Primary Election Overview: 9th House District

May 18, 2026

by Liz Gullett

As MLC’s Communications and Social Media Manager, Liz Gullett keeps clients informed and up-to-date on the goings on in Lansing and the Capitol.

Leading up to the August 4 primary, we are highlighting key races shaped by voter demographics in the district. Candidate websites and professional backgrounds are listed when available. 

District Overview

The district includes portions of the City of Detroit in Wayne County.

Commentary 

Former Speaker of the House, Representative Joe Tate, made the decision not to run for a fifth term in the Michigan House of Representatives. This district has a strong 95% Democratic base and the candidate who wins this packed democrat primary is all but assured to win in November. Arther Harrington received the endorsement of Representative Tate, which should help him stand out in the crowded race, but with nine Democrats on the ballot, this will be a primary election to watch closely as we head toward August.

Democratic Candidates:

    • Willie Burton – Former Detroit Board of Police Commissioner.
    • Anthony Eid – Former Independent Citizens Redistricting Commissioner, senior director of public policy at Community Development Advocates of Detroit.
    • Darryl Ervin – Nonprofit founder, former Michigan Senate staffer and financial analyst.
    • Arther Harrington – Law student at Wayne State University Law School, worked on Capitol Hill and for the Detroit City Council.
    • Bryant Hepp – Social worker and urban planner.
    • Karriem Holman – Environmental advocate.
    • Patricia Hurt
    • Toni Mua – Entrepreneur and advocate.
    • Rick Silva

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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