2026 Oakland County Primary Election Results: A Simple Guide

Welcome! If you’re curious about the 2026 Primary Election results in Oakland County, Michigan, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve taken the official data and organized it into an easy-to-read guide. No confusing jargon—just the facts you need.

What Is a Primary Election? (ELI5)

Think of a primary election like the semi-finals of a sports tournament.

• Political parties (like Democrats and Republicans) hold primaries to pick their best player (candidate) for the final game.
• The final game is the General Election in November.
• In Michigan, you don’t have to be a registered party member to vote in a primary, but you must choose one party’s ballot (you can’t mix and match).

Important: The results below are unofficial and incomplete. Election workers are still counting votes! "Precincts Reporting" tells you what percentage of voting neighborhoods have sent in their numbers so far.

Oakland County Key Races (County-Wide)

Here are the major races where candidates are running to represent Oakland County at a higher level (like Congress or the State Legislature).

Race 1: Democratic Candidate for [District/Office]

16.7% of precincts reporting (36 of 215)

Race 2: Republican Candidates for [District/Office]

16.7% of precincts reporting (36 of 215)

Race 3: Democratic Candidate for [District/Office]

44.3% of precincts reporting (102 of 230)

Non-Partisan Judicial & Local Races

In these races, candidates do not run with a party label (no D or R next to their name). Voters choose based on the person, not the party.

Race A: [Likely Circuit Court Judge or Similar]

0% of precincts reporting (0 of 405) — Very Early Results

Race B: [Likely Another Judicial Seat]

0% of precincts reporting (0 of 405) — Very Early Results

Race C: [Local Race – Small Jurisdiction]

0% of precincts reporting (0 of 26)

City & Township Specific Results

Oakland County is big! Many cities and townships hold their own primaries for Mayor, City Council, or School Board on the same day. Here are the highlights from three major communities.

Ferndale

All races currently at 0% reporting (0 of 6 precincts). Check back soon for updates!

Royal Oak

Mostly early data. One race has partial results:

All other Royal Oak races are at 0% reporting.

West Bloomfield

Strong early turnout in Democratic races.

Note: One West Bloomfield race shows 33.8% reporting (136 of 402 precincts), but candidate data wasn’t available in the feed yet.

How to Get the Latest Numbers Yourself

Since these numbers change fast (sometimes by the minute!), here is how to stay updated:

1. Visit the Official Source: Go to the WDIV ClickOnDetroit Election Results Page.
2. Refresh Often: Hit the refresh button on your browser every 15–30 minutes on election night.
3. Check "Precincts Reporting": Always look at this number. 100% reporting = Final Unofficial Results. Until then, leaders can change!
4. Look for Certification: Final official results come days/weeks later after the County Board of Canvassers certifies them.

Critical Things to Remember

CALLOUT: THIS DATA IS A SNAPSHOT IN TIME

• Early Vote vs. Election Day: Early/absentee votes are often counted first. In Michigan, these often lean Democratic. Election Day votes (often leaning Republican) come later. Leads can flip!
• Small Numbers = Big Swings: In races with few votes counted (like Royal Oak’s 199 votes), one precinct reporting can change the leader instantly.
• Zero Percent ≠ Zero Votes: "0% Precincts Reporting" often means the county hasn’t received the township/city totals yet, even if votes were cast. The candidates do have votes (see West Bloomfield), but the "reporting" math hasn’t caught up.

Summary

• Christina Hines (D) leads the first major county-wide Democratic race with 44% (early).
• Aisha Farooqi (D) leads another Democratic race with 33% (more precincts in).
• Lisa Marie Neilson leads a major non-partisan race with 46%.
• Jonathan Warshay (D) dominates his West Bloomfield race with 60%.
• Most precincts have NOT reported yet. Treat all leaders as tentative.
• Check the links above for real-time updates for Oakland County, Ferndale, Royal Oak, and West Bloomfield.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why do some races show "0% Precincts Reporting" but candidates still have thousands of votes?

Great question! This usually happens because the county’s central computer hasn’t officially "checked in" that city/township’s full results yet. The votes exist (they were cast and counted locally), but the county dashboard hasn’t added them to the "reporting" percentage. It’s a technical delay, not a mistake.

2. What does "Precinct" mean?

A precinct is a specific voting neighborhood. Think of it like a classroom in a school. Oakland County has hundreds of these "classrooms." "36 of 215 reporting" means 36 classrooms have turned in their homework (vote totals); 179 haven’t yet.

3. Can I still vote if I missed the Primary?

No. The Primary Election day (August 4, 2026) has passed. However, you CAN vote in the General Election on November 3, 2026! The winners from today’s primaries will be on that November ballot.

4. Why are some candidates listed as (D) or (R) and others have no letters?

• (D) = Democrat, (R) = Republican. These are partisan races (e.g., Congress, State Legislature, County Commissioner). The primary decides which Democrat and which Republican go to November.
• No letters = Non-Partisan. These are usually Judges, School Board, City Council, or Library Board. The top vote-getters (usually top 2 or top 3) advance to November, regardless of party.

5. Where do I find results for a specific small town (like Berkley, Troy, or Novi) not listed here?

The source page (ClickOnDetroit) has a searchable database or dropdown menu for every community in Oakland County. Use that tool to hyper-local results.

Data Source: WDIV ClickOnDetroit / Michigan Election Results Feed. Article formatted for clarity. Always verify with official county clerk websites for certified results.