Eaton County Prosecutor Enters Michigan Attorney General Race
Doug Lloyd, the current Eaton County Prosecutor, has declared his candidacy for the Michigan attorney general position in the upcoming November 2026 election. Lloyd, a Republican, made his announcement on the podcast The Right Side, hosted by Deb Drick, the chair of the Livingston County Republican Party.
Emphasizing his commitment to impartiality, Lloyd stated, “There are no favorites. You don’t pick one over the other. Your job is to actually take facts and make the determination whether those facts actually fit a crime.” His approach aims to consistently uphold the law without bias.
In a prepared statement, Lloyd criticized the current Attorney General Dana Nessel, accusing her of making politically motivated choices and suggested that the Democratic candidates follow her lead. With Nessel unable to run for the office again due to term limits, three Democrats have stepped forward to vie for the position.
Moreover, Lloyd expressed dissatisfaction with Nessel’s support for law enforcement, remarking, “While law enforcement has to be held to the highest standards, just as everyone in their positions should be, we also have to support them.” He has pledged to advocate for both law enforcement and victims’ rights.
Highlighting his concern for victims, Lloyd noted a gap in victim advocacy amid statewide criminal justice reforms during his tenure as president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan. “I would look at these bills and they would have all these changes that were going to happen to the defendant and all these things that were going to make the defendant’s life better. But I noticed that whenever these bills were created, there was never any mention of the victim,” he explained.
He criticized the current attorney general for being passive on this issue, stating, “I noticed that the attorney general sat on the sidelines and didn’t say a word, and never offered any input. In my opinion, if you are going to be the chief law enforcement officer of the state and you are going to represent all individuals in the state, then you need to stand up and say something. Nothing was ever said.” Nessel has previously claimed that she “has prioritized crime victim services, expanding efforts to ensure survivors receive the support and resources they need to navigate the criminal justice system.”
Lloyd joins Kevin Kijewski, a defense attorney from Birmingham, in the Republican primary. The Democratic contenders include Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, and former federal prosecutor Mark Totten.
Lloyd believes his extensive prosecutorial experience will distinguish him from other candidates, highlighting his 12 years as Eaton County prosecutor and 30 years in the field. “I know when people look at me and they compare me to other people, they’re going to see that I am the candidate that actually has the experience to bring this office back to what it is supposed to be,” he asserted.
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