Latest news with #EliSavit
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Washtenaw County prosecutor Eli Savit announces Michigan attorney general campaign
The Brief Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit is running for attorney general of Michigan. Savit was first elected to that role in 2020 and re-elected last year. Other candidates seeking AG include Democrat Mark Totten and Republican Kevin Kijewski. WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - Eli Savit, the prosecutor in Washtenaw County, is looking to head to Lansing. Savit, a Democrat, announced Tuesday that he is running for Michigan attorney general. The backstory He's currently in the midst of his second term as Washtenaw County prosecutor after winning the seat in 2020 and winning re-election last year. Before being elected to that role, Savit has served as a law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was a teacher, and also held the position of senior legal counsel for the city of Detroit. "Our rights are under attack. As AG, my job will be to stand between Michiganders and those who seek to harm us," Savit said in a post announcing his campaign. "Whether it's a corporate polluter, a shady business ripping off workers, or Donald Trump himself—I'm ready to fight back." Dig deeper Michiganders will vote in the attorney general election next year, a position currently held by Dana Nessel. Savit's Democratic competition currently includes former United States attorney Mark Totten. On the Republican side, Birmingham attorney Kevin Kijewski is running. The Source Information from the Washtenaw County website was used to report this story.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Washtenaw County prosecutor announces campaign for Michigan attorney general
Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit | Submitted photo Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced Tuesday that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for attorney general. Savit said his role as attorney general would be to 'stand between Michiganders and those trying to take their rights away—whether it's extremist politicians in Washington, corporate polluters contaminating our environment, or shady businesses ripping off workers and consumers.' As prosecutor, Savit created Michigan's only Economic Justice Unit, focused on wage theft, price gouging and consumer abuse, as well as new units focused on domestic violence and sexual assault. He was elected as Washtenaw County prosecutor in 2020 and re-elected in 2024. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Prior to that, he served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor. He was also senior legal counsel for the city of Detroit, where he oversaw the city's lawsuits against the opioid industry and led the litigation in a right-to-literacy lawsuit that netted nearly $100 million for the city's public schools. Savit said he would use the office to push back on the Trump administration, who he said is 'seeking to strip our communities of their fundamental freedoms.' 'The attorney general is uniquely situated to fight back, in court, against federal overreach,' Savit said. But he said it's also important to litigate issues closer to home, 'whether it's a slumlord taking advantage of tenants, a business ripping off its workers, or a scammer taking advantage of seniors.' Savit joins a field that also includes former U.S. Attorney Mark Totten, the Democratic nominee for attorney general in 2014. Only one Republican has entered the race so far, defense attorney Kevin Kijewski, best known for his representation of Clifford Frost, one of the 15 defendants charged by the Michigan Attorney General's Office with submitting false electoral votes in 2020 for President Donald Trump. Savit's campaign said he has already earned the endorsements of 15 state legislators, including state Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), and more than 30 city and county officials, including Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand and Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Washtenaw County prosecutor joins Michigan attorney general race
LANSING, Mich. − Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit is entering the 2026 race for state's chief law enforcement officer, throwing his hat in the ring for Michigan attorney general. The 42-year-old Ann Arbor Democrat who started his career as a public school teacher said on his campaign website that he will "take on corporate polluters, protect workers and consumers from exploitation, and hold powerful interests accountable." "At a time when our constitutional rights are under attack, Eli will be a fearless advocate for justice, fairness, and opportunity for all," the site said. Savit worked as a law clerk to former U.S. Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor and legal counsel for the city of Detroit before he was elected Washtenaw County prosecutor in 2020. He was re-elected to the position in 2024 and currently lectures at the University of Michigan Law School. As prosecutor, Savit created the state's only Economic Justice Unit, focused on price gouging, wage theft and consumer abuse, as well as zeroed in prosecutorial efforts on domestic violence and sexual assault cases, his campaign announcement said. In Tuesday's announcement, Savit said the attorney general's office needs to focus its efforts on abuses close to home − such as slumlords and scammers − and at the federal level, where he argued Trump "is seeking to strip our communities of their fundamental freedoms." "The attorney general is uniquely situated to fight back, in court, against federal overreach," Savit said. "And I'll do so whenever Michiganders are placed at risk." His endorsements include that of former Michigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton and state Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit. Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel is term-limited and serving her last four-year term. Savit joins two others who have already announced their candidacy for the statewide role: Defense attorney Kevin Kijewski, a Republican, and former U.S. Attorney Mark Totten, a Democrat. --------- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
