- Democrat Eli Savit defeats Republican Doug Lloyd in race to be Michigan’s next attorney general
- Savit will succeed Dana Nessel, a term-limited Democrat
- The Washtenaw County prosecutor enacted a series of progressive reforms in that position
LANSING — Democrat Eli Savit beat Republican Doug Lloyd in the election to become Michigan’s next attorney general.
Savit had a steady lead over Lloyd on a night in which Democrats nationwide cruised to victory amid backlash over President Donald Trump and rising consumer costs. The Associated Press called the race at 2:28 a.m. See the latest tally here:
Savit will succeed term-limited Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat.
The race offered a stark choice: Lloyd is a traditional prosecutor and tough on crime, while Savit favors criminal justice reform.
Washtenaw County’s prosecutor since 2020, Savit said he would focus on protecting consumers and continue to fight white-collar crimes such as wage theft, price gouging and fraud.
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.
Lloyd has heavily touted his more than two decades of “proven experience” and “trusted leadership” as prosecutor in Eaton County. The mid-Michigan county is divided politically and Lloyd said he repeatedly won reelection by appealing to moderates.
He supported repealing the state’s red-flag gun confiscation law and wanted the Legislature to approve a “constitutional carry” law that would allow residents to carry concealed weapons without first obtaining a permit.
Savit faced criticism from Republicans over his policies as county prosecutor to decriminalize consensual sex work and psychedelic mushrooms and limit the use of cash bail.
Like other Democrats this cycle, Savit outraised Lloyd, reporting a cumulative $2.3 million in donations to Lloyd’s $1.2 million.
Unlike other Democrats, though, polling throughout the race put Savit and Lloyd in a statistical dead heat — until more recent polls showed Savit with a slight edge.