You Won't Believe the Shocking Write-In Results in Detroit's 2025 Elections—One Candidate Got THIS Many Votes!

In a surprising twist during the recent election cycle in Wayne County, Michigan, several races for the Detroit Police Commission and Community Advisory Council were decided without any candidates officially appearing on the ballot. Voters were required to write in their choices, a process that highlights both the unique challenges of local elections and the importance of civic engagement.

According to Michigan election law, candidates who fail to gather enough signatures to secure a spot on the ballot or who decide to run after the filing deadline can opt for write-in nominations. For these votes to be counted, candidates must file a declaration of intent, ensuring that voters’ choices will be validated only if the names are correctly spelled on the ballot.

The write-in results were officially tallied on Election Day, with individual results disclosed online following certification by the Wayne County Board of Canvassers this week. In this recent election, no candidates were listed on the ballot for Community Advisory Council races in Districts 4, 5, and 7, nor for Board of Police Commissioners contests in Districts 1, 3, and 5.

Board of Police Commissioners Outcomes

The Board of Police Commissioners plays a crucial role in ensuring civilian oversight of the Detroit Police Department. Established in 1974 in response to police misconduct, the board comprises 11 members, with seven elected from council districts and four appointed by the mayor.

In this election, Lavish Williams, Scotty Boman, Victoria Camille, and Lisa Carter were elected to fill the seats for which they were on the ballot. Notably, incumbent Police Commissioner Linda Bernard lost her District 2 seat to Williams, who garnered an impressive 19,319 votes as a write-in candidate, while Bernard managed only 205 votes.

The outcomes for other districts were equally competitive. In District 1, Henrietta Ivey emerged victorious with 218 votes, while in District 3, Darious Morris claimed the seat with 518 votes, besting Oliver Gantt's 106 votes. Beverly Watts won the District 5 seat with 1,087 votes, leading over Teron Haynes Jr., who received 380 votes.

Community Advisory Council Results

The Community Advisory Councils (CACs) aim to enhance citizen involvement in city governance. These councils serve as a voice for residents and businesses in their districts, helping to assess how well city services are meeting community needs. While Detroit could host a CAC in each council district, only three currently exist.

In District 4, 14 write-in candidates competed for five council seats. The top five candidates included Lajoy Morgan (170 votes), Rose Jones (132 votes), Juvette Hawkins-Williams (114 votes), Brenda Butler (91 votes), and Kevin Trotter II (88 votes). District 5 saw 11 candidates vying for five seats, with Dorian Ballard finishing first at 200 votes, closely followed by Robbi Sellers (193 votes) and others. In District 7, Bettina Little led with 110 votes, with Amanda Carswell and Clinton Topp close behind.

While these local contests demonstrated significant citizen engagement, write-in candidates for higher-profile positions, such as mayor and city clerk, had a much lesser impact. Six write-in candidates for mayor collectively garnered only a handful of votes against Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield, who received an overwhelming 88,285 votes. Similarly, in the race for city clerk, Theresa Williams and Articia Bomer received 42 and 17 votes, respectively, while incumbent Janice Winfrey was reelected unopposed with 101,453 votes.

In the City Council races, incumbents James Tate Jr. and Latisha Johnson faced minimal challenges from write-in candidates, with the write-in votes totaling only nine combined for District 1. Johnson received 13,726 votes to secure her reelection, while Tate was returned to office with 18,226 votes.

This election cycle serves as a reminder of the importance of voter participation and the unique dynamics of local governance. The ability to write in candidates offers a critical avenue for those who wish to run but may face barriers to traditional candidacy. However, it also underscores the need for greater awareness and engagement within the community to ensure that all voices are represented in local decision-making.