WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Three Democratic major contests for seats on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners ended with outcomes that noticed one incumbent lose, one other win and two first-time county board hopefuls advance.
Ypsilanti-area incumbent Commissioner Ricky Jefferson misplaced his reelection bid in District 2 to present Ypsilanti Metropolis Council Member Annie Somerville, who took dwelling nearly 70% of the vote.
To the south in District 5 with 44% of the vote, one-term Commissioner Justin Hodge fended off major challenges from term-limited state Rep. Ronnie Peterson, D-Ypsilanti Township, and longtime county worker Latitia Sharp.
In the meantime, a race between first-time county board candidates Stephen Lange Ranzini, an Ann Arbor banker, and Crystal Lyte, a profession advisor with Michigan Works Southeast, for a District 2 seat led to a convincing victory for Lyte, who garnered 66% of the vote.
Learn extra: Stay election outcomes for Aug. 2 major in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County
The race for the seat now held by county board Chair Sue Shink, who’s operating for state Senate, attracted mailers from an outdoor tremendous PAC focusing on Ranzini, in addition to a essential assertion from the county Democratic Social gathering aimed on the candidate — a transfer the county board hopeful criticized as an implied endorsement of his opponent.
It was additionally by far the most costly this cycle, attracting practically $69,000 in political contributions forward of the first, buoyed by a minimum of $50,000 Ranzini loaned his personal marketing campaign, in keeping with disclosures.
Lyte, after successful the first race, will face Republican David Trent, a Salem Township trustee, in November in a bid to maintain the seat blue, because it has been since 2016.
In District 5, protecting Ypsilanti Township south of Ypsilanti metropolis limits and Augusta Township, Hodge will see two normal election opponents, Republican Brett Birk and nonpartisan candidate David Main Sr., although Democratic candidates have historically carried the district by giant margins.
If he wins, he’ll serve a second two-year time period on the county’s high elected physique.
“It’s actually clear that the voters of Washtenaw County are on the lookout for individuals with a imaginative and prescient centered on the long run,” Hodge mentioned on Wednesday morning. “That’s what we acquired final night time.”
In the meantime, one in every of his fellow board member’s time in workplace seems to be coming to an finish.
Jefferson hoped for a fourth time period in District 6, protecting the town of Ypsilanti and elements of Ypsilanti and Superior townships, and had not confronted a major challenger since his 2018 reelection marketing campaign. Voters gave the impression to be prepared for a change, although, favoring Somerville, chief of workers for state Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, by larger than a two to at least one margin.
“The individuals of the sixth District acquired engaged in a county fee race for one of many first instances ever since I’ve lived right here, and I believe it exhibits that the message that we have been sending all summer time about investing in the neighborhood and folks and housing, overwhelmingly individuals help that,” Somerville mentioned.
The district additionally historically goes blue in November, however Somerville will nonetheless face Republican Todd Von Schulze within the normal election. If she wins, she’s going to resign her Ypsilanti Metropolis Council seat, she mentioned.
If Somerville and different Democrats on the poll win in November, the generational demographics of the county board will shift, she famous, turning into majority millennial.
In six different districts with out contested primaries, incumbents and former county commissioners will face Republican challengers on Nov. 8. A GOP candidate has not received a county board race since Democrats took management of all 9 seats in a 2018 blue wave.
Incumbent Commissioner Jason Maciejewski, in search of a 3rd time period, will go up towards GOP candidate Jeff Robbins in District 1, protecting Dexter, Chelsea and northwestern Washtenaw County.
In District 3, protecting Manchester and a big southwestern swath of the county, incumbent Commissioner Shannon Beeman once more hopes to carry on to her seat for a 3rd time period dealing with Republican Robert Guysky. The district has been essentially the most tightly contested of the county board races lately.
South of Ann Arbor in District 4, centered on Pittsfield Township, incumbent Caroline Sanders hopes voters will give her a second time period as she faces Republican challenger Robert Zimmerman.
In Ann Arbor’s three closely Democratic districts, two incumbents and a former county commissioner ending his time within the state Home of Representatives in Lansing are the favorites.
Andy LaBarre, the board’s most senior member first elected in 2012, will search one other time period towards Republican Jonathan Good in District 7, protecting the japanese aspect of the town.
In a brand new District 8, re-drawn final 12 months as a middle metropolis district protecting downtown and the College of Michigan’s central campus, state Rep. Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, goals to transition from a 3rd time period in Lansing again to the county board, the place he was first elected in 2010 as a 22-year-old U-M scholar. He’ll face GOP candidate Leslie Shannon.
On the town’s west aspect, incumbent Commissioner Katie Scott will search for a 3rd time period, dealing with Republican challenger Stuart Berry.
Extra from The Ann Arbor Information:
2 incumbents ousted as Ann Arbor mayor and allies sweep metropolis races
Council member beats incumbent in Ypsilanti mayoral major
Stay election outcomes for Aug. 2 major in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County
