Michigan sheriff who took off helmet, marched with protesters in 2020, launches bid to replace Gov. Whitmer

A high-profile sheriff successful Michigan announced his bid to tally for governor, replacing Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

First elected sheriff of Michigan's Genesee County successful 2020, Chris Swanson’s announcement connected Thursday marks his afloat leap into authorities aft speaking astatine the Democratic National Convention past August. The contention is shaping up to beryllium 1 of the astir fiercely contested governmental battles of 2026.

Swanson archetypal gained nationalist attraction successful May 2020, conscionable days aft the constabulary custody decease of George Floyd successful Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests against radical injustice. He famously took disconnected his riot cogwheel and marched alongside demonstrators aft telling them: "I privation to marque this a parade, not a protest."  

His bid comes arsenic the Democratic Party seeks a caller benignant of campaigner who tin code apical elector concerns specified arsenic migration and nationalist safety, issues Swanson plans to marque cardinal to his campaign.

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Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announces his run to tally for politician of Michigan successful the 2026 predetermination connected Feb. 6, 2025, astatine Mott Community College successful Flint, Michigan. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)

Swanson formally announced his bid astatine Mott Community College, his alma mater, successful Flint connected Thursday night. He was joined by a packed location of much than 400 supporters from crossed the state. 

"When there’s a challenge, we volition lick it. When there’s a crisis, we volition bring calm. When there’s an opportunity, we volition prehend it," Swanson said. "I judge everyone has value. Michigan has value. It’s wherefore I’ve ever tried to find ways to assistance and bring radical together. I judge that together, we are pugnacious capable to triumph for Michigan."

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In entering the race, Swanson joins Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson successful the Democratic primary, with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II mulling a imaginable bid. On the Republican side, Aric Nesbitt, the apical GOP authorities Senate leader, has announced his candidacy. U.S. Rep. John James ais lso considered to beryllium a imaginable contender. Detroit's once-Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan further shook up the contention by entering arsenic an independent.

Swanson has ne'er won a contention extracurricular of Genesee County and helium volition beryllium competing successful the superior against Benson, who has won aggregate statewide races and raised millions of dollars. Swanson remains mostly chartless extracurricular his county, which is astir 70 miles northwest of Detroit.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson talks during a quality conference, Jan. 28, 2025 successful Flint, Michigan. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)

The sheriff's entreaty arsenic a non-traditional campaigner could resonate successful a battleground authorities similar Michigan, wherever winning requires broad, cross-party support. In the 2024 election, Swanson was reelected with 65% of the ballot successful Genesee County — moving astir 14 percent points up of Democratic statesmanlike campaigner Kamala Harris.

Swanson's determination to region his riot cogwheel and march alongside protesters astatine a objection successful Flint pursuing Floyd's May 2020 decease sparked nationalist attraction and praise from salient Democrats, including Whitmer and erstwhile President Barack Obama. 

He said this period that constabulary had planned for a antithetic response, but "as I was walking up, I thought, there's got to beryllium a amended way."

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It besides helped propel him to an quality astatine the Democratic National Convention successful August, wherever helium wore his sheriff's azygous and endorsed Harris successful a little speech.

The quality was a uncommon amusement of instrumentality enforcement enactment for the then-vice president. Sheriffs successful Michigan and crossed the state often aligned themselves with President Donald Trump during his tough-on-crime, anti-illegal migration statesmanlike campaign.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is embraced arsenic helium announces his run to tally for politician of Michigan successful the 2026 predetermination Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, astatine Mott Community College successful Flint, Mich. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)

Swanson's inheritance could boost his entreaty successful a wide election, particularly arsenic migration remains a apical elector concern. However, helium whitethorn look challenges successful the Democratic primary, wherever immoderate successful the enactment person made calls to "defund the police" and reform instrumentality enforcement.

"It's clip that we person a antithetic benignant of campaigner coming done the system, not conscionable the adjacent 1 up," said Swanson. "People, I think, are bare for thing caller and fresh. Certainly the enactment is. And I'm that person."

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Swanson’s gubernatorial bid was archetypal announced successful The Associated Press. 

Fox News' Paul Steinhauser and The Associated Press contributed to this report.