The Michigan Democratic Party will convene today (Sunday, April 19) in Detroit to nominate candidates for statewide offices for the Michigan general election in November. Candidates for Secretary of State, university boards and Michigan Supreme Court (though these appear on the nonpartisan ballot) will be nominated by Michigan Democrats at this state convention.
Also being nominated will be the Democratic candidate for state attorney general.
The attorney general’s office has had tremendous influence on policy and laws related to Michigan’s natural environment and the Great Lakes. Our current Attorney General Dana Nessel, is completing her second term as attorney general and cannot be reelected for a third term under the Michigan Constitution.
Ms. Nessel leaves a tremendous legacy in championing air and water quality, environmental justice issues and protecting ratepayers at the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). She has looked out for the state particularly on issues related to the dangers of the aging Enbridge Line 5 under the Straits of Mackinac and holding our monopoly energy utilities accountable at the MPSC. In particular, her tenure has brought to the forefront the importance of the role of attorney general in environmental policy both in state and federal court.
Whoever replaces her is obviously of great interest to the Sierra Club in protecting our planet. So it is not inconsequential to look at the two candidates most likely to be nominated by the Democratic Party this weekend.
Both are current county prosecutors.
ELI SAVIT is the current Washtenaw County prosecutor. On state environmental policy he will continue expanding legal fights including Enbridge Line 5.
He would continue to use the attorney general’s authority aggressively on climate policy, polluters and environmental justice issues.
Before he became Washtenaw County Prosecutor, he worked as a practicing environmental lawyer, representing New Jersey, Maryland and Puerto Rico in litigation over PFAS, MTBE, and other contamination from corporate polluters such as Shell, Exxon and DuPont.
Savit is particularly concerned over the rapid rise of AI — and the construction of data centers, which threaten vulnerable communities. Although not categorically opposed to the construction of data centers, he remains deeply concerned that they are being sited in communities that are already vulnerable, and without any consideration for health or environmental standards. Savit would use the office of attorney general to protect residents near these facilities.
KAREN McDONALD is the current Oakland County prosecutor. Her priorities include:
Clean air and clean water for every Michigander. No family should fear the water coming from their tap or the air their children breathe. McDonald has pledged to use every enforcement tool available to hold polluters accountable and defend Michigan’s strongest-in-the-nation drinking water standards.
Environmental justice: Too often, low-income communities and communities of color bear the heaviest pollution burdens. McDonald would prioritize enforcement in these areas, strengthen monitoring and reporting and ensure that corporate actors cannot exploit vulnerable communities — and if they do, they will be held accountable.
PFAS and lead cleanup and removal: PFAS contamination and lead exposure continue to pose urgent threats to our communities. McDonald would aggressively pursue responsible parties — whether industrial polluters or negligent actors — to ensure that cleanup costs fall on polluters, not taxpayers.
Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd was nominated last month as the Republican candidate for Michigan attorney general in the 2026 race. His stance regarding environmental policies is not currently enunciated on his website.
The Sierra Club is a nonpartisan member-based organization to explore, enjoy and protect the planet, including the wild places and natural areas of Michigan and her Great Lakes. We will work with all elected officeholders to protect our great state!