Mark Totten Announces Bid for Michigan Attorney General
In a significant political development, Mark Totten, a prominent Democratic figure from Kalamazoo, has declared his intention to run for the position of Michigan Attorney General. With a broad range of legal experience, Totten aims to bring accountability to the Trump administration while safeguarding the rights of Michigan residents.
This announcement comes as the current Attorney General, Democrat Dana Nessel, approaches the end of her tenure due to term limits in 2026. Totten is the first to step forward for the upcoming election.
Totten’s impressive legal background includes serving as chief legal counsel to Governor Gretchen Whitmer from 2019 to 2022, and as the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan from 2022 until January 2025 under the Biden administration. His decision to run is driven by a desire to protect citizens’ rights and uphold the rule of law.
In an announcement video, Totten expressed his concerns, stating, “I have watched in horror as a president has stoked division, trampled civil rights, and undermined the very rule of law. I refuse to stand by and watch, and that’s why I’m running for attorney general, to fight for you and to fight for everything we hold dear.”
Totten is no stranger to this political race, having been the Democratic nominee for Attorney General in 2014, when he was ultimately defeated by Republican incumbent Bill Schuette.
Throughout his tenure as a U.S. attorney, Totten led prosecutions tackling violent crime, domestic abuse, hate crimes, and discrimination. In his role in Whitmer’s office, he played a key role in the legal defense of reproductive rights.
Totten has expressed his commitment to ensuring safety across Michigan. “I am prepared to take on anyone — from criminal gangs to greedy corporations to the Administration — who seeks to undermine our rights or take advantage of Michiganders,” he stated in a press release.
His campaign has gained substantial support, with endorsements from influential figures such as Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton and Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane. Flint Mayor Sheldon Neely praised Totten, saying, “Mark Totten understands that safety is a fundamental civil right. He cares about the health and well-being of our cities. And he does the hard work of listening and connecting with people on the ground to build long-lasting partnerships. I’m thrilled to have Mark’s back because he has ours.”
Mark Totten’s diverse career also includes serving as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, teaching at Michigan State University College of Law, and working as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan.
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