As the November elections approach, Republican candidates for attorney general are gearing up to make crime, border security, and public safety central issues of their campaigns. They aim to position themselves as vigorous defenders against perceived failures in Democratic policies regarding immigration and law enforcement.
The Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) is launching a robust advertising campaign with an investment of $11 million, focusing on key battleground states such as Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Kansas. Austin Knudsen, RAGA Chairman and Montana’s attorney general, emphasized the importance of proactive campaigning, stating, “I think we have learned that being aggressive is a good thing. Being aggressive works.”
Knudsen strongly believes that public safety is the winning message for attorney general races in 2026. “Americans care about public safety, they care about law enforcement, they care about border security,” he expressed. This focus on public safety indicates a strategic shift, putting Democrats on the defensive in competitive statewide contests.
With recent victories against the Biden administration, Republican attorneys general have proven their ability to mobilize quickly. They succeeded in striking down Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan and challenging several policy changes related to immigration and education. “Congress talks. Attorneys general act,” Knudsen asserted. “When we see something bad coming out of Washington, D.C., we can quickly mobilize. We can file lawsuits.”
The ad buy builds upon an already aggressive expansion effort within the GOP. For instance, Iowa’s Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird allocated over $2 million for fall television advertising, while RAGA reported a record fundraising total of $29.3 million in 2025. Adam Piper, RAGA Executive Director, emphasized this strategy, stating, “RAGA has a good map in 2026 and will be on offense… voters prioritize public safety.” Piper criticized Democrats for what he described as policies that “pander to criminals” and suggested that voters seek Republican AGs who actively combat crime.
In Michigan, the Republicans have made their case against the Democratic nominee, Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, who has reportedly ceased seeking cash bail and stopped prosecuting specific low-level drug offenses. Doug Lloyd, the Michigan Republican attorney general candidate and longtime Eaton County prosecutor, believes public safety is a concern that resonates across party lines. “People want to feel safe in their communities, and they’re not feeling that safe right now,” Lloyd pointed out. He framed public safety as an issue that cuts across demographics, stating, “That’s an 80-20 issue.”
Lloyd accused Democratic prosecutors of selectively enforcing laws, claiming that such decisions could lead to anarchy. “When you start making that statement that ‘I refuse to enforce the laws that our legislature has created and which are constitutional’, then you’re on the road to anarchy,” he noted. This sentiment appears to echo a broader frustration from voters who are increasingly disillusioned with perceived leniency in prosecutorial practices.
In Georgia, Republicans plan to focus on Democratic attorney general nominee Tanya Miller, highlighting her opposition to immigration enforcement laws that require local officials to work with federal authorities. Knudsen reiterated the challenges posed by crime, particularly the influx of fentanyl and methamphetamine from the southern border, framing it as a direct consequence of the current administration’s policies. He observed, “People have figured out that attorney general’s races matter… we’ve gotten a lot more attention because of what we’ve been able to do.”
The message is clear: Republican candidates for attorney general are actively leveraging voter concerns around crime and public safety while capitalizing on a perceived shift in judicial power against Democratic policies. With the financial backing of RAGA and a unified commitment to aggressive campaigning, these candidates are preparing for a consequential election cycle that will likely shape the legal landscape in key states across the nation.
"*" indicates required fields