CBS News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Eli Savit announces candidacy for Michigan Attorney General
Repairs to Belle Isle fountain; financial impact of tariffs; and more top stories Repairs to Belle Isle fountain; financial impact of tariffs; and more top stories Repairs to Belle Isle fountain; financial impact of tariffs; and more top stories Washtenaw County prosecutor Eli Savit, a Democrat, has announced his campaign for the 2026 Michigan Attorney General race. Michigan's current state attorney general Dana Nessel, a Democrat, is facing term limits and is unable to run for re-election. Attorney Mark Totten, also a Democrat, announced his candidacy in April. "At a time when our constitutional rights are under attack, Eli will be a fearless advocate for justice, fairness, and opportunity for all," Savit's campaign announcement said. Savit was born and raised in Ann Arbor. He attended Kalamazoo College, where he played basketball. After college graduation, he worked as a public school teacher both in special education and eighth-grade U.S. history. After graduation from University of Michigan Law School, Savit worked for two federal judges. He then clerked at the U.S. Supreme Court for Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. As senior legal counsel for the City of Detroit, Savit oversaw the city's lawsuits against the opioid industry and led the right-to-literacy lawsuit on behalf of Detroit students. He also worked on a negotiating team that secured nearly $100 million in funding for Detroit schools. He also served as the top lawyer in international negotiations that facilitated the construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Michigan and Ontario. Savit was elected Washtenaw County prosecuting attorney in 2020 and re-elected in 2024. In that role, he created special teams that included an economic justice unit and investigated "cold case" rape incidents. He also established the county's integrity and expungement unit, giving over 1,000 residents who met the requirements a chance at clearing old records. Other projects included litigating on behalf of the ACLU, the American Association of University Women, and the League of Women Voters to challenge the Michigan Legislature's adopt-and-amend strategy that was invoked upon a voter-approved measure on paid sick leave and a boosted minimum wage. In addition to his work as a prosecutor, he is a lecturer at the University of Michigan Law School.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit joins race for Michigan attorney general
Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit is running for Michigan attorney general, he announced May 13. Savit, a Democrat, pledged to fight corporate polluters, scams and rip-offs that harm Michigan consumers, and constitutional overreach and associated funding cuts by Republican President Donald Trump. He said another priority would be fighting "wage theft" by employers who fail to pay required overtime or avoid paying benefits by improperly classifying workers as independent contractors. "I'm running to stand up for the people of the state of Michigan, no matter who is screwing them over," Savit said in a May 12 interview with the Free Press. Savit, 42, of Ann Arbor, joins former federal prosecutor Mark Totten in the race for the Democratic nomination. On the Republican side, Birmingham attorney Kevin Kijewski has announced his candidacy. The current attorney general, Democrat Dana Nessel, can't run again in 2026 because of constitutional term limits. Savit is completing his second four-year term as Washtenaw County prosecutor, where he campaigned to reduce racial and socio-economic inequities in the criminal justice system and increase support for mental health and addiction services. Since he was first elected prosecutor in 2020, Savit established an economic justice unit focused on issues such as worker and consumer protection. He has also sought to eliminate, to the extent possible under current law, the use of cash bail in criminal cases, saying a defendant's financial resources should not dictate whether they remain free pending trial. "If you're dangerous, you should be held pending trial." Savit said. "You shouldn't be able to buy your way out, if you are wealthy." Before that, he worked for the city of Detroit as senior legal counsel under Mayor Mike Duggan, suing the opioid industry and directing the city's legal efforts in winning, along with interest groups, a nearly $100-million settlement for Detroit Public Schools in a right-to-literacy lawsuit against the state of Michigan. Savit, who grew up in Ann Arbor, graduated from Kalamazoo College and the University of Michigan Law School. In between, he worked as an eighth-grade history and special education teacher. After law school, Savit clerked for two U.S. Supreme Court justices — Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in 2020, and Sandra Day O'Connor, who died in 2023. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Washtenaw Prosecutor Eli Savit joins Michigan attorney general race
