Michigan Republicans Nominate Anthony Forlini and Doug Lloyd as Secretary of State and Attorney General Candidates

Michigan GOP Selects Macomb County Clerk and Eaton County Prosecutor for Key Statewide Offices

NOVI, Mich. — The Michigan Republican Party has formally nominated candidates for two of Michigan's most important statewide offices, selecting Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini as their secretary of state candidate and Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd for attorney general.

The endorsements were finalized Saturday at the Michigan Republican Party's endorsement convention in Novi, where delegates cast votes for both positions amid a crowded field of candidates.

Forlini won 55% of the vote on the first ballot, defeating Oakland County activist Monica Yatooma with 25% and Clarkston school board member Amanda Love with 19%. Lloyd was the sole nominee for attorney general, avoiding a vote.

The nominations represent a significant step in Michigan's 2026 election cycle, as both positions will be decided through party conventions rather than statewide primaries. The Democratic Party will hold its endorsement convention on April 19 in Detroit.

Forlini's Election Management Experience

Forlini, who has served as Macomb County Clerk since 2020, brings extensive experience managing elections in Michigan's third-largest county. His supporters emphasize his track record of defeating Democratic incumbents in previous elections as evidence of his electability.

"I've followed his career, from Harrison Township to state rep, and I know him to be honest and a decent family man," said Brian Pannebecker, a delegate from Macomb County who has known Forlini for more than two decades.

Forlini's campaign focuses heavily on election security, a top priority for conservative voters at the convention. As county clerk, he has implemented several election integrity measures including:

• Conducting a forensic audit of the 2020 election in Macomb County, which found no evidence of outside interference
• Introducing watermarked paper for ballots to prevent tampering
• Implementing hash validations on tabulators to verify software integrity
• Training poll workers at the county level to ensure smooth election operations

Forlini has also been a vocal supporter of Americans for Citizens Voting, a group attempting to add a question to the November ballot requiring voters to prove their citizenship when registering. He recently promoted signature-gathering events for the initiative and has used jury duty noncitizen lists to investigate potential voter roll violations.

His investigation identified 15 potential noncitizens, though the Michigan Department of State later found fewer noncitizens than initially flagged, with some individuals Forlini identified actually being citizens.

Lloyd's Local Government Focus

Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd brings a different profile to the attorney general race, emphasizing local government issues and state-federal relations. His supporters say he understands the importance of keeping power away from Lansing and protecting local autonomy.

Michigan GOP Sen. Jim Runestad called both candidates "highly qualified," noting that Forlini has "done a wonderful job" as Macomb clerk and has a proven track record of defeating Democrats in head-to-head matchups. Runestad said the party "couldn't have gotten a better candidate for secretary of state."

The Secretary of State Race Context

The secretary of state position will see whoever wins the November general election succeed Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is term-limited and running for governor. The office holder will oversee Michigan's 2028 presidential election, issue state IDs, register vehicles, and manage all aspects of election administration.

Forlini's opponent Monica Yatooma has positioned herself as a more hardline conservative, campaigning alongside activists who have repeatedly made false claims about 2020 election fraud and urged supporters to demand Benson's removal from office.

Yatooma's approach contrasts with Forlini's more mainstream conservative profile, though both candidates share election security as a central campaign theme.

Democratic Response

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel responded to the GOP nominations with sharp criticism. Regarding Forlini, Hertel called him a "MAGA extremist" who would "endanger Michiganders' right to vote." Similarly, he described Lloyd as "no different from MAGA Republicans at every level."

The Democratic Party's endorsement convention will take place on April 19 in Detroit, with their nominee expected to face Forlini in a competitive November race.

What's Next

Both Forlini and Lloyd will now begin campaigning to Michigan voters across the state. Forlini expressed his intention to build a broader campaign beyond his existing Macomb County base, telling reporters that "people are looking for people to work hard and do their job. The politics is not important."

The Michigan Republican Party's gubernatorial candidates — Perry Johnson, John James, and Ralph Rebandt — each addressed the convention, with Johnson emphasizing economic concerns and criticizing what he described as excessive government spending.

The party will continue to finalize its full slate of candidates through the convention process, with additional endorsements expected for university board positions and other offices.

Looking Ahead to November

Forlini and Lloyd's victories at the Michigan GOP convention set the stage for a potentially competitive November election. Michigan's 2026 midterms will be watched closely by political analysts, given the state's reputation as a crucial swing state and the national attention these races will receive.

If either candidate wins their general election, they would join a slate of Republican nominees across Michigan's key offices, positioning the party to potentially make significant gains in statewide races.

The Democratic Party's April 19 convention will determine their counterpart, setting up the first major matchup of the 2026 election cycle.

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Sources

• CBS Detroit: "Michigan Republican Party makes endorsements for attorney general, secretary of state" – https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/michigan-republican-party-convention-endorsements-2026/
• Votebeat: "Anthony Forlini will be Republican candidate for Michigan secretary of state in 2026 election" – https://www.votebeat.org/michigan/2026/03/28/republican-convention-nominates-anthony-forlini-secretary-of-state-2026-election/
• The Michigan Daily: "MIGOP nominates secretary of state and attorney general candidates at 2026 state convention" – https://michigandaily.com/news/government/migop-nominates-secretary-of-state-and-attorney-general-candidates-at-2026-state-convention