Latest news with #ChrisSwanson
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Genesee County sheriff says he would ‘build relationships' as governor
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is making a bid for the Michigan governor's office. The , a Democrat, was first elected in 2020. He gained national attention that year for marching with protesters. He was invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention in August. Genesee County sheriff announces campaign for governor In an interview today at the WOOD TV8 studios, Swanson said it is time for a different type of candidate. He believes his background in law enforcement could boost his appeal in a general election, especially as immigration remains a top voter concern this year. Swanson said he would look to find common ground with Republican President Donald Trump. 'You have to build a relationship so that Michigan doesn't suffer. But if there is an issue that goes against Michigan, you stand up and you need to push back,' Swanson said. What's in Gov. Whitmer's $83.5 billion Michigan state budget proposal? Swanson said federal funding is too important to the state to jeopardize and that the next governor needs to build a consensus. 'You don't always have to agree, but as governor you have to make those relationships work,' Swanson said. The race for governor in Michigan is quickly becoming one of the most contested political battles of 2026. Swanson is the second Democrat to announce a candidacy after Michigan . Republican state has announced he is running. announced he would run as an independent. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Friday's Campaign Round-Up, 2.7.25: Another DeSantis eyes the governor's office
Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country. * It took a while, but Democratic and Republican legislators in Minnesota's state House worked out a power-sharing agreement, allowing the chamber to begin functioning again. * Politico reported on Arab American voters in Michigan, many of whom helped Donald Trump win the state, who are now feeling regrets. One leader in Dearborn was quoted as saying that many in the community who voted for the Republican or sat out the election now think 'we screwed up.' * Speaking of Michigan, Chris Swanson, the sheriff of Genesee County, launched a Democratic gubernatorial campaign this week, though the primary field is expected to be large. * In Wisconsin's closely watched state Supreme Court race, the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity Wisconsin this week launched new ads in support of Brad Schimel's conservative candidacy. * Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said this week that she's 'considering' a bid for statewide office in 2026. The right-wing congresswoman did not indicate whether she'd run for governor or the U.S. Senate. * California's Democratic attorney general, Rob Bonta, announced this week that he will seek re-election to his current office, rather than run for governor next year. He added that he hopes former Vice President Kamala Harris runs instead to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. * And in Florida, NBC News reported that Casey DeSantis, best known to the public as Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' wife, is considering a 2026 campaign to succeed her husband, who cannot seek a third term. Florida's first lady has never before held or sought elected office. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Swanson launches campaign for governor, proposes sheriffs network for constituent services
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announces that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson confirmed Thursday what he had been hinting at since last year: He is running to be the Democratic nominee for governor in 2026. 'I've been wanting to say something for a long time,' Swanson said, before shouting: 'My name is Christopher Robert Swanson, and I'm running for governor of the state of Michigan.' Swanson 'absolutely' foresees 2026 bid for governor, while Kildee rules out run 'I've been trying to keep that a secret for five years,' Swanson said to laughs from the crowd of supporters who gathered at Mott Community College, holding signs and eating cookies with his campaign logo on them. At a Flint campaign event for former President Joe Biden in February 2024, Swanson told the Michigan Advance that a gubernatorial bid is 'absolutely' something he foresees, noting that 'it's an open seat in 2026, so we'll see. I'm sure there's a lot of activity.' Swanson said on Thursday that his platform would be to protect, serve and unify. He said he would protect schools, places of worship, constitutional rights, civil rights, bargaining rights, personal rights and freedoms and Second Amendment rights. If elected governor, Swanson said he would bring a 'customer service mindset' to state government, with state offices being rebranded as the 'Help Center of Lansing.' That includes creating a network of the state's 83 county sheriffs, who would each be assigned an ambassador from the governor's office, so that constituents could call when they need help with something. 'If that sheriff can't solve it, that sheriff should be able to pick up a phone and talk to somebody who can,' Swanson said. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a former Democrat who is running for governor as an Independent, said earlier Thursday that Swanson is 'not a slouch' and is 'going to make this race a lot more interesting.' Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is also running in the Democratic primary for governor. On the Republican side, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Twp.) has declared himself as a candidate. Swanson said that he will not attack any of the other candidates because 'you cannot have unity and division at the same time.' 'I have great respect to a mayor, to a secretary of state and a sitting senator. They raised their hand and said, 'I want to do something that I know is going to cost me,'' Swanson said. 'They aren't opponents to me. They're options.' Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announces that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson greets supporters after announcing that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announces that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announces that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson greets supporters after announcing that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson greets supporters after announcing that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson greets supporters after announcing that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announces that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announces that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson greets supporters after announcing that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announces that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announces that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson greets supporters after announcing that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announces that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announces that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a rally in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michigan Governor race: Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson enters the race
FLINT, Mich. (FOX 2) - A prominent face in Genesee County has thrown his hat into the ring, running for Michigan Governor in 2026. Dig deeper Known for his energetic approach to law enforcement, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson was the latest candidate to toss a hat into the race to replace Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Swanson launched his campaign at Mott Community College in Flint on Thursday night. "The bottom line is, if you want to ask me why I'm running for governor, cause I want to help people. That's it. That's it. It doesn't have to be complicated," Swanson told supporters. "Not only will I protect you and your families, and the things that mean the most to you, I'm going to protect the economy because you can't do what you need to do without an economy that's growing." Swanson was first elected Genesee County's top cop in 2020 and has embraced calls for police reform while targeting human trafficking operations. He gained national exposure as a speaker at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, but political observers say he's still largely unknown outside the Flint area. Big picture view The gubernatorial field is now one larger candidate and already includes current Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's also in the contest, but as an independent looking to shake things up. "If I'm not trying to change the system, I should go do something else. I think the system is broken, it needs to be upended. The two parties have had a death grip on our politics for too long," he said. Meanwhile, on the other side, State Senate GOP Leader Aric Nesbitt of Michigan's west side is the only Republican to enter the race so far. He's been one of Whitmer's fiercest critics in Lansing. "The Governor and Democrats believe it is they who know how to spend your money best," he said.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Genesee County Sheriff announces campaign for governor
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is expected to formally announce his candidacy for governor Thursday at around 5:30 p.m., which you can watch live on this page. A potential bid for governor has been in Swanson's orbit for . Current Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election. Although his team would not confirm his plans at the time, Swanson's planned announcement follows current announced bid last week. Additionally, current will run as an independent, and will be running for the Republican Party nomination. Former Attorney General Mike Cox, also a Republican, has also filed paperwork allowing him to run, although he has not announced a bid for the office just yet. Swanson was first appointed sheriff in 2019 before winning the seat in 2020. He has been with the Genesee County Sheriff's Department—the fifth largest in the state—since 2011. According to his biography, Swanson has almost three decades of law enforcement experience and in various positions including corrections, criminal investigations, human trafficking, and narcotics. He has both a bachelor's and master's degree in public administration from the University of Michigan. The biography says that Swanson helped put together the Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team (G.H.O.S.T.) in 2018, which focuses on human trafficking and criminal sexual conduct. After becoming Sheriff in 2020, he also founded a program to allow inmates in Genesee County Jail to go to school two hours a day, five days a week to assist with finding employment after release called Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally through Education (I.G.N.I.T.E.). Also in 2020, during a period of nationwide unrest in response to the killing of George Floyd, Swanson gained by taking off his helmet and joining a group of Black Lives Matter protesters in a march in Flint. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
