Trump support in Ann Arbor went up 17% in 2024 election, results show

ANN ARBOR, MI — While the presidential race was close in Michigan, it wasn't in the Ann Arbor area.

Washtenaw County went for Kamala Harris, giving the Democrat 71% of the county's vote in the Nov. 5 election, while Republican Donald Trump netted 26%.

That was a vote count of 156,964 to 58,798, the county's results show.

Still, Harris netted 172 fewer votes in the county than Joe Biden did in 2020, while Trump's tally grew by 2,557 — a sign the former president only gained in popularity while being mired in controversy and legal trouble the last four years.

Vote results varied by jurisdiction, with more rural areas favoring Trump and more urban areas going