Incumbent
Michigan Democratic Attorney General nominee?
$33.0K
APR 20, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleDistrict Attorney
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age56 years old (Jul 11, 1970)
GenderFemale
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LocationMichigan
BackgroundAttorney
EducationAlma College — B.A. (English and political science)
Notable personal detailsKaren D. McDonald is an American attorney and Democratic politician who serves as the elected Prosecuting Attorney for Oakland County, Michigan (in office since 2021). She previously served as a judge on the Oakland County Circuit Court, focusing on family matters including divorce and custody, child abuse and neglect, and adoption. She began her career as a high school English teacher, later worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney handling child sexual assault cases, and practiced civil and family law in private practice. In 2025, she announced her candidacy for Michigan Attorney General.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Karen McDonald’s campaign materials emphasize ‘‘guarding your tax dollars,’’ protecting workers, and lowering costs by holding corporations and landlords accountable, but do not set out specific tax-rate proposals or clear positions on raising or cutting taxes. Endorsements from labor groups and education associations indicate pro-worker priorities, yet public statements found do not explicitly describe preferred changes to tax policy or revenue levels.
Healthcare
Karen McDonald’s campaign materials emphasize lowering costs, holding corporations accountable for price gouging, defending abortion rights, and investing in addiction and mental health treatment, but do not state a clear position on health insurance policy (e.g., ACA expansion, public option, or Medicare for All).
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Immigration & Border
Supports protecting immigrants’ constitutional rights and limiting local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, while focusing on legal/constitutional safeguards rather than advocating for expanded federal immigration pathways. As Oakland County Prosecutor she issued guidance for schools to restrict or require warrants for ICE access and has said she will investigate/prosecute federal immigration officers who violate the law.
Climate & Energy
Supports defending Michigan’s environment through legal action against polluters and using legal settlements to remediate damage; emphasizes protecting ratepayers while working to improve grid reliability and efficiency.
Public Safety & Guns
Karen McDonald has called for tougher gun laws in Michigan, described gun violence as a public-health crisis, and has promoted measures such as safe-storage requirements and community-based prevention protocols while saying she is not anti-gun. She created a commission and public plan focused on preventing gun violence and has urged legal and policy changes in the wake of mass shootings she prosecuted.
News
Karen McDonald was not selected for the Michigan Democratic endorsement in the 2026 attorney general race; the party backed Eli Savit instead. That result is now being questioned as Democrats call for an independent audit of the convention after reports of remote voting and possible counting errors, and the appeal process could affect the nomination outcome. The dispute has kept McDonald in the news as the party’s attorney general race remains unsettled.
Candidates, AG Nessel want audit of Democratic convention after remote voting reports
Who Dems, Republicans endorsed for Michigan statewide offices in 2026
Michigan Democrats back Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit in AG race
Former Michigan GOP candidate Tudor Dixon leads new multimillion-dollar PAC
Endorsements
Endorsers of Karen McDonald for Michigan Democratic Attorney General nominee?
Michigan AFL-CIO
Elected official
The Michigan AFL-CIO endorsed Karen McDonald for attorney general.
EMILYs List
Elected official
EMILYs List endorsed Karen McDonald for Michigan attorney general.
UAW
Elected official
The UAW endorsed Karen McDonald in her bid for Michigan attorney general.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising