Eli Savit, viewed as the most progressive candidate running to be Michigan’s next Attorney General, earned the endorsement of the Michigan Democratic Party’s Black Caucus ahead of next month’s Democratic nominating convention.
“I’m incredibly honored to have the endorsement of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus. And as Attorney General, I look forward to working alongside the Caucus to fight for equity in education, economic opportunity, housing, justice—and more,” Savit said on social media.
Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus Chair told Michigan Chronicle on Monday Savit has guts for enacting bold policy and engaging in a relationship with Black leaders across the state.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald is also running to earn the support of party delegates to be nominated attorney general.
“I like Karen (McDonald), but Eli had a relationship with us,” Williams said. “He’s had an ongoing relationship with our community, and that’s what’s important.”
Williams has been active in endorsing candidates he believes would work on behalf of Michigan’s Black residents. His endorsements have been based less on political ideology than personal relationships with him and members of his caucus.
He’s endorsed moderate U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens for Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary over progressive state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Abdul El-Sayed. His group endorsed Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson the same day Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, the only Black Democratic candidate, dropped out of the race for governor.
The Michigan Democratic Black Caucus is comprised of dozens of party members who serve as delegates at the state party nominating convention. Delegates at this year’s convention on April 19 will determine the party’s nominees for secretary of state and attorney general. Voters will decide the party’s nominee for governor.
Williams also pointed to Savit’s appointment of Victoria Burton Harris as Washtenaw County’s chief assistant prosecuting attorney.
“That solidified his creed with us,” Williams said.
Burton-Harris became the first female chief assistant prosecuting attorney in Washtenaw County, as well as the highest-ranking woman ever in the prosecutor’s office.
Burton-Harris ran as reformist candidate for Wayne County prosecutor in 2020. She received nearly 40% of the vote in the August Democratic primary against longtime prosecuting attorney Kym Worthy.
Worthy defeated Burton-Harris in the primary by more than 68,000 votes.
Savit became Washtenaw County prosecutor in 2020, his campaign was powered by an endorsement from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“I am so thrilled to welcome Victoria to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office,” Savit said upon Burton-Harris’ appointment in 2020. “Not only is she a top-notch legal talent, she is warm, community-oriented—and a supremely talented manager and policy expert.”
“Over the course of the past year, I’ve gotten to know Victoria,” Savit said. “She and I ran on platforms that were focused on equity, fairness and prioritizing rehabilitation and restoration in our justice system. But beyond our policy alignment, Victoria is simply a wonderful human being.”
Though Savit has run the Washtenaw County Prosector’s Office since 2020, his work has also impacted Detroit families. He helped negotiate a deal that allowed thousands of low-income Detroit families to avoid tax foreclosure and remain in their home, working with housing advocates, the ACLU and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
Savit’s work in Washtenaw County included first-ever conviction integrity and expungement unit, which remedies wrongful convictions and provides legally eligible residents free assistance in clearing old criminal records.
