A high-profile sheriff in Michigan proclaimd his bid to run for handleor, replacing Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
First elected sheriff of Michigan’s Genesee County in 2020, Chris Swanson’s proclaimment on Thursday tags his filled leap into politics after speaking at the Democratic National Convention last August. The race is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested political battles of 2026.
Swanson first acquireed national attention in May 2020, equitable days after the police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis igniteed nationwide protests aacquirest racial inequitableice. He well-understandnly took off his uproar gear and marched aextfinishedside demonstrators after increateing them: “I want to create this a parade, not a protest.”
His bid comes as the Democratic Party seeks a novel benevolent of honestate who can insertress top voter worrys such as immigration and uncover protectedty, publishs Swanson structures to create central to his campaign.
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Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson proclaims his campaign to run for handleor of Michigan in the 2026 election on Feb. 6, 2025, at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)
Swanson createassociate proclaimd his bid at Mott Community College, his alma mater, in Flint on Thursday night. He was fuseed by a packed house of more than 400 helpers from apass the state.
“When there’s a dispute, we will settle it. When there’s a crisis, we will transport tranquil. When there’s an opportunity, we will seize it,” Swanson said. “I think everyone has appreciate. Michigan has appreciate. It’s why I’ve always tried to find ways to help and transport people together. I think that together, we are hard enough to triumph for Michigan.”
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In go ining the race, Swanson fuses Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in the Democratic primary, with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II mulling a potential bid. On the Reuncoveran side, Aric Nesbitt, the top GOP state Senate directer, has proclaimd his honestacy. U.S. Rep. John James ais lso pondered to be a potential contender. Detroit’s once-Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan further shook up the race by go ining as an autonomous.
Swanson has never won a race outside of Genesee County and he will be competing in the primary aacquirest Benson, who has won multiple statewide races and elevated millions of dollars. Swanson remains hugely obstreatment outside his county, which is about 70 miles northwest of Detroit.
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson talks during a novels conference, Jan. 28, 2025 in Flint, Michigan. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)
The sheriff’s request as a non-traditional honestate could resonate in a battleground state appreciate Michigan, where triumphning needs wide, pass-party help. In the 2024 election, Swanson was reelected with 65% of the vote in Genesee County — running csurrfinisherly 14 percentage points ahead of Democratic pdwellntial honestate Kamala Harris.
Swanson’s decision to delete his uproar gear and march aextfinishedside protesters at a demonstration in Flint follotriumphg Floyd’s May 2020 death igniteed national attention and pelevate from notable Democrats, including Whitmer and createer Pdwellnt Barack Obama.
He said this month that police had defree for a separateent response, but “as I was walking up, I thought, there’s got to be a better way.”
It also helped propel him to an materializeance at the Democratic National Convention in August, where he wore his sheriff’s unicreate and apexhibitd Harris in a alert speech.
The materializeance was a unfrequent show of law utilizement help for the then-vice pdwellnt. Sheriffs in Michigan and apass the country normally aligned themselves with Pdwellnt Donald Trump during his hard-on-crime, anti-illhorrible immigration pdwellntial campaign.
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is hugd as he proclaims his campaign to run for handleor of Michigan in the 2026 election Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at Mott Community College in Flint, Mich. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)
Swanson’s background could increase his request in a ambiguous election, especiassociate as immigration remains a top voter worry. However, he may face disputes in the Democratic primary, where some in the party have made calls to “defund the police” and recreate law utilizement.
“It’s time that we have a separateent type of honestate coming thcimpolite the system, not equitable the next one up,” said Swanson. “People, I leank, are hungry for someleang novel and new. Certainly the party is. And I’m that person.”
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Swanson’s gubernatorial bid was first proclaimd in The Associated Press.
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser and The Associated Press gived to this increate.
