Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Twp, is raising concerns that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson may use her position to influence the 2026 gubernatorial election by disqualifying candidates from the ballot on technical grounds.

A former attorney for the disgraced Southern Poverty Law Center, Benson is also a candidate to replace fellow Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is term-limited, in 2026.

During a recent press conference, Hall criticized Benson’s record on ballot access, citing her handling of 2024 independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s attempt to remove himself from the Michigan ballot. After Kennedy suspended his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump, he formally requested to be withdrawn from the state’s ballot. Benson denied the request, citing Michigan election law that limits a candidate’s ability to withdraw after accepting a party nomination.

Kennedy challenged the decision in court. Although the Michigan Court of Appeals initially ruled in his favor, the Michigan Supreme Court reversed that decision, and subsequent appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court failed. As a result, Kennedy’s name remained on the ballot, despite his opposition.

“We saw what Jocelyn Benson did to (Robert F. Kennedy Jr.), where he said, ‘Please, take me off the ballot,’ and she wouldn’t,” Hall said. “I would be worried if I were a candidate trying to challenge Benson for governor, that they may use the website or any of this stuff to come up with a technicality to disqualify you from the ballot.”

Hall also referenced the disqualification of progressive presidential candidate Cornel West and several Republican candidates in previous cycles as part of a broader pattern of ballot management that he believes could be politically motivated. According to Hall, as many as five Republican candidates were removed from the ballot due to administrative decisions.

“With all this chaos, with a website that doesn’t work, and a very political Secretary of State who may be running for governor, I’d be worried if I was someone like Mike Duggan or one of these other candidates,” Hall said, referring to the current Democratic Mayor of Detroit who announced his Independent bid for Michigan governor.

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Critics argue that Benson’s decisions could disadvantage political opponents, particularly in a crowded primary or closely contested general election. Hall warned that administrative processes, including online filing systems or statutory technicalities, could be used to disqualify candidates without a fair opportunity to compete.

Benson has previously defended her actions as lawful and consistent with Michigan’s election statutes. However, her office has faced repeated legal challenges in recent years, including setbacks in court over ballot access and voter roll management.

As the 2026 election approaches, scrutiny over Benson’s role is expected to intensify. The controversy surrounding Kennedy’s case has already sparked questions about transparency, impartiality, and the balance between election integrity and voter choice in Michigan.