LANSING — Michigan Republicans asked the justice department last week to monitor the state’s 2026 elections, saying they have concerns about Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

Democrats and voting rights groups have pushed back against those concerns, saying the request amounts to voter intimidation and could spark doubts about the legitimacy of next year’s races.

“It feels like a page from the same playbook that has been used for years to sow seeds of distrust in our democracy and elections,” said Merissa Kovach, political director for the ACLU of Michigan. “Our elections in Michigan are safe, secure and accurate, and this has been proven time and time again by audits and post-election reviews”

Sen. Aric Nesbitt, who headlined the letter requesting the DOJ’s involvement, says he has co

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