Eli Savit Enters the Race for Michigan Attorney General in 2026
In a significant political move, Eli Savit, the current Washtenaw County Prosecutor, has announced his candidacy for Michigan’s attorney general position in the 2026 election. Savit, who has been serving as county prosecutor since his initial election in 2020 and re-election in 2024, aims to bring his local experience to the state level.
Savit’s campaign centers on tackling corporate pollution and consumer fraud, advocating for workers’ rights through combating wage theft, and resisting cuts in funding and constitutional overreach, particularly highlighting issues from former President Donald Trump’s administration. He emphasized, “I will, as attorney general, take on anybody who is breaking the law and is harming Michiganders. Right now, I think we need to be real about this: A lot of harm is coming out of the current administration,” in an interview with Michigan Public.
Savit believes his background as a county prosecutor gives him a unique edge in the race. “The attorney general really needs to be a position where we fight for the people—even against the most powerful,” he stated. “That’s what I’ve done throughout my career, and that’s what I’m prepared to do as attorney general. I believe that’s what sets me apart.”
Joining the Democratic race for the nomination is former federal prosecutor Mark Totten. On the Republican front, Birmingham attorney Kevin Kijewski has also declared his candidacy.
Despite his progressive platform, Savit has faced criticism. Ember McCoy, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Michigan and a member of the pro-Palestinian Tahrir Coalition, has voiced concerns over Savit’s track record. McCoy criticized Savit’s past actions, saying, “Eli Savit ran as a ‘progressive prosecutor’ in Washtenaw County, but I think it’s clear that he’s betrayed his campaign promises multiple times.” She pointed to Savit’s prosecution of Tahrir Coalition activists during a police operation at the University of Michigan and his office’s decision to charge a 16-year-old as an adult in a murder case, despite his support for legislation aimed at keeping juveniles out of adult courts.
On handling protests, Savit assured that he respects the right to protest while acknowledging that some actions may warrant legal action. “I’ve been at a lot of protests. Some stuff does, of course, cross the line. It needs to be charged. But we’ll handle it fairly. We’ll handle it appropriately,” he remarked.
Addressing concerns about young offenders, Savit stated, “We understand that young people are going to make mistakes, and we try, whether it’s protest-related activity or not … not to saddle young people with criminal records that are going to follow them around.” He stressed the importance of accountability and opportunities for clearing one’s criminal record after fulfilling certain conditions like community service.
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