Sec of State office sees 3rd consecutive GOP woman in charge

With Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson's win last night, she becomes the third consecutive Republican woman  to hold the Michigan Secretary of State's office. 

Johnson beat her Democratic challenger Jocelyn Benson, an author and law professor at Wayne State University.

Johnson and Benson were competing to replace current Republican Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land.  Land is term-limited.  Before Land, Candice Miller was Secretary of State.  Miller won the job in 1994, after Democrats held the office for over 40 years.  Miller now represents Michigan's 10th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Johnson has previoulsy run for lieutenant governor on Dick DeVos' GOP ticket in 2006.  DeVos lost to current Governor Jennifer Granholm.