Down-Ballot, Up-Impact: Your Guide to Michigan’s 2025 Municipal Elections

This November, cities across Michigan have the opportunity to elect local leaders who will take risks, fight for us, and protect us from the chaos we’re seeing at the national level. At Red Wine & Blue, we’re voting for mayors, city council members, city clerks, library boards and other leaders who want to keep our communities safe and welcoming for all.

Local races have a huge impact on our everyday lives and sometimes are decided by just one or two votes. Really, we’ve seen it happen! That’s why it’s so important for us to get everyone we know to the polls.

Let’s elect candidates who share our values – and send a clear message for what we expect from our elected leaders in 2025 and beyond!

Good things happen when we elect good local leaders

Voting locally is investing in Michigan’s future. Think of it as “building a bench” of leaders we can call on who support public education, economic security, LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive freedom and more. Our city-level elected officials gain valuable skills, experience, and confidence to govern more effectively. When they do a great job, they also earn name recognition in our communities. So in 2026 and future elections when we need someone to run for higher-level offices like County Commission, State Representative or State Senator, we can turn to these experienced local leaders who we know and trust to step into those roles.

Michigan is an example of how we can make great progress when local leaders demonstrate that they actually care about and listen to their constituents locally, then move up to our state legislature and fight for all of us. That’s why it’s vitally important that we vote in our local elections for candidates who share our values–and actually listen to all of us– this year.

Does my community have an election in 2025?

Even if your community doesn’t have an election this year, we need your help spreading the word to your friends, family and neighbors in other communities, because these local elections really do protect us all.

Make a plan to vote!

Register to vote by:

• Online: register or change your address online at michigan.gov/vote by Monday, October 20, 2025.
• In person: register at any time up to 8 p.m. on Election Day at your city clerk’s office.

Request a mail in or absentee ballot by:

• Online: By 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2025. *We highly recommend that to avoid possible delays you request your absentee ballot in person at your local city office by October 21, 2025.
• In person at your local clerk’s office: if you’re already registered at your current address, you can request an absentee voter ballot in person at your clerk’s office anytime up to 4 p.m. on the day prior to the election.
• If you’re registering to vote or updating your address by appearing at your clerk’s office on Election Day, you can request an absent voter ballot at the same time you register.
• Your completed ballot must be returned to a Clerk’s office or ballot drop box by 8:00 p.m. on November 4, 2025.

Early voting in-person is available in select communities. Options vary – visit your local clerk’s website for more information.

General Election Day Voting:

• Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Polls are open 7am – 8pm.

Request an absentee ballot, verify you are registered to vote, find your polling location and more at michigan.gov/vote.

Who’s on the Ballot?

We need to elect common sense candidates who reflect our values — in every race on our ballot. That means voting for city mayors, council members, clerks and library board members who will protect us from the chaos we see at the national level and stand up against the loud, extremist minority causing chaos in our communities.

You can find information below about candidates in key local races across the state.

Candidates with a green check mark next to their name have proven that they are aligned with Red Wine & Blue’s values, including protecting democracy, supporting the LGBTQ+ community, protecting reproductive rights, and providing economic security.

Candidates with a red “x” next to their name have proven that they are not aligned with Red Wine & Blue’s values, or not enough information can be found about the candidate to make a determination.

Note: Not all Michigan races are included in this list. Red Wine & Blue is working on the ground in these key races where we have the most ability to impact the outcome of the election.

Municipal Races

School Bonds and Millages