Michigan Republican Party Selects Experienced Candidates for Key Statewide Offices

NOVI, Mich. — The Michigan Republican Party has selected Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini as its nominee for secretary of state and Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd as its nominee for attorney general, according to preliminary results from the party's convention on Saturday.

Both candidates, viewed as establishment-backed choices, secured decisive support from more than 2,000 GOP delegates who gathered at the Vibe Credit Union Showplace in Novi. The selections mark a strategic move by party leaders to unify the party behind experienced candidates in key statewide races heading into the November general election.

Forlini Edges Out Activists on First Ballot

Forlini, who currently serves as Macomb County clerk, won approximately 55% of the delegate vote on the first ballot, avoiding a second round of voting. His opponents included Oakland County precinct delegate Monica Yatooma, who received about 25% of the vote, and Clarkston school board trustee Amanda Love, who garnered roughly 19%.

Unlike his competitors, Forlini brings direct experience administering elections. He was first elected Macomb County clerk in 2021 and won a second term in 2024. He previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives and as supervisor of Harrison Township.

"I felt like it was important that a clerk step up and step into that role," Forlini said following his nomination. "I think it's critically important that the secretary of state's office become more transparent with how we operate. The key element for election integrity is transparency, while at the same time maintaining the confidentiality of each person's ballot."

Forlini has made election security a major focus of his campaign. As Macomb County clerk, he conducted a forensic audit of the 2020 election in his county, which he said found no evidence of outside interference. He also introduced watermarked paper for ballots and implemented hash validations on tabulators — an algorithmic tool that helps election officials verify software was not tampered with after certification.

Lloyd Brings Prosecutorial Experience to Attorney General Race

Lloyd, who has served as Eaton County's prosecuting attorney since 2013, defeated attorney Kevin Kijewski for the attorney general nomination with approximately 63% of the delegate vote. Kijewski, known for successfully defending one of the so-called "false electors" in Michigan's 2020 election, finished behind Lloyd.

If elected, Lloyd has said he would bring a "tough but fair approach" to the attorney general's office and emphasize a return to impartial legal decision-making. "I'm walking into that job, day one, able to move forward," Lloyd told reporters following the vote. "It's not about whether you're a Republican or a Democrat when it comes to being the attorney general. We need to get back to looking at facts and evidence."

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, is term-limited and cannot seek reelection. The last Republican to win the office was Bill Schuette, who served from 2011 to 2015.

Call for Party Unity

Throughout the convention, Republican party leaders repeatedly emphasized the need for unity heading into the general election. Michigan Republican Party Chair Jim Runestad, also a sitting state senator from White Lake, told delegates during his opening remarks that "division is not harmless. Division costs the very future of our children and our grandchildren."

"I cannot let that happen this year. Not in this moment," Runestad said, calling on delegates to choose unity. "Our mission must be to restore accountability and advance our conservative principles."

State Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt, who is running for governor in 2026, echoed the call for party unity in a statement following the convention. "I want to extend my congratulations to Anthony Forlini and Doug Lloyd on their hard-fought victories today," Nesbitt said. "Now, it is time to unite our party and take the fight directly to the Democrats this November. We have a state to save."

Michigan Election System

In Michigan, the secretary of state oversees several key functions, including the administration of elections, the issuance of driver's licenses and vehicle registrations, and consumer protection. Current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, is term-limited and running for governor.

Michigan is one of just three states where major political parties routinely nominate candidates for secretary of state and attorney general through conventions rather than primary elections. The nominees will be formally confirmed at an August convention, and voters will weigh in on Election Day, which is just 218 days away.

Democratic Counter-Nomination

On the Democrat side, a crowded field of candidates is competing for the secretary of state nomination, including Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and Ingham County Clerk Barbara Byrum, among others. The Michigan Democratic Party convention is scheduled to take place on April 19 in Detroit.

For the attorney general race, the Democratic Party has already nominated former Attorney General Nancy McPhee, who was reappointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2024 after her initial term ended in 2022.

Past Failures Drive Unity Push

The call for unity comes after several election cycles in which Republican candidates struggled to gain momentum in statewide races. In 2022, for example, Republican nominees Matt DePerno and Kristina Karamo for attorney general and secretary of state, respectively, lost by wide margins to their Democratic counterparts.

Four years ago, Republican convention delegates chose far-right nominees DePerno and Karamo, who both lost by significant margins. The party appears to be pivoting toward more centrist, establishment candidates in hopes of improving their electoral prospects.

"I think there's a lot of scuttlebutt about the elections," Forlini said in a previous interview. "There's a lot of concern about the elections, lack of transparency, lack of believability. I think it's what Michiganders are looking for. People in Macomb County, a purple county, are looking for people to work hard and do their job. The politics is not important. It's important we do what we say we're going to do."

Looking Ahead

The Michigan Republican Party convention also selected nominees for several statewide boards and judicial positions, including candidates for the Michigan Supreme Court, State Board of Education, and governing boards for the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University.

With the nomination process complete, both Forlini and Lloyd now begin the general election campaign season. Forlini has promised to focus on improving customer service and strengthening confidence in Michigan's election system, while Lloyd will emphasize his prosecutorial experience and commitment to fair, impartial legal decision-making.

The final confirmation will come at the party's August convention, where delegates will formally ratify their selections and prepare for the November general election.