Eli Savit Launches Bid for Michigan Attorney General

Eli Savit, who serves as the Democratic prosecutor of Washtenaw County, has declared his intention to run for the position of Michigan Attorney General in the 2026 election.

Dana Nessel, who currently serves as Michigan’s state attorney general and is a member of the Democratic Party, is subject to term limits and cannot seek reelection. Another Democrat, Attorney Mark Totten, announced his candidacy in April.

“At a moment when our constitutional rights are being threatened, Eli will serve as an unwavering champion for justice, equity, and opportunities for everyone,” stated Savit’s campaign announcement.

Savit grew up in Ann Arbor. He studied at Kalamazoo College and participated in their basketball team. Following his graduation from college, he served as a public school educator, teaching both special education and eighth-grade U.S. history classes.

Upon graduating from the University of Michigan Law School, Savit served as an assistant to two federal judges. Later, he was a law clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court for justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

As the chief legal advisor for the City of Detroit, Savit managed the city’s litigation against the opioid manufacturers and spearheaded the landmark case advocating for literacy rights on behalf of Detroit’s students. Additionally, he was part of a negotiation group that ensured over $100 million in funds were allocated toDetroit’s educational system.

He was notably the chief legal advisor for the international talks that enabled the development of the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Michigan and Ontario.

In 2020, Savit won the election for Washtenaw County prosecuting attorney and secured another term in 2024. During his tenure, he formed specialized units focused on economic justice as well as investigations into long-standing rape cases. Additionally, he set up the county’s integrity and expungement division, which provided more than 1,000 eligible individuals with opportunities to clear their past criminal records.

Other initiatives involved legal action taken alongside the ACLU, the American Association of University Women, and the League of Women Voters. These efforts were directed at challenging the Michigan Legislature’s use of an adopt-and-amend approach concerning a voter-backed initiative aimed at establishing paid sick leave and raising the minimum wage.

Aside from his role as a prosecutor, he also teaches at the University of Michigan Law School.