Savit edges out Lloyd in Michigan top legal job race
Early returns show the Democrat ahead of the Republican in the contest to replace term-limited Dana Nessel.
By Amina Kaminski ·
Most polling places in Michigan closed at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, though some locations in the Upper Peninsula remained open until 9 p.m. due to the time zone difference. Initial returns from the general election indicate that Democrat Eli Savit holds an early lead over Republican Doug Lloyd for the office of attorney general.
The winner will take over the role from Dana Nessel, a Democrat who is leaving office after serving her term limit. The two candidates represent different approaches to the job. Lloyd, a former Eaton County prosecutor, campaigned on a platform of traditional law enforcement and tough-on-crime policies. Savit, the Washtenaw County prosecutor since 2020, positioned himself as a reformer focused on consumer protection and criminal justice changes.
Savit stated he would prioritize fighting white-collar crimes such as wage theft, price gouging, and fraud. He also supported specific gun measures, including bans on bump stocks and ghost guns, and backed the state’s existing safe storage and red flag laws. Lloyd contrasted this by supporting the repeal of the red flag law. He also sought a constitutional carry law that would allow residents to carry concealed weapons without a permit.
Lloyd emphasized his more than 20 years of experience as a prosecutor in mid-Michigan. He noted that Eaton County is politically divided and said he won reelection multiple times by appealing to moderate voters. Democrats criticized Lloyd, arguing he would likely support decisions made by the federal government during the final two years of President Donald Trump’s administration.
Republicans pointed to Savit’s local policies, which included decriminalizing consensual sex work and psychedelic mushrooms, as well as limiting the use of cash bail. These decisions drew criticism from his opponents during the campaign. Financial records show Savit raised $2.3 million in donations, nearly double the $1.2 million reported by Lloyd.
Polls throughout the election cycle showed the two candidates within a statistical dead heat for most of the race. More recent surveys indicated Savit gaining a slight edge before the polls closed. The final outcome will determine which candidate succeeds Nessel in leading the state’s legal team.
