Former US Attorney Totten running for Michigan attorney general
Michigan's current attorney general, Democrat Dana Nessel, is serving her second term, which means she cannot run again in 2026. In announcing his campaign, Totten, who is a Democrat, said Michigan needed a 'fearless' attorney general and promised to 'fight for justice, fairness and the rule of law.'
'Here in Michigan, I've served at the highest levels of state and federal government,' Totten said in a .
To The Point: Mark Totten on his time as US attorney
Totten, who was born and raised in Kalamazoo, served as chief legal counsel for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office from 2019 to 2022. Then-President Joe Biden nominated Totten for U.S. attorney in 2021, and Totten was confirmed in 2022.
'What did (the role of U.S. attorney) mean? It meant protecting the public from violent crime, prosecuting gun traffickers, domestic abusers, child predators,' Totten said. 'It meant protecting civil rights, taking on white supremacists, standing up for the victims of hate crimes and holding corrupt politicians accountable. And it meant spending a lot of time with a lot of people. I drove thousands of miles around Michigan. I sat down with victims. I listened to their stories.'
He served as U.S. attorney until January, before President Donald Trump took office. It's common for U.S. attorneys to leave their posts when there is a shift in power in the White House.
In 2014, Totten was the Democratic candidate for Michigan attorney general. He lost to Republican incumbent Bill Schuette.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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