DETROIT — Democratic nominee for governor Jocelyn Benson vowed not to pursue a broad increase in taxes on the middle class after a Thursday debate in Detroit, where her opponent, Republican John James, accused her of using code words to disguise plans for a tax hike.

The televised back-and-forth highlighted the occasionally heated second debate of the general election race to lead Michigan.

During the verbal sparring match inside the studios of WDIV-TV (Channel 4), James, a congressman from Shelby Township, criticized Benson's idea of setting up what she's described as a blue ribbon commission to review how Michigan brings in tax revenue and whether the state is leaving money on the table.

"This is code for 'going to raise your taxes,'" James said during the debate. "She talks about coming up with additional sources of revenue. That means raising your taxes."

Benson, the current secretary of state, said her planned review would examine how Michigan is leaving tax money on the table in tourism and loopholes that benefit wealthy residents, such as an exemption she said benefits private plane owners.

"I'm committed to making sure we're reducing costs for the people of Michigan," Benson told reporters.

Asked specifically, she said that meant no broad tax increase for the middle class.

Benson and James are running to replace Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who can't seek reelection because of Michigan's term limits. The second debate came less than three weeks before Election Day.

Questions of costs and affordability have dominated Michigan's campaigns this year amid high gas and grocery prices and elevated electricity bills that have hit voters' wallets.

As she has for months, Benson criticized James during the debate for previously supporting Republican President Donald Trump's decisions to launch military strikes against Iran and institute tariffs on goods from Canada. The moves have driven up costs for Michigan residents, Benson contended. She labeled the war "reckless."

James said he's been calling for the war "to be over" for weeks.

The second-term congressman said he wants officials to suspend the state and federal gas taxes, and if elected, he plans to cut Michigan's 4.25% personal income tax to under 4%.

"That's up to $3 billion in personal income tax that goes directly back in your pocket," James said.

On property taxes, Benson said they need to be reduced, and there needs to be an equitable funding model put in place for school districts. James targeted sinking fund and bond proposals used by districts to raise money for specific projects, such as high school football fields.

"We need to reform the entire process," James said.

Clashing over Trump

Benson repeatedly criticized James for supporting Trump. The president, whose job approval ratings have been sagging, has been a vocal backer of James, endorsing him in June to be Michigan's next governor.

"He has done everything Donald Trump asked," Benson said of James. "Every lie that Donald Trump tells, he repeats. Every bad economic policy Donald Trump promotes, he promotes."

James told reporters after the debate that Trump would be president for only two more years while the next governor could serve eight years.

"Her entire platform is orange mad bad," James said.

"I've been talking to President Trump, and I've been telling him the truth about Michigan, but y'all haven't been reporting this," James added.

James has spoken out about the war in Iran and the impact of tariffs on Michigan. But Benson contended that his past votes in favor of Trump's policies undermined his recent statements.

Gas tax disagreements

Benson and James disagreed over high gas prices and how lawmakers should respond.

The average price of an unleaded gallon of gas in Michigan during the debate was $4.57, up from $2.85 a year ago, according to AAA’s tracking. The price of fuel has remained elevated after Trump launched military strikes against Iran in February.

James has called for suspending the 18-cent-per-gallon federal gas tax and the 52-cent-per-gallon state gas tax to provide relief to drivers.

James noted that Benson has supported suspending the federal gas tax but has not specifically endorsed suspending the state gas tax. Benson’s running mate, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks of Grand Rapids, could hold a vote on suspending the state gas tax in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

“Your pain is her plan,” James said at one point about Benson. “She wants to run against Donald Trump, and she hates him so much that she’s willing for you to pay for it at the pump.”

Benson said James had voted repeatedly in support of the war against Iran, which she labeled “reckless.” Benson criticized James for not pushing for a suspension of the federal gas tax in the Republican-led U.S. House.

“He’s all words and no actions,” Benson said.

How they'll be judged

WDIV-TV anchor Jason Colthorp was the moderator for the debate. Toward the end of the hourlong event, he asked the candidates how voters would judge them in four years, at the end of a governor's first term.

Benson said she should be judged by her ability to improve Michigan schools and increase the number of well-paying jobs in the state.

"I want to ensure our public schools are among the best in the nation," Benson said.

James said he wants to reduce the number of young people leaving Michigan to live elsewhere.

"Michigan's No. 1 export is our young people," James said. "We need to have excellent schools, safer streets, healthy families, accountable government and more affordability."

Debating health care

Benson criticized James for his healthcare policy votes in Washington, D.C.

“Health care is a defining issue in this race,” Benson said, sharing the story of a neighbor in Detroit who has to choose between her chemotherapy bill and utility bill.

"There’s two people on this stage tonight: One who went to Washington to raise your healthcare costs and the person, myself, who has an affordability plan to lower them,” Benson said.

James said of Benson’s attack: "That's real cute, but it doesn't pass muster."

James fired back that he helped lead the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act to increase transparency and hold insurance companies accountable.

James said Benson has received campaign donations from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, which, he noted, is now the target of an antitrust lawsuit filed by Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Benson targets James' new home

In her closing argument, Benson delivered a parting shot, accusing James of enriching himself in Congress and buying a home outside of southeast Michigan’s 10th Congressional District.

“He made so much money that he left his district and bought a $3 million house in Grand Rapids, moving to the other side of the state from the constituents he was elected to represent,” said Benson, a Democrat who resides in Detroit.

The Detroit News reported in late 2024 that James and his wife bought a $2.7 million property in a Grand Rapids suburb in July 2024 while he was running for reelection in the 10th Congressional District.

James’ office said at the time that he continued to live at his home in Macomb County's Shelby Township, and that his sons continue to attend school in southeast Michigan. The Republican congressman's office also said the Cannon Township property was a vacation home and that James had no plans to move his family to Kent County.

The 10th District, which James currently represents, covers southern Macomb County and Rochester and Rochester Hills in Oakland County. As a member of Congress, James is not legally required to live in his district.

Benson's zinger about James' multimillion-dollar second home came after the congressman repeatedly noted Benson's husband, Ryan Friedrichs, had publicly disclosed a $370,000 salary at Related Companies, the New York-based real estate developer tied to the construction of a massive data center for Oracle and OpenAI in Saline Township.

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