What to know about Detroit's City Council primaries
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Here's how Tuesday's election will work for the nonpartisan City Council races and what else you need to know this primary season.
The big picture: Detroit has nine City Council members who propose and vote on new legislation governing the city, as well as contracts, development deals and other issues.
🏙 Two at-large members represent the whole city.
- We've previously reported on the eight at-large candidates vying for four spots in the Nov. 4 general election.
📍 The other seven members each represent specific districts.
- The top two vote-getters in each district race advance to the general.
Yes, but: Not all City Council races will have primaries. Without enough candidates on the ballot, some automatically move on to the general.
- City Council President Pro Tem James Tate is unopposed in District 1, while incumbent Latisha Johnson is unopposed in District 4.
- The two candidates apiece on the ballots in districts 3 and 6 move on to face off in the general.
- Our Council previews do not include write-in candidates.
Also: City clerk incumbent Janice Winfrey moves on unopposed, and there are no primaries for Board of Police Commissioner races, either.
Between the lines: Detroiters will be using the newly updated district boundaries approved last year to determine their district when voting in this year's elections.
- The new boundaries go into effect Jan. 1, 2026, when candidates elected this fall take office.
- Check your current and new districts.
Live in the 'burbs? Read up on which counties and cities have pressing races across Southeast Michigan via CBS — including the Pontiac, Southfield and Hamtramck mayoral races.
Plus, learn more about how to vote and what's on your ballot on the state's website.
Go deeper: Read about City Council candidates for at-large, District 2, District 5 and District 7.