How did Manchester vote? 2024 local election results

Vehicles fill the parking lot as Freedom Township residents voted last Tuesday at Freedom Township Hall. Photo by Sara Swanson.

by Sara Swanson

The Manchester area, like the rest of the nation, went to the polls last Tuesday.

Turnout was about the same as four years ago. Sharon Township had 78% turnout for this election, down from 80% four years ago but still higher than the 75% turnout in 2016. Bridgewater had 80% turnout, which was the same as four years ago and up from their 76% turnout in 2016. Freedom Township had a 79% turnout, which was down slightly from four years ago but still up from their 76% turnout in 2016. Manchester Township had 79% turnout, the same as four years ago and up from their 74% turnout in 2016. The City of Manchester had a 73% turnout, up from 72% four years ago and 67% in 2016.

This presidential election voters had a third option beyond absentee and in-person, they could choose to vote in-person and early. Who chose to vote using which method seems to have broken along party lines with absentee ballots favored by Democrats and voting in-person on election day and in-person early favored by Republicans.

US Representative 6th District

In the race for US Representative 6th District, Democrat Debbie Dingell has defeated Republican Heather Smiley 61% to 36%. In the Manchester area, the City of Manchester supported Dingell while the four townships supported Smiley.

State Representative 33rd District

Bridgewater Township is in the Michigan 33rd House District. Democrat Morgan Foreman defeated Republican Jason Rogers 69% to 30%. Bridgewater Township voters supported Rogers 64% to 53%.

State Representative 47th District

Manchester Township, Freedom Township, Sharon Township, and the City of Manchester are in Michigan’s 47th House District. Democrat Carrie A. Rheingans defeated Republican Teresa Spiegelberg 60% to 38%. Manchester Township, Freedom Township, and Sharon Township all favored Sharon Township resident Spiegelberg over Rheingans, while City residents favored Rheingans.

County Commissioner District 3

All of the Manchester area is in Washtenaw County Commissioner District 3. Democrat Shannon Beeman defeated Republican Ryan L. Baumgart 51% to 47%. The four townships favored Baumgart while the City of Manchester favored City of Manchester resident Beeman.

Manchester Township

Manchester Township had a competitive election for its Board of Trustees with five candidates vying for four positions. Republican Michael Fusilier received 41%, Democrat John Seefeld received 21%, Lisa Moutinho (with no party affiliation) received 13%, Michael Walter (with no party affiliation) received 12%, and Corey Rippey (with no party affiliation) received 11%.

Sharon Township

Sharon Township had a competitive election for its Board of Trustees as well, with three candidates vying for two positions. Anna K. Harvey (with no party affiliation) received 37%, Trudi Cooper (with no party affiliation) received 36%, and Chris Holda (with no party affiliation) received 25%.

Proposals

There were a number of township-level and county-wide proposals on the ballot. They all passed.

Freedom Township had a Road Maintenance Millage Renewal on the ballot. It passed 65% yes to 34% no.

Manchester Township had two millages on the ballot. Their Road Maintenance and Improvement Millage (A) passed 61% yes to 38% no. Their Fire Equipment Millage (B) passed 69% yes to 30% no.

Washtenaw Intermediate School District had a Special Education Millage Renewal Proposal on the ballot. It passed overall and passed in all Manchester-area precincts.

Washtenaw County had four proposals on the ballot. All passed overall. Proposal 1, the Renewal and Restoration of the Enhanced Emergency Communications System Millage, passed in all Manchester-area precincts except Bridgewater Township. Proposal 2, the Renewal and Restoration of the Veteran’s Relief Millage, passed in all precincts. Proposal 3, the Establishing an Older Persons Services Millage, failed in all Manchester-area precincts except The City of Manchester. Proposal 4, the Renewal and Restoration of the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health and Public Safety Preservation Millage, passed in all Manchester-area precincts.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.