Michigan elections: Who’s running for attorney general, secretary of state?

Michiganders will decide who should be the state’s next attorney general and secretary of state during the Nov. 3 midterm election
Running for attorney general are Democrat Eli Savit and Republican Doug Lloyd
Running for secretary of state are Democrat Garlin Gilchrist and Republican Anthony Forlini

LANSING — Michiganders will decide the state’s next attorney general and secretary of state in the Nov. 3 midterm election.

Both contests have been overshadowed by races for governor and Michigan’s open US Senate seat, which has drawn huge spending and national interest to the state.

But each office is up for grabs this year because of term limits, which are forcing out Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel and Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is running for governor.

Republican Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd and Democratic Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit are running to succeed Nessel as attorney general.

Republican Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini and Democratic Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist are running to replace Benson as secretary of state.

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In both races, the Democratic nominees have out-fundraised their Republican opponents. Polls have suggested close races for both statewide offices.

The race for attorney general

The race for Michigan’s next attorney general pits two county prosecutors against each other — one who’s been elected in one of the state’s most liberal counties, the other in a purple region.

Savit, who has served as Washtenaw County prosecutor since 2020, is a progressive whom Republicans have criticized for local policies to decriminalize consensual sex work and psychedelic mushrooms and limit the use of cash bail.

In an interview with Bridge earlier this year, Savit said that, if elected, he would not bring those policies statewide, saying they are “decisions that should be made by local prosecutors who are elected in their communities.”

Instead, Savit is touting his work prosecuting “serious crime” in Washtenaw County. He says if elected, he’ll focus on protecting consumers and continue to fight white-collar crimes such as wage theft, price gouging and even fraud perpetuated with the help of artificial intelligence.

He’s also advocated for passing “common sense” gun laws, like banning bump stocks and ghost guns, and expressed support for Michigan’s safe storage and “red flag” laws.

Savit reported raising a cumulative $2.3 million this cycle, spending just under $2 million of those funds and is heading into the general election with roughly $362,000 on hand, according to campaign finance disclosures.

Lloyd, meanwhile, is touting more than two decades of “proven experience” and “trusted leadership” as prosecutor in Eaton County, a purple region where he said he has repeatedly won reelection by appealing to moderates on both sides of the political aisle.

He also supports repealing the state’s red-flag gun confiscation law and wants the Legislature to approve a “constitutional carry” law that would allow residents to carry concealed weapons without first obtaining a permit.

Democrats contend Lloyd would serve as a rubber stamp for decisions made in the final two years of President Donald Trump’s administration, and argue he has not been tough enough on some cases — including not bringing charges against a former gymnastics coach with ties to Larry Nassar, the disgraced sports doctor now in prison for serial sexual abuse.

Lloyd has reported raising a cumulative $1.2 million this cycle, spending nearly $964,000 of it and is heading into the general election with just under $234,000 according to October campaign finance reports.

Both candidates later reported additional donations after the Oct. 18 filing date, with Lloyd reporting another $141,348 in donations and Savit an additional $191,905.

Still undecided? Watch the candidates’ only debate, moderated by Local 4 WDIV, here:

The race for secretary of state

In the race to succeed Benson, Republican Forlini and Democrat Gilchrist have both emphasized a need for better transparency in the office, improved vehicle services and strengthening the state’s campaign finance reporting system.

side by side headshots — Lieutenant Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, left, a Democrat, and Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini, a Republican, are facing off in the race to become Michigan’s next secretary of state. (Courtesy photos)

Beyond that, they have very different plans for what they hope to accomplish if they take office.

Gilchrist, the state’s lieutenant governor for the last eight years, says he wants to protect elections from overreach by the federal government.

During the only debate of the race, Gilchrist said he would be the “chief privacy officer” for the state and resist federal involvement in Michigan elections — prompted by the Trump administration suing Michigan for access to the state’s unredacted voter rolls.

A district court dismissed the case in February, as did an appeals court in June. However, it’s possible the case could ultimately end up before the US Supreme Court.

Forlini, who’s been Macomb County clerk since 2021, would not give a strict yes-or-no answer about turning over voter rolls to the federal government, even when pushed for one during the debate. Instead, he said he sees clean voter rolls as a mutual goal of his and the federal government, regardless of who is in the White House.

Forlini also argued that it was incumbent on the next secretary of state to demystify elections for the everyday voter, and agreed with Gilchrist on the need to modernize campaign finance reporting.

Forlini has cumulatively raised around $810,000 this election cycle, spent just over $752,000 and is heading into the general election with just under $58,000 on hand according to a pre-election campaign finance report.

Gilchrist, meanwhile, has cumulatively raised just under $3.1 million this cycle, spent just over $2.3 million and is heading into the general election with $750,500 on hand according to campaign finance reports.

Both candidates reported additional donations after the Oct. 18 filing date, with Forlini reporting another $16,300 in donations and Gilchrist an additional $73,650.

Still undecided? Watch the candidates’ only debate, moderated by Bridge Michigan, here: