safety net

The question: Michigan has the potential to face a multibillion-dollar Medicaid funding shortfall during your first term, due to changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Would you secure the funding required to maintain coverage or would you seek to reduce coverage? Please explain how.

Benson (D): The next governor of Michigan will have a moral responsibility to make sure as many people in Michigan can keep and maintain access to care and health insurance. The federal cuts and changes – which leading Republican candidates for governor have voted to support – create significant burdens that I, as the only candidate in this race with experience streamlining the efficiency of state agencies, will be determined and prepared to surmount.

As the current CEO of one of our state’s largest agencies, I know how to fix broken systems. As governor, I will simultaneously work with our congressional delegation to push for a restoration of healthcare cuts at the federal level while also eliminating wasteful and inefficient spending in our state agencies so that it is as seamless as possible for Michiganders to maintain coverage for healthcare.

We’ll also maximize our use of the data we have as a state to make it as easy, simple and seamless as possible for people to keep coverage, while also funding navigators and community health workers at MDHHS to keep people enrolled and provide resources to help people navigate the complex choices they must make in a changing healthcare landscape.

Finally, recognizing that every state is facing this dilemma, I will build partnerships with governors in neighboring states to explore ways to leverage economies of scale to reduce costs and elevate best practices as we work to tackle these problems together.

James (R): Medicaid must protect the people it was designed to serve: Michigan’s poorest and sickest residents, low-income families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. When the program expands beyond that core mission, it becomes unstable for the very people who depend on it most.

As Governor, I will meet new federal standards expeditiously and permanently, but in a way that is as humane and compassionate as possible. I will implement work requirements and conduct more frequent eligibility verification to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse.

And make no mistake, the fraud is real and it is happening right here in Michigan. Last year, 13 Michigan residents were charged as part of a nationwide Medicaid sweep involving pharmacists, doctors, and patient recruiters bilking the program out of millions part of an estimated $14.6 billion in losses nationally. Just this month, a Macomb County dentist was charged with racketeering and 131 counts of Medicaid fraud for billing taxpayers for dental crowns that were never provided, leaving real patients told their benefits were exhausted when they needed actual care. That money belongs to Michigan’s most vulnerable, not to fraudsters.

If we are serious about holding Big Insurance, Big Pharma, PBMs, and consolidated hospital systems accountable for what they take from Michigan families, we must be equally serious about the criminals stealing from Michigan’s most vulnerable. Protecting Medicaid means protecting it from all sides.

I support the bipartisan effort to restructure provider taxes. And I will explore preventive care pilot models within Medicaid, because addressing chronic illness early is both compassionate and fiscally sound. A healthier Michigan is a less expensive Michigan. That is not a partisan position. It is common sense.

Access

The question: Health care services outside of Michigan’s population centers are in decline. State officials report 1.7 million Michiganders live in areas with a primary care shortage, and rural hospitals are facing financial challenges. What actions would you take, if any, to ensure continued access to health care in rural Michigan?

Benson (D): Michigan is facing a critical physician shortage that is contributing to rising costs and growing healthcare deserts across our state. My plan will support healthcare workforce development through an expansion of programs and scholarships for students pursuing medical careers, and create tax and loan forgiveness incentives that make it affordable for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers to build their lives in Michigan’s highest-need communities.

As Secretary of State, I made it a priority to expand our department services across the state, meeting people where they are and ensuring government shows up when you need it and gets out of the way when you don’t. Just as we’ve launched mobile secretary of state offices to save Michiganders time and money when renewing their licenses and plates, I’ll expand MDHHS to bring care directly to underserved communities. Our programs will include partnering with local healthcare providers to invest in mobile health centers to bring low or no-cost preventative services directly to rural and underserved areas hit hardest by hospital closures and federal funding cuts.

James (R): Michigan has 1.7 million residents living in primary care shortage areas. As Governor I will take immediate executive action to keep Michigan enrolled in the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which is already delivering $173 million to expand rural health care access, upgrade facilities, recruit providers, and expand telehealth. I supported this program in Congress because I have heard directly from rural communities what lack of access costs families in both health and dollars. Michigan can unlock additional federal funding through this program by strengthening preventative care and chronic illness policies. I will work with rural hospitals on targeted reimbursement models to keep those facilities open. Every Michigan family deserves quality care, regardless of their zip code.

Mental health

The question: Michigan’s mental health care system is also severely strained. Experts have cited a shortage in providers, long-term treatment facilities and complex bureaucracy that leads families to struggle to secure treatment for their loved ones. How can the state improve the availability of mental health services?

Benson (D): We have a serious mental health crisis in our nation and it is impacting every corner of our state. When it goes unaddressed we see crime increase, education systems fail, and we need data driven solutions to confront it on several fronts. It starts with treating mental healthcare as healthcare, recognizing that when we say Michiganders have a right to affordable, accessible, and fair healthcare, that includes mental healthcare support. Because when all Michiganders have affordable access to mental healthcare, we all benefit.

In too many cases, mental healthcare isn’t as accessible as it should be – whether it’s the cost or geographic challenges to finding care. This is why my healthcare plan will target the high cost of care overall and help drive it down while also investing in mobile clinics to expand access to quality, and affordable care to every corner of our state. In every aspect of this care, we will ensure mental healthcare is provided and included.

We’re facing a shortage of trained medical professionals. As governor I will expand CTE programs, scholarships, and other incentives for students pursuing medical careers and invest in our students and educators to ensure they have the resources they need.

