William Noakes
William Noakes
Michigan Democratic Attorney General nominee?
$33.0K
APR 20, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleAttorney
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
LocationMichigan
BackgroundAttorney
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EducationUniversity of Chicago Law School
Notable personal detailsWilliam “Bill” Noakes is a Michigan attorney and public defender based in Detroit. He ran for the Democratic nomination for Michigan Attorney General in 2018 and later launched another bid for the office in the 2026 cycle. He has practiced law since 1982 and has been affiliated with the Neighborhood Defender Service of Detroit. Noakes is a University of Chicago Law School alumnus.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Immigration & Border
Supports liberalizing U.S. immigration law and establishing pathways to legal status and citizenship for undocumented residents; frames undocumented migration as victimless and emphasizes compassion in immigration policy.
Climate & Energy
Has spoken about pursuing cleanup and accountability for local pollution (e.g., former military sites and corporate contamination) and focusing on enforcement actions rather than articulating specific statewide climate or energy policy goals. Public statements emphasize remediation and legal actions against polluters but do not endorse large-scale climate programs or fossil-fuel phase-out targets.
News
William Noakes is being mentioned mainly in the context of Michigan’s attorney general race, which is drawing heavy fundraising and attention ahead of 2026. Recent reporting also says Michigan lawmakers are considering moving attorney general nominations from party conventions to the statewide primary, a change that could affect how candidates like Noakes are chosen. More broadly, the race is part of a larger surge of money and political focus on state attorney general contests in key swing states.
Big Money Flows Into State Attorney General Races as Legal Battles Shape American Politics
Lawmakers propose primary process for AG, SOS in Michigan
Young women feel left behind under Trump’s economy
Campaign support money grows along with profile of state attorneys general
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising