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Last Update: June 26, 2026. Eli Savit vs. Doug Lloyd: who should be Michigan's top cop? A plain-language guide to the 2026 Attorney General Race.
Table of Contents
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About Michigan's Attorney General
- Introduction
- Current Attorney General: Dana Nessel
- How Long is the Term and Term Limits
- What Does the Attorney General Do?
- What to Look for in a Michigan Attorney General
- How Michigan Picks Party Nominees for Attorney General
- What Are the Candidates Talking About?
Democratic Candidates
Eli Savit (D) — Prosecuting Attorney, Washtenaw County ✅
Republican Candidates
Doug Lloyd (R) — Prosecuting Attorney, Eaton County ✅
Dropped Out/Unendorsed Candidates
Unendorsed Candidates
- Karen McDonald (D) — Prosecuting Attorney, Oakland County
- William Noakes (D) — Trial Lawyer, Neighborhood Defense Service
- Matt DePerno (R) — Attorney, DePerno Law Office
- Kevin Kijewski (R) — Defense Attorney, KDK Law
Dropped Out
- Mark Totten (D) — Former U.S. Attorney, Western District of Michigan
More
About Michigan's Attorney General
Introduction
Michigan's next Attorney General will decide what laws get enforced — and how. Who should it be?
The basics
Dana Nessel has held the position for eight years, but term limits mean she's out. That means Michigan will have a brand-new Attorney General in 2027, at a time when consumer protection, civil rights enforcement, and the state's legal fights with the federal government are higher-profile than ever.
Unlike the governor's race, this one skips the August primary in practice. Michigan's two major parties pick their Attorney General nominee at conventions, not at the ballot box. Both parties have already chosen:
- Democrats nominated Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit on April 19, 2026, and
- Republicans nominated Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd on March 28, 2026.
Unendorsed candidates can still collect petition signatures to get on the primary ballot, but the conventions are where this race was effectively decided.
Where things stand
The field started with four Democrats and three Republicans, and has narrowed since. Former U.S. Attorney Mark Totten dropped out of the Democratic race in January after the UAW endorsed Karen McDonald instead. Savit went on to defeat McDonald and public defender William Noakes for the Democratic endorsement at the April convention.
On the Republican side, Lloyd defeated defense attorney Kevin Kijewski outright, winning 63% of delegate votes at the March convention in Novi; attorney Matt DePerno, who is currently facing felony charges from his role in the 2020 "fake electors" scheme, remains in the race as an unendorsed Republican.
That leaves two clear frontrunners heading into November: Savit, a Washtenaw County prosecutor known for progressive policies like ending cash bail and decriminalizing sex work and psychedelic mushrooms locally, and Lloyd, a 30-year prosecutor who has led the Eaton County Prosecutor's Office for more than a decade.
The polling
No independent or campaign-sponsored poll has tested a Savit vs. Lloyd general-election matchup yet. This race hasn't drawn the donor or media attention needed to generate the kind of regular horse-race polling you're seeing in the governor's race.
The money
Detailed, comparable fundraising totals for Savit and Lloyd aren't yet available through Michigan Bureau of Elections filings in a form that allows a clean side-by-side comparison. What is on the record: McDonald, before exiting contention at the convention, had reported raising more than her four AG primary opponents combined; Savit, for his part, says he isn't accepting contributions from utility companies or their executives, a pledge he's framed as especially relevant to the AG's consumer-protection role.
Separately, a campaign finance complaint was filed against Savit in April over his use of a Washtenaw County-provided gas card during the run-up to the convention; Savit's campaign has called the complaint meritless and said the personal-use allowance was a standard part of his county compensation.
Outside spending in this race remains modest — just 12 registered political committees, compared to 109 in the governor's race.
Key dates
- General Election: November 3, 2026
(Michigan does not hold a primary for Attorney General; nominees are chosen by party convention.)
