Your Voice Your Vote: A look at the Democratic Primary Race for Michigan's next Governor

For the democrats, it's Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson vs. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

Jocelyn Benson

For Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, affordability is at the heart of her campaign for governor.

"Over the last few months, I have traveled our state and heard the same thing from families everywhere. Costs are too high, and people want leaders who will focus on making their lives better. That's why I'm running for governor; to lower costs, grow our economy and raise wages, and build a Michigan where every family has the opportunity to get ahead," said Benson in a social media post.

Through her Affordable Michigan Agenda, Benson says she will work to increase housing availability and affordability, lower healthcare costs, and raise wages for childcare and early childhood education workers.

Education is another priority; with her five-pillar education plan, Benson's hope is to create a world-class education system for young Michiganders.

ABC57 was unable to reach Benson for an interview in time for this story.

Chris Swanson

With more than three decades of law enforcement experience, fittingly, a top priority of Sheriff Swanson's is public safety.

He says he will create the Governor's Human Oppression Strike Team, enforce extreme risk protection orders, and fund school safety infrastructure upgrades.

"If people don't feel safe, if they don't feel protected, if they feel like they have no voice, there is a sense of fear," Swanson tells ABC57. "So, I love the fact that as a sheriff of a big county, going to the executive level. That transition, people have a faith and a trust in that."

Education is another top priority for Swanson, who is also an educator of nearly thirty years.

He touts his seven-point education plan to improve Mitten State schools and students.

"There's 1.4 million public students out there, K-12. We're going to make sure that fund is protected, we're going to make sure pre-K is always there as an option, that kids can eat breakfast and lunch, we're going to make sure that we're building those trades into the curriculum in the middle school working with the State Board of Education, increase the teacher beginning pay, supplement what townships and cities and HRs and school districts are doing, but ultimately you've got to have an ecosystem to provide the best opportunity for our students to become the greatest next generation leaders," Swanson explains.