SWANSON

MARQUETTE — Another candidate who has entered the race to be Michigan’s next governor is Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

Swanson was raised in the Flint suburb of Grand Blanc, with a career in law enforcement spanning over three decades. Swanson notably gained national media traction when he removed his riot gear and marched alongside peaceful protestors in Flint following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. He founded the Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team, an initiative focused on combating human trafficking and restoring dignity for victims. Swanson was also a key component of creating the nationally-studied incarceration rehabilitation program IGNITE, which focuses on providing inmates with education and job training to decrease the probability of repeat offenders.

In his first campaign running for statewide office, Swanson explained that his decision to run now is influenced by the moments in time he finds himself in, and his experience with leadership shows a track record of helping people successfully.

“When you get an opportunity to do a greater good and the timing is right, it makes the most sense. That’s what I (think) leadership is. I’ve always said (that), ‘You don’t pick time, time picks you.’ That’s a Ted Kennedy quote, and that’s why the timing is right. As a sheriff, I have a crossover appeal to people from different parties. I don’t ask questions when they need help and I’m a leader, I’m a business owner and the time is right, especially in our time of history where people are frustrated with politics (and) they’re looking for leaders to just unify and serve, (to) protect people.”

Swanson also gave a nod to Marquette County Sheriff Greg Zyburt, citing his leadership style and connection to the people as a similar route Swanson takes not only in his duties as Sheriff, but also how he would act as governor.

“I mean, look at Sheriff Zyburt up there. He’s loved by the people. He’s a Democrat, (and) you have Republicans, Democrats, Independents up there, but why do people love Greg? Because he takes care of people and he doesn’t ask questions,” Swanson mentioned. “That’s exactly what I, as a Sheriff, do in Genesee (County) and that’s exactly what I’d be like as a governor. There’s no misunderstanding what I’m going to be like answering to 10 million people. There’s no surprise.”

When it comes to his campaign strategy for the 2026 race, Swanson says that his longwithstanding social media presence he’s curated and proof that his accomplishments both unify and help others is what helps not only connect with people in his own party, but others who may have different views than him.

“I have a different strategy. There’s two other Democratic candidates. I’m friends with both of them. I work with them on a routine basis, (the) Secretary of State and the Lieutenant Governor. What’s interesting is (that) I consider them options, not opponents. The first thing is, Democrats cannot attack each other to try to get to the finish line and then say, ‘Oh, we’re unifiers.’ That would go against what I believe in. We (may) have different ideologies but my messaging is different too,” said Swanson. “Coming from a platform where I have a huge social media presence that I’ve been building for 15-plus years, I’ve been able to connect with people and reach billions of people over these decades. People know who I am many times before I even get there…you’re not going to read a political article, you’re not going to see a commercial, you’re going to say ‘Oh my gosh, this guy’s got hundreds of thousands of followers. He’s got messages that are unscripted.’ I want people to know (who) I am as a person. I started that years ago but to run statewide, you’ve got (to) get through a primary. I have a Democratic base that I appeal to and somebody who not only just has Democratic values, but has a message that the Democrats have needed, especially after the 2020 election. We need to be populist candidates not just driven by policy. People need to believe in leadership…the key is to just get in front of people and let them see your message so they know that you have receipts for what you say you’re going to do. That’s the strategy.”

When it comes to how Swanson will serve the people of Michigan if he’s elected to the Governor’s office, he pulls inspiration from his time as a paramedic and sheriff to determine what the most severe issues are that are affecting people throughout the state.

“I’m also a licensed paramedic. I’ve been a medic since I was 20. When you go to a scene – take this as an analogy – but you go to a scene of a crash and you have someone who’s injured, you have to triage what is the most serious down to the least and you have to treat the most serious issue first. It’s kind of like being the governor…there’s a lot of issues out there, just like the issues up in your area (Marquette) are different than the issues downriver in Ferndale, so we have to look at it as the state and say, What are are the top issues that people, no matter where they are, they’re focused on?’ Number one (is) protection from the things that harm their families, their kids, their economy, their rights. Number two (is) education (and) literacy, not only just public education, but education across the board, because I add the jail piece to it,” Swanson explained. “The IGNITE program I have…it’s education in the jail. These are things that relate to people’s families; literacy in reading, financial literacy, digital literacy. When you’re talking about education, all three of those, that touches everybody in the state. Everybody wants to have more money, have less taxes, have the money that they do pay to the state be spent well…they want to know if anything happens, you got a government’s going to step in and they’re going to stand in the gap.”

He also mentioned that increasing the gross domestic product statewide by producing more goods and services, reducing taxes on businesses and encouraging new innovation would be part of a long-term economic plan. Swanson is also focused on deploying resources quickly and effectively, whether it be through protecting those vulnerable to human trafficking, breaking the fentanyl chain, or sending out resources to those in need during natural disasters.

When asked about his campaign messages, Swanson said that he asks for voters to believe in the importance of what he can do, and to trust in his actions and the results he’s delivered.

“Number one, believe one more time in somebody who has the heart to serve, (and) not just (serve) the party. People over policy, people over party. If you are frustrated because of what you see nationally, do not judge me by what you see. Judge me by who I am and the results that I’ve been able to do in a county that has trusted me to be their sheriff. Number one, that on this horse, believe in me one more time. Number two is not only the campaign important, but the execution of the Office of Governor. Just for this moment, trust that what I’ll be able to do, the State of Michigan will be held proud and the country will watch what we’re doing. We’re going to do it in (the) right way without dividing, but uniting. I can see it. I’ve seen it. I know it can be done,” Swanson shared. “I’m the one candidate that can do it with the crossover appeal from Republicans, as much as I have my Democratic support. There’s going to be a settling. There’s going to be a new inspiration coming into the governor’s house and allowing to speak throughout the entire state. That’s what I want people to know: there’s hope on the other side…Marquette is a hardworking, gritty town. It’s built on labor, the working class, and you have education up there. Coming from (the University of) Michigan, I understand post-education. You have a hospital system up there being a medic, I understand that. There’s a lot that I have to offer, not only just Marquette, but all the counties.”

More information on Chris’ gubernatorial campaign can be found on his website at swansonformichigan.com.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.