About Michigan's Attorney General
Current Attorney General: Dana Nessel (D)
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Dana Nessel, Michigan's current Attorney General, is term-limited and cannot seek reelection in 2026 after serving the maximum two four-year terms. As a result, the office will be open in the next election cycle.
Nessel has announced that she will not seek another term, and is instead expected to focus on supporting Democratic candidates across Michigan. Her departure marks a significant leadership transition in an office that plays a central role in how the state enforces its laws and protects its residents.
How Long is the Term and Term Limits
- Term length: 4 years
- Term limits: 2 terms (8 years total)
- Next Election: November 3, 2026
What Does the Attorney General Do?
The Michigan Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer — think of the role as the lawyer for the people of Michigan. The office doesn't make laws, but it plays a major role in how those laws are enforced and whether the state holds powerful interests accountable.
Represent the state in court.
The AG's office defends Michigan in lawsuits — from constitutional challenges to disputes with the federal government. It also files suits on behalf of the state when Michigan's interests are at stake.
Enforce consumer protection laws.
The office investigates and prosecutes fraud, scams, and deceptive business practices that harm Michigan residents. This includes everything from predatory lending to fake charities to price gouging during emergencies.
Antitrust enforcement.
The AG can take action against businesses that engage in anti-competitive practices — protecting Michigan consumers and businesses from monopolistic behavior.
Investigate public corruption.
When public officials abuse their positions, the AG's office can investigate and prosecute. This includes misconduct by local officials, misuse of public funds, and fraud involving government programs.
Defend the state constitution.
The AG issues formal legal opinions on how Michigan's laws and constitution should be interpreted. These opinions guide how state agencies operate and can shape policy without a single vote being cast.
Oversee state agencies.
The office provides legal counsel to state departments and ensures they operate within the boundaries of the law. When agencies face legal challenges, the AG's office steps in.
Medicaid fraud and healthcare enforcement.
Michigan has a dedicated Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the AG's office that investigates fraud, patient abuse, and billing schemes in the healthcare system.
Environmental protection.
The office can pursue legal action against polluters and enforce environmental laws that protect Michigan's water, air, and land — a particularly significant responsibility given the state's relationship with the Great Lakes.
Civil rights enforcement.
The AG can investigate discrimination and civil rights violations, and has the authority to intervene when constitutional rights are at risk.
The scope of the office means the AG's priorities and philosophy have real consequences for everyday life in Michigan — whether that's how aggressively utility companies are held accountable, how the state responds to federal policy changes, or how resources are directed toward the communities that need the most protection.
What to Look for in a Michigan Attorney General
Once you understand what the office does, the next question is: what kind of experience and leadership help someone do the job well? Because the Attorney General is essentially the state's top prosecutor and legal strategist, a candidate's legal background and prosecutorial judgment matter enormously — but so does their vision for how the office's power should be used.
Legal experience and credentials.
A strong candidate has substantive legal experience — ideally in prosecution, public interest law, or complex litigation. Understanding how courts work, how cases are built, and how legal strategy is developed is foundational to the role.
Prosecutorial judgment.
The AG has significant discretion in deciding which cases to pursue and which to decline. Good judgment about when and how to use that power — and when to hold back — is as important as the ability to win in court.
Independence.
The AG represents the people of Michigan, not the governor, not the legislature, and not any political party. A track record of acting independently and following the law even when it's politically inconvenient is a meaningful signal.
Management ability.
The AG's office employs hundreds of attorneys and staff across multiple divisions. Running a large legal organization effectively — setting priorities, managing resources, and maintaining accountability — requires genuine leadership experience.
Knowledge of Michigan law and government.
Familiarity with how Michigan's legal system, state agencies, and constitutional structure work matters. An AG who understands the limits of the office is less likely to overreach — and more likely to be effective within those limits.
Consumer and public protection focus.
Because so much of the office's day-to-day work involves protecting ordinary residents from fraud, abuse, and exploitation, a candidate's commitment to that mission — and their record of acting on it — is worth examining closely.
Communication and transparency.
The AG is often the public face of major investigations and legal actions. The ability to explain complex legal matters clearly, keep the public informed, and communicate honestly about what the office is and isn't doing is an important part of the job.
Ethical track record.
Perhaps more than any other statewide office, the AG is expected to model the rule of law. A candidate's personal and professional ethical record deserves serious scrutiny.
How Michigan Picks Party Nominees for Attorney General
Michigan doesn't hold public primaries for most statewide offices — including Secretary of State, Attorney General, Michigan Supreme Court, and state university boards. Instead, each political party selects its nominees at conventions, where credentialed delegates decide who appears on the November general election ballot.
Read How Michigan Chooses Nominees for Statewide Offices to learn how the process works, how early endorsements have shifted the political calendar, and how you can participate in shaping who makes it to the general election.
What Are the Candidates Talking About?
The 2026 Attorney General race is still developing, but a few core themes are already driving the conversation. Here's a plain-language look at where the two parties generally stand.
How the Office Should Be Used
This is the deepest divide in the race. Democrats argue the AG's office should be an active protector of residents — taking on corporate wrongdoing, defending civil rights, and pushing back against federal overreach. Republicans argue the office under Dana Nessel became too political and want to return it to straightforward, facts-and-evidence law enforcement.
Federal Overreach
Democratic candidates are running explicitly on continuing Michigan's legal battles against the Trump administration — on everything from Medicaid cuts to voting rights to regulatory rollbacks. Republican candidates are more aligned with the current federal administration and frame Nessel's approach as "political lawfare" that they intend to end.
Public Safety
Both parties say public safety is a top priority, but they emphasize different things. Democrats are highlighting gun violence, human trafficking, and hate crimes — and pointing to prosecutorial records as proof they can deliver. Republicans are focused on crime, supporting law enforcement, and what they describe as holding all lawbreakers accountable regardless of politics.
Reproductive Rights
Democratic candidates have been explicit about defending abortion rights as part of the AG's role. Republican candidates have not made it a centerpiece of their campaigns.
Election-Related Prosecutions
Republican candidates — particularly those not endorsed by the party — have emphasized their willingness to pursue election fraud cases and push back on what they call politically motivated prosecutions of Trump allies. The GOP-endorsed candidate, Doug Lloyd, has struck a more measured tone, saying the office should focus on facts and evidence rather than politics.
Consumer Protection & Corporate Accountability
Democratic candidates want to continue and expand the AG's consumer protection work — taking on utilities, healthcare companies, and other powerful interests. Republican candidates are less focused on this but generally support enforcement when fraud is clear-cut.
Issues, positions, and candidates can change as the race develops. Michigan Women will continue tracking the race and sharing updates.
Democratic Candidate
The Michigan Democratic Party held its endorsement convention on April 19, 2026, in Detroit, where party members voted to back Eli Savit for Attorney General ahead of the November General Election.
DEMOCRATIC ENDORSED: Eli Savit (D)
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Positions
- Continue and expand consumer protection work against utilities, healthcare companies, and other powerful interests
- Defend abortion rights as part of the AG's role
- Continue Michigan's legal battles against federal overreach — Medicaid cuts, voting rights, regulatory rollbacks
- Pursue white-collar crime, including wage theft, price gouging, and AI-enabled fraud
- Says he won't take his Washtenaw County policies on cash bail, sex work decriminalization, or psychedelic mushroom enforcement statewide — frames those as decisions for local elected prosecutors
Career
- Currently Washtenaw County Prosecuting Attorney, elected in 2020 on a decarceral platform aimed at reducing the number of people held in prisons and jails
- As prosecutor, ended the use of cash bail as a condition of pretrial release for most defendants, decriminalized consensual sex work, and decriminalized small-scale use of psychedelic mushrooms in Washtenaw County
- Has continued to prosecute violent crime, sexual assault, and human trafficking under these policies
- Won the Michigan Democratic Party's endorsement for Attorney General at the April 19, 2026 convention
Race Notes
Republicans, including Michigan GOP Chair Jim Runestad and the Republican Attorneys General Association, have criticized Savit's local record on bail and decriminalization as evidence he'd be "soft on crime," pointing in part to a May 2026 Oakland County carjacking case. Savit disputes that his policies played a role in that case's outcome and says he's not running on those local policies statewide. Some centrist Democrats have voiced similar concerns about where the line falls between progressive and lax enforcement.
Republican Candidates
The Michigan Republican Party held its early endorsement convention on March 28, 2026, where party delegates voted to back Doug Lloyd as their preferred candidate for Attorney General ahead of the November general election.
GOP ENDORSED: Doug Lloyd (R)
Doug Lloyd received 63% of delegate votes at the March 28 GOP endorsement convention in Novi, defeating fellow Republican Kevin Kijewski. Unendorsed candidates can still collect petition signatures to appear on the August 4th primary ballot.
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Positions
- Office should focus on "facts and evidence" rather than politics — a more measured tone than some unendorsed Republican rivals
- Return the AG's office to traditional law enforcement, moving away from what Republicans call the "political lawfare" of the Nessel era
- Support law enforcement and hold lawbreakers accountable "regardless of politics"
Career
- Currently Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney
- Won the Michigan Republican Party's endorsement for Attorney General at the March 28, 2026 convention, defeating fellow Republican Kevin Kijewski with 63% of delegate votes
Unendorsed Candidates
Karen McDonald (D)
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Articles
- 2026-06-08 Spurned by Dem convention voters, former AG candidate Karen McDonald launches 'common sense' PAC (Michigan Advance)
- 2026-02-03 Michigan AFL-CIO Endorses Karen McDonald for Attorney General (Michigan AFL-CIO)
- 2026-01-27 UAW Announces Major Michigan Candidate Endorsements for 2026 (UAW)
- 2026-01-27 Former U.S. attorney drops out of Michigan attorney general race, opening opportunity for others (Michigan Advance)
- 2025-06-24 Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announces campaign for state attorney general (Detroit Free Press)
Race Notes
Following the April convention, McDonald requested an independent audit of the results rather than filing a formal appeal; the party's appeals committee voted unanimously on June 2, 2026 to take no further action. In June, she announced the launch of the Common Sense Coalition PAC, which she says will support candidates focused on "reason over noise" rather than party loyalty tests.
William Noakes (D)
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Articles
- 2026-03-04 Donors turn their attention to attorney general races in 2026 midterms (Washington Examiner)
- 2025-09-30 Detroit public defender Bill Noakes launches bid for Michigan AG (Detroit Metro Times)
Matt DePerno (R)
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Articles
- 2025-08-14 Matt DePerno runs for Michigan attorney general again despite felony charges (Bridge Michigan)
- 2025-08-14 DePerno forms committee to run for Michigan attorney general – again (Michigan Advance)
Kevin Kijewski (R)
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Articles
- 2026-03-16 Ex-wife's claims rattle Michigan attorney general race (Detroit News)
- 2025-04-28 Birmingham attorney Kevin Kijewski announces Republican bid for Michigan attorney general (Detroit Free Press)
Dropped Out Candidates
Mark Totten (D)
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Articles
- 2026-01-27 Mark Totten drops bid for AG after UAW endorses his opponent (Detroit News)
- 2025-04-16 Ex-federal prosecutor Mark Totten announces 2026 candidacy for Michigan Attorney General (MLive)
Political Committees
Understanding political committees and campaign finance laws is crucial for informed voting. The following PACs have registered campaign activity related to the Attorney General race. They are not candidates. You can search the full list at mi-boe.entellitrak.com.
- United Wholesale Mortgage PAC — Political arm of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), one of the nation's largest wholesale mortgage lenders, headquartered in Pontiac, Michigan. https://www.uwm.com/
- RSD Political Action Fund — Michigan-based PAC. No public website identified.
