A roster of Democratic candidates in Michigan was boosted over the weekend after the party’s endorsement convention, an unusual feature of the state’s political process.
The Michigan Democratic Party held its endorsement convention on Sunday, spelling good tidings for mostly progressive candidates, weeks after Republicans held their own on March 28. Known for its role in one of the first stages of the campaign process, the convention is viewed as a key avenue for candidates to gain traction by garnering support from thousands of stakeholders.
This week, over 7,000 delegates gathered to choose party endorsements for several statewide races. By the end of voting, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist had secured the party’s endorsement for secretary of state, while Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit was selected as the favored candidate for attorney general.
Both Savit and Gilchrist are known as progressive candidates, signaling that the left-wing flank of Michigan’s Democratic Party is gaining momentum ahead of the general election. It’s a trend that has built since 2024, when Michigan progressives sought to rally then-Vice President Kamala Harris behind the “Uncommitted” pro-Palestinian cause, ending in a row at the Democratic National Convention.
Over the weekend, Savit scored the endorsement against Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. Gilchrist emerged victorious against Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum and former Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli.
“I think what we’re showing is that we have a lot of power. We have record turnout here in this particular convention, more than we’ve ever had. That shows that the energy is on our side and that we’re going to be able to organize that energy into a victory in November,” Gilchrist said.
Dearborn attorney Amir Makled secured the party’s endorsement for the University of Michigan’s governing board, defeating Regent Jordan Acker and marking another victory for the progressive wing. Acker is a Jewish Southfield-based attorney whose home was targeted by demonstrators protesting about the war in Gaza last year in what he described as an act of terrorism.
Michigan is one of a handful of states, including Connecticut and Rhode Island, that hold endorsement conventions or similar events as part of the political process.
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The endorsement conventions allow party delegates to pick their favored candidates, giving them more time to attack their rivals on the other side of the aisle and prepare for the general election.
Michigan Republicans held their endorsement convention last month. The party backed Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini for secretary of state and Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd for attorney general. The GOP selected Lena Epstein and Michael Schostak to face off against the Democrats’ pick for the University of Michigan’s governing board of regents.
