Lucido’s shadow looms over Michigan’s 10th District GOP primary

Two Republicans running for an open seat in Michigan’s 10th District have ties to scandal-ridden prosecutor Peter Lucido.

Mike Bouchard Jr.’s campaign has received financial support from Lucido, while Robert Lulgjuraj worked directly under him in the Macomb County prosecutor’s office. Both men associated with Lucido long after he was repeatedly accused of sexual harassment.

In 2020, when Lucido was serving in the Michigan Senate, reporter Allison Donahue questioned him about his reported membership in a Facebook group that made violent threats against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Lucido responded by pointing to a group of visiting students from an all-male prep school and remarking, “You could have a lot of fun with these boys, or they could have a lot of fun with you!”

Donahue said Lucido and the visiting students laughed uproariously at the comment, which left her feeling “objectified and humiliated.”

Less than a week later, Democratic state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who is now running for U.S. Senate, filed an official complaint against Lucido. She said the Republican ran his hands along her hips and lower back during their first meeting while suggesting that she only got elected because of her physical appearance.

“It was deflating after running a campaign for a year and a half,” McMorrow told WLNS. “In that moment, I felt like a piece of meat. It implied you won because of what you look like.”

Melissa Osborn, a lobbyist, described a near-identical encounter to the Michigan Advance. She said Lucido approached her from behind and placed his hands on her hips while remarking on her red hair.

A state Senate investigation found the allegations credible, and Lucido was removed as chair of the Senate Advice and Consent Committee in March 2020.

A fourth accuser, County Judge Lisa McCormick, came forward the following year, alleging that Lucido inappropriately touched her during a 2019 meeting.

Lucido was elected Macomb County prosecutor in November 2020. Two years later, the county hired a law firm to investigate new claims of harassment against Lucido. Multiple employees in his office said Lucido repeatedly made derogatory comments about women.

It was further alleged that Lucido complained about Black constituents, whom he described as “those people.”

Lucido was reelected in 2024. Lulgjuraj, who publicly supported Lucido’s campaign, was hired shortly thereafter as an assistant prosecutor.

In July 2025, Lucido helped launch a super PAC supporting Bouchard. In March, Lucido officially endorsed Bouchard’s campaign.

“Grateful to have the support of Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido!” Bouchard wrote on X. “Pete has spent his career protecting families across Macomb County. Together, we’ll keep fighting to make Michigan’s 10th District the best place to live, work, and raise a family, and we’ll always put Michigan first.”

Bouchard and Lulgjuraj will compete against each other in an Aug. 4 primary. Democratic candidates include former Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel and prosecutor Christina Hines.