LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — 6 Information has confirmed Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson can be working for governor as a Democrat within the upcoming 2026 election and he’s anticipated to formally announce his candidacy Thursday. A possible bid for governor has been in Swanson’s orbit for not less than 4 years.
Present Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election.
Though his workforce wouldn’t affirm his plans, Swanson’s deliberate announcement follows present Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s introduced bid final week. Moreover, present Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will run as an impartial, and Michigan Senate Minority Chief Aric Nesbitt can be working for the Republican Get together nomination. Former Lawyer Normal Mike Cox, additionally a Republican, has additionally filed paperwork permitting him to run, though he has not introduced a bid for the workplace simply but.
Swanson was first appointed sheriff in 2019 earlier than successful the seat in 2020. He has been with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Division—the fifth largest within the state—since 2011.
In keeping with his biography, Swanson has nearly three a long time of legislation enforcement expertise and in numerous positions together with corrections, felony investigations, human trafficking, and narcotics. He has each a bachelor’s and grasp’s diploma in public administration from the College of Michigan.
The biography says that Swanson helped put collectively the Genesee Human Oppression Strike Staff (G.H.O.S.T.) in 2018, which focuses on human trafficking and felony sexual conduct. After turning into Sheriff in 2020, he additionally based a program to permit inmates in Genesee County Jail to go to highschool two hours a day, 5 days per week to help with discovering employment after launch known as Inmate Development Naturally and Deliberately by means of Schooling (I.G.N.I.T.E.).
Additionally in 2020, throughout a interval of nationwide unrest in response to the killing of George Floyd, Swanson gained nationwide consideration by taking off his helmet and becoming a member of a bunch of Black Lives Matter protesters in a march in Flint.
