FLINT, Mich. (AP) 鈥� Chris Swanson, the high-profile sheriff of Michigan's Genesee County, is launching a Democratic bid to become the battleground state's next governor.
First elected sheriff of Michigan鈥檚 fifth-largest county in 2020, Swanson鈥檚 gubernatorial bid 鈥� first announced Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press 鈥� marks his full leap into politics after gaining national attention for marching with protesters in 2020 and speaking at the Democratic National Convention last August.
His candidacy comes as the Democratic Party seeks a new kind of candidate who can address top voter concerns such as immigration and public safety, issues Swanson plans to make central to his campaign.
鈥淎s a sheriff, I take care of people. I protect people, I serve and I bring folks together,鈥� Swanson said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done that in Genesee County. Now, it鈥檚 time to do it for the entire state of Michigan and all 10 million people.鈥�
Michigan鈥檚 race to replace Gov. , the high-profile Democrat facing term limits, is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested political battles of 2026.
Swanson formally announced his bid at a community college in Flint on Thursday night and will join Secretary of State in the Democratic primary, with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II mulling a potential bid. On the Republican side, , the top GOP state Senate leader, has announced his candidacy, with U.S. Rep. John James also considered to be a potential contender. Detroit鈥檚 once-Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan further shook up the race by .
Adrian Hemond, a political strategist in Michigan, said none of the Democrats expected to enter the primary have strong name recognition. He noted Swanson could be the 鈥渨ild card candidate鈥� with a more moderate campaign that is "appealing to Democratic primary voters but not offensive to centrist voters.鈥�
鈥淔or Swanson, it鈥檚 really going to come down to whether he has the ability to raise the resources necessary," said Hemond.
Swanson has never won a race outside of Genesee County and he will be competing in the primary against Benson, who has statewide races and raised millions of dollars. Swanson remains largely unknown outside his county 鈥� 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Detroit 鈥� and Democratic circles.
Still, the sheriff's appeal as a non-traditional candidate could resonate in a battleground state like Michigan, where winning requires broad, cross-party support. In the 2024 election, Swanson was reelected with 65% of the vote in Genesee County 鈥� running nearly 14 percentage points ahead of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
鈥�911 calls come in. You don鈥檛 ask if they鈥檙e Democrat or Republican. White, black, rich, poor. You take care of people,鈥� said Swanson. 鈥淎nd I think in today鈥檚 world, especially in the state, that鈥檚 what people want. They want leaders that can inspire.鈥�
A recent typical day for Swanson included a press conference to announce an operation that led to the arrest of two Honduran immigrants for entering the country illegally. He then hurried upstairs to meet with jail inmates enrolled in an education program he launched in 2020 and that's gaining national acceptance.
In one corner, men immersed themselves in virtual reality headsets, while others played cards or exchanged light-hearted banter with Swanson. Focused on inmate rehabilitation, the educational program has been studied by Harvard, replicated by the National Sheriffs鈥� Association and is being adopted in correctional facilities across the U.S..
Swanson's law enforcement approach first drew national headlines in May of 2020, days after a white Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd, a Black man.
At a protest in Flint, the largest city in Genesee County, Swanson removed his riot gear and marched alongside demonstrators. Swanson said this month that police had planned for a different response, but 鈥渁s I was walking up, I thought, there鈥檚 got to be a better way.鈥�
Swanson鈥檚 quick decision drew praise from prominent Democrats, including Whitmer and former President Barack Obama. It also helped propel him to an appearance at the Democratic National Convention in August, where he wore his sheriff's uniform and endorsed Harris in a brief speech.
The appearance was a rare show of law enforcement support for the then-vice president. Sheriffs in Michigan and across the country frequently aligned themselves with Donald Trump during his tough-on-crime, anti-illegal immigration presidential campaign.
鈥淣o party owns law enforcement. Law enforcement is part of the people,鈥� said Swanson, who said that the D.N.C. appearance cost him lifelong friendships.
Swanson鈥檚 background could boost his appeal in a general election, especially as immigration remains a this year. However, he may face challenges in the Democratic primary, where have made calls to reform law enforcement and even
Swanson鈥檚 chances in the primary could improve if Gilchrist enters the race, potentially splitting voters between the more traditional options of the Democratic secretary of state and lieutenant governor.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time that we have a different type of candidate coming through the system, not just the next one up," said Swanson. 鈥淧eople, I think, are hungry for something new and fresh. Certainly the party is. And I鈥檓 that person.鈥�
Joey Cappelletti, The Associated Press