And we know a decline in effective mental health services in schools are failing students and teachers alike. Michigan is among the worst states in the country for student-to-counselor ratios and school mental health professionals. My education plan includes an expanded investment in wrap-around services for both educators and students, with a focus on strengthening our safety net to support Michiganders who are struggling.

James (R): Michigan’s mental health system is failing too many people. Too many young people are being sent out of state for treatment simply because providers do not exist in their community. Too many veterans and families are navigating a broken system alone. That changes under my administration. I have already acted in Congress, passing key legislation to improve mental health service delivery in underinvested communities and reauthorizing funding for opioid addiction treatment, because the addiction crisis and the mental health crisis are inseparable. As Governor I will incentivize recruitment and training of mental health professionals, with a focused emphasis on rural communities. I will reform Certificate of Need laws that block new providers from entering the market. I will work with providers to modernize licensing pathways so qualified professionals can enter the field faster without sacrificing training quality. Michigan cannot keep losing people to despair while bureaucracy stands in the way of help.

Role of government

The question: Government’s role in personal health care decisions has played a central role in policy debates in recent years. Do you think the state should play a greater or lesser role in the provision of health care? Also address whether Michigan should change laws regarding vaccines, abortion or other issues in your response.

Benson (D): Right now, it can feel like – particularly at the federal level – government is showing up everywhere we don’t want it, and nowhere that we actually need it. We see this so clearly in the area of healthcare, where chaotic and confusing decisions seem to be driven more by partisanship and special interests than data and best practices.

Michigan has a chance to flip that model, and ensure government is showing up when you need it and getting out of the way when you don’t. I’ve done that in transforming our department of state and I’m ready to do it throughout all of state government. This means a well run system that ensures every resident has access to affordable and accessible care, while also staying out of healthcare decisions that should remain between a patient and a doctor. To that end, we must also protect Michiganders to ensure they are safe to make their own personal medical decisions, free from intimidation or threats.

I’ll also work with governors in neighboring states to ensure our vaccination policies are following best practices and explore multi-state partnerships as governors in other regions have established to ensure clear and consistent regional guidance on vaccines and other critical public health protections.

Finally, we have a moral responsibility to ensure every Michigan mother has the support she needs, regardless of race or income. That means addressing the black maternal health crisis in our state, where black women are three times more likely to encounter health related complications in pregnancy than white women. We’ll take that on and invest in culturally competent care, Medicaid-covered doula and midwife services, mandatory bias training for maternal healthcare providers, and better access to life-saving prenatal and postpartum care.

James (R): My guiding principle as Governor is simple: expand health care freedom for every Michigan resident. More choices. More access. Lower costs. Let me start with something most Michigan parents don’t know: under current state law, your child can consent to their own medical treatment without your knowledge or approval. A school counselor, a clinic worker, a provider — making medical decisions for your child while you are kept completely in the dark. That ends on day one. Restoring full parental consent is my number one health care priority. For those who raise abuse concerns: existing law already handles bad actors. We will not strip rights from the overwhelming majority of loving parents to account for a vanishingly small minority. That also means enacting vaccine choice and informed consent, eliminating school and workplace vaccine mandates, banning artificial dyes and ultra-processed foods from school meal programs, and requiring full price transparency for medical procedures and prescription drugs. And it means defending the religious liberty of faith-affiliated health care providers, without apology. Health care decisions belong to patients, families, and their doctors. Not Lansing. That is a principle I will defend every single day as Governor.

Aging

The question: Michigan is aging faster than most states, leading to more pressure on health care, transportation and social services. There’s a desire to age in place. Additionally, some nursing homes provide quality care, but others are frequently cited for chronic understaffing and neglect. What policies would you implement to improve quality of life for older Michiganders?

Benson (D): The “Senior Tsunami” is real, with 25% of Michigan’s population qualifying for Medicare – up from 14% just 10 years ago. As Michigan’s population ages, we must ensure the people who have called Michigan home for their entire lives have the support they need from family members – and that their families have the resources they need to provide that support.

At MDHHS, we will build an effective and accessible counseling center for seniors to ensure we are equipping our residents with the information they need to navigate an increasingly complex care system.

These trends underscore the need for long-term care and caregiver support. Recognizing that, my plan expands financial support and compensation for long term caregivers. This includes a $5,000 caregiver tax credit, geared towards alleviating the financial burden of caring for a loved one.

James (R): Michigan’s seniors built this state. They deserve dignity, safety, and a government that actually works for them. As Governor I will remove obstacles for seniors to choose their own home care providers. Forced unionization of home caregivers has driven up costs and reduced access. That policy serves political interests, not Michigan families. I will also push to end the misclassification of home caregivers as public employees. On nursing homes: the Whitmer Administration’s COVID era policies were a catastrophic failure. Seniors were left to die alone. Families could not be with their loved ones in their final days. That must never happen again. I will sign legislation – bills that Whitmer refused to act on – that would allow patients in nursing homes to have the option for cameras in their rooms. This will empower families to more closely monitor the care of their loved ones as well as ensure that patients can maintain closer communication with their families. I will require criminal background checks for all caregivers and suspend Medicaid payments to nursing homes with records of chronic abuse and neglect. Through executive action I will direct LARA to tighten licensing and training requirements. And I will push for aggressive criminal prosecution of operators credibly suspected of abuse or neglect. Michigan’s seniors gave everything to this state. They deserve a Governor who gives everything back.