Results from August’s primary election

FLINT, Michigan — On Aug. 4. 2026, the City of Flint held the final day of polling for the primary cycle of elections. The results can be found here, with victors statistically decided. Here’s a quick recap on who’ll be on November’s ballot.

Judicial Election

The primary for the 4^th division of the 67^th District Court ended with Cheryl A. Lopez and K.C Baran as the two finalists for the election in November. 

Lopez has been practicing law since 2018 and began as a private attorney in Criminal, Family, and Civil Law. Today she is an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office in the Special Victims Unit.

Baran is a practicing lawyer specializing in Criminal Defense, Bankruptcy, Estate Planning, Divorce & Family Law. He has been practicing under his own practice since 2003.

The Flint Mayoral race

Current Mayor of the City of Flint Sheldon Neely was yet again found to be the top vote-getter in this past primary election. He will face current 6^th Ward councilwoman Tonya Burns in the general election this November. 

Roshanda Womack and Michiah Owens both mounted an effort to enter the Flint political scene through the mayoral election but found their campaigns ineffective.

Sheldon Neely has been the Mayor of Flint since 2019, won re-election in 2022, and is hoping to make it a third victory in a row this November. 

Tonya Burns has represented the 6^th ward of Flint since 2021 and has amassed a large following through her social media presence as well as her outspokenness in City Hall.

Flint City Council representatives 

The 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 9th wards did not require a primary election, as there weren’t enough viable candidates to warrant one.

In the 1st ward, Arthur Woodson and Debra Coleman were the top vote-getters. 

In the 2nd ward, incumbent Ladel Lewis was outvoted by LaShawn Johnson.

In the 3rd ward, Joel Arnold narrowly beat out DeWaun Robinson.

In the 8th ward, Ezekiel Harris and Casey Lester were the top vote-getters.

State Senate race

Despite being outvoted by a significant margin in Genesee County, Abdul El-Sayed claimed victory in the primary election for the state senate race. El-Sayed will represent the Democratic Party and will go head-to-head with the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rodgers.

State Governor race

Jocelyn Benson beat out her opponent, Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson, in the primary for Governor of Michigan.

Benson has served as the Secretary of State since 2019. She was the first Democrat to hold the office in Michigan since 1995 and will face off against Trump-endorsed John James in the primary election.

Voter Turnout

The voter turnout for this election was low. Of over 300 thousand registered voters in Genesee County, only 97,752 individuals cast their ballots, coming in at only 28% voter participation, rounded up.

This is an increase from the last election cycle, which featured a Governor’s race on the ballot. In 2022, only 22% of voters participated in the primary elections.

For more information on how primary elections work, you can check our Flintside’s comprehensive guide to primary elections in Michigan.

For a direct view of primary results from a government source, you can visit the Genessee County Election Division.