Democratic challenger Sean Rositano targets U-M Regent Jordan Acker

• Democrats have a 6-2 lead within the Board of Regents.
• Candidates for the Board of Regents are nominated at their occasion conferences.

University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker will face a rival for the Democratic occasion nomination in subsequent yr’s elections.

Sean Rositano, 32, of Detroit, introduced Monday that he plans to problem Acker, considered one of two regents up for re-election to the eight-member board. Rositano mentioned Democrats ought to exchange each Acker and Paul Brown in 2026.

Rositano mentioned he’s particularly concentrating on Acker, whom he accuses of bowing to President Donald Trump.

“Persons are prepared for change as a result of they see that a whole lot of the actions that the administration has achieved up to now, and that Regent Acker has championed, are, frankly, very a lot aligned with Trump’s values,” Rositano informed the Free Press. “Eliminating (variety, fairness and inclusion), eliminating life-saving well being take care of transgender folks, eliminating First Modification protections totally free speech and protests. I imply, that actually sounds extra like President Trump’s platform than any Democrat I do know.”

Acker defended his document on the board, saying he has fought for school affordability, helped campus staff arrange unions and raised the minimal wage for campus staff. “These are the values ​​I’ve fought for over the previous eight years and proceed to sit up for in my second time period,” he mentioned.

Acker disregarded the accusation that he had aligned himself with Trump. “Look, I am a proud Democrat. “I’ve fought the Trump administration every time potential and wherever I can to make sure that the college is each protected, not simply from a bodily standpoint, but in addition from a analysis standpoint,” he mentioned, noting that the college’s funding was below menace from the Trump administration. “And I work daily, each right here in Michigan and with colleagues in Lansing and Washington, to guard the college from the overreach of the Trump administration.”

UM introduced in March that it might shut its DEI workplace and mentioned it deliberate to shift that funding to extra student-focused companies that emphasize entry. The choice got here after the Trump administration issued govt orders concentrating on DEI packages throughout the nation.

In August, the college introduced that Michigan Drugs would not present gender-affirming care to minors. That call got here after the Trump administration pressured medical programs throughout the nation over the problem.

UM has been criticized for the best way the police responded to pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus and the best way it enforced disciplinary measures in opposition to demonstrators.

Acker, who’s Jewish, has been focused by pro-Palestinian protesters, who’ve vandalized each his residence and workplace.

In June 2024, vandals sprayed obscenities and anti-Israel graffiti on his legislation observe in Southfield.

In December 2024, vandals attacked Acker’s Huntington Woods residence in the midst of the evening, throwing jars of urine by means of a window and portray his automotive with divestment messages and inverted triangles, a symbol some Jewish organizations say it’s anti-Semitic.

Michigan Legal professional Normal Dana Nessel mentioned these assaults seem like a part of a collection of comparable crimes her workplace is investigating. That investigation stays “energetic and ongoing,” mentioned Nessel spokesman Danny Wimmer.

The Board of Regents has lengthy rejected activists’ requires the college to divest its fairness stakes in firms linked to Israel.

Rositano mentioned if elected he would change that. He mentioned the college has made moral selections up to now by disinvesting from South Africa throughout apartheid-era South Africa and diverting sourcing from firms with baby labor of their provide chains.

“What I might say at this level is that I would really like my vote to replicate the values ​​of the college,” he mentioned.

Rositano grew up in Fenton, attended Central Michigan College for undergraduate work and earned a grasp’s diploma in social work from UM. He presently works because the legislative director for State Representative Erin Byrnes, D-Dearborn.

Acker and Brown have been each elected to eight-year phrases in 2018 after being nominated by the Democratic Celebration. To earn a spot on the electoral roll, Rositano would first should win the occasion nomination, which takes place on the Democratic conference in April.

He mentioned he has spoken to college students, lecturers, unions and others and is assured he can do it.

(This story has been up to date with further data.)

Author Clara Hendrickson contributed to this report.

Contact John Properly: jwisely@freepress.com. On X: @jwisely