Michigan Democrats endorse Benson and Leyton

By The Detroit News
Saturday, April 17, 2010

Wayne State University law professor Jocelyn Benson has won the Michigan Democratic endorsement for secretary of state.

Benson was chosen by more than 2,000 party activists attending their state convention today at Detroit's Cobo Center. Detroit Clerk Janice Winfrey also sought the endorsement but came up short.

In the attorney general race, delegates chose David Leyton of Flint Township over Richard Bernstein of Birmingham. Leyton has served as Genesee County prosecutor the past five years.

The state Democratic Party hopes to get a jump on the campaign for state offices by endorsing the candidates today. The early nomination convention is a way for the party to coalesce support and funding behind a favored candidate who can then fund a longer campaign against Republicans seeking the office. Republicans will choose their nominees at their convention in August.

"Now we roll up our sleeves to prepare for the general election," Benson said after the vote, promising to bring transparency and efficiency to the post. "I have been an advocate all my life."

Leyton promised the crowd that, if elected, he would stop Attorney General Mike Cox's attempts at halting President Barack Obama's health care reform in Michigan.

"We are going to take back the Attorney General's Office," Leyton told the crowd.

Cox and Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land are term-limited out of office at the end of the year.

Benson won with 2964.50 votes to Winfrey's 151.83. The attorney general's race was closer, with Leyton winning with 1634.71 votes against Bernstein's 1481.13. The party established a new voting system for this convention, which factors in the number of delegates voting and the Democratic performance of their county using several factors, including the predominance of straight-ticket voting.

The Michigan Democratic State Central Committee decided in February to move up the endorsement convention to today to give the winner a longer time to campaign against Republican candidates. The candidates who didn't win the endorsement won't be forced out of the race, but they won't get as much support from the party or party backers as the chosen candidate.

The nominations came on the same day as the party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner. U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland will be the keynote speaker.

Associated Press contributed
From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100417/POLITICS02/4170372/Michigan-Democrats-endorse-Benson-and-Leyton