- LEE – Texas PAC — Out-of-state PAC based in Texas. No public website identified.
- UNITE HERE TIP Campaign Committee – Michigan — Labor union PAC representing hospitality workers including hotel, restaurant, and casino employees. https://unitehere.org/
- Pursuit of Justice — Michigan PAC. No public website identified.
- Young for Michigan PAC — Michigan PAC. No public website identified.
- Chaldean Chamber Political Action Committee — Political arm of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, representing Michigan's large Iraqi-Chaldean business community. https://www.chaldeanchamber.com/
- Health Care Association of Michigan Political Action Committee — PAC representing Michigan's long-term care industry, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities. https://www.hcam.org/
- Plumbers and Steamfitters 85 PAC — Labor union PAC representing plumbers and steamfitters in Michigan. https://www.local85.org/
- Plumbers Union Local 98 — Labor union PAC representing Detroit-area plumbers. https://www.plumbers98.org/
- United Food and Commercial Workers Active Ballot Club — Labor union PAC representing grocery, meatpacking, and retail workers across Michigan. https://www.ufcw.org/
- Emily's List Michigan — PAC affiliated with the national organization focused on electing Democratic pro-choice women to office. https://www.emilyslist.org/
The AG race has drawn just 12 outside committees compared to 109 for governor — a reflection of how much more attention and money the governor's race is attracting this cycle.
Learn about their roles, regulations, and how to stay informed: What Are Political Committees (PACs) in Elections
How to Vote in Michigan
Knowing who's running is only half the equation. Here's how to make sure your vote actually counts on November 3rd.
Look up your personal voter information
The Michigan Voter Information Center has everything you need in one place. Enter your information at mvic.sos.state.mi.us and you'll see:
- Whether you're registered to vote
- Your polling location on Election Day
- Your early voting location and hours
- Your absentee ballot status
- Your drop box locations
- All of your voting districts — county, state house, state senate, U.S. Congress, school board, and more
- Your local clerk's contact information
Key dates
- General Election: November 3, 2026
- Early voting is available — check the MVIC site for your specific location and hours
- Michigan allows same-day voter registration at your local clerk's office
Not registered? You can register online at mvic.sos.state.mi.us if you have a Michigan driver's license or state ID, by mail, or in person at your local clerk's office. If you're registering within 14 days of an election, you must do so in person.
Voter information is maintained by the Michigan Secretary of State. Contact your local clerk if you have questions about your specific situation.
More Articles
- 2026-04-06 Kamala Harris, Cory Booker to speak ahead of Michigan Democratic convention (Detroit News)
- 2026-03-28 Doug Lloyd, Anthony Forlini endorsed by Michigan GOP for 2026 attorney general, secretary of state (Michigan Advance)
- 2026-03-28 Michigan Republicans endorse candidates for attorney general, secretary of state (Michigan Public Radio)
- 2026-03-26 Political parties, not voters, to pick key Michigan candidates (Bridge Michigan)
- 2026-03-16 Ex-wife's claims rattle Michigan attorney general race (Detroit News)
- 2026-03-04 Donors turn their attention to attorney general races in 2026 midterms (Washington Examiner)
- 2026-02-27 Murder case fuels McDonald-Savit feud, lawsuit in attorney general's race (Detroit News)
- 2026-02-05 Gilchrist, McDonald nab endorsement from one of Michigan's largest unions (Michigan Advance)
- 2026-01-27 Mark Totten drops bid for AG after UAW endorses his opponent (Detroit News)
- 2025-12-01 Utility lawyers' donations to Michigan AG candidate raise conflict-of-interest concerns (Michigan Advance)
Content Disclaimer: Our team researches information from official websites, news outlets, and other public resources to make it easier for Michigan residents to stay informed. We strive to provide accurate, balanced, and up-to-date information, but we may occasionally miss updates or changes. Michigan Women is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and does not support or oppose any political candidate or party. This content is intended solely for civic education and public awareness.
