What is Michelle Benson?
'''Michelle Benson''' (born September 11, 1968, western [[Minnesota]]) is an [[United States|American]] accountant<ref>{{cite web |title=Michelle Benson |work=LegiStorm |url=https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/196196/Michelle_R_Benson.html |access-date=September 11, 2021}}</ref> and [[politician]]. She is a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. She is a member of the [[Minnesota Senate]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Senator Michelle Benson |publisher=Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus |url=https://www.mnsenaterepublicans.com/michelle-benson |access-date=September 11, 2021}}</ref> for District 31. The district includes sections of [[Sherburne County, Minnesota|Sherburne]], [[Isanti County, Minnesota|Isanti]] and [[Anoka County, Minnesota|Anoka]] counties near the northern [[Twin Cities]] regional area. ==Minnesota Senate== During 2010, Benson went against incumbent Debbie Johnson for the Republican nomination. She won the nomination and later the election.<ref>{{cite web |title=SD49 Republicans Dump Johnson on the Second Ballot |publisher=Minnesota Lawyer |url=https://minnlawyer.com/2010/02/15/sd49-republicans-dump-johnson-on-second-ballot |access-date=September 11, 2021}}</ref> Benson co-authored a [[Bill (proposed law)|bill]] that allowed businesses and individuals to [[Discrimination|discriminate]] against [[Same-sex relationship|same-sex couples]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Birkey |first1=Andy |title=MN GOP introduces bill to allow discrimination against same-sex couples |url=http://thecolu.mn/16793/mn-gop-introduces-bill-to-allow-discrimination-against-same-sex-couples |website=The Column |access-date=2021-09-12 |archive-date=2021-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901183637/http://thecolu.mn/16793/mn-gop-introduces-bill-to-allow-discrimination-against-same-sex-couples |url-status=dead }}</ref> She voted against [[legislation]] that would have increased penalties for hate crimes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Minnesota Legislature |title=SF 2680 Status in the Senate for the 89th