Updates About Elections

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II announced recently that he is dropping out from the Gubernatorial race where he has been campaigning for the spot as Michigan’s next Democratic Governor, alongside frontrunner and current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

After bowing out of the race for Governor, Gilchrist announced that he is now seeking his party’s nomination for Secretary of State. His new opponents, Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum and former Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli, both criticized his decision in statements made on social media. Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie responded by exiting the race and has since endorsed Gilchrist, urging party unity while also admitting that Gilchrist’s entry shrunk his own path to victory.

At the 2025 annual meeting for the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), our very own Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, was unanimously elected to serve as vice chair. DGA is a political organization that lends support to Democratic gubernatorial candidates and fellow governors.

The organization has tasked Whitmer with aiding key Democratic candidates in their 2026 gubernatorial campaigns nationwide. As Governor of a swing state, Whitmer stated that she intends to apply the same approach that she used here in Michigan: focusing on lowering costs and creating jobs. She will serve alongside DGA chair-elect Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who succeeded her as vice chair prior to Whitmer’s appointment.

Detroit City Council

Current State Reps. Tyrone Carter and Karen Whitsett both lost their Detroit city council bids, meaning both legislators will remain in their seats in the Michigan House until 2027. They were defeated by Democratic Socialists Gabriela Santiago-Romero and Denzel McCampbell, respectively, with both candidates backed by the Metro Detroit Democratic Socialists of America.

Detroit Mayoral Election

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield was elected the city’s next mayor Tuesday, becoming the first woman to hold the office since Detroit’s founding 324 years ago. She defeated Pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. in a landslide, capturing 77% of the vote to Kinloch’s 23%, marking it one of the largest victory margins in the city’s history.

Statewide school bond proposals

Voters approved 67% of the 46 proposals for school bond investments. These proposals raise property taxes so the school can fund new and renovated school buildings. Historically only around half of school bond proposals succeed at the ballot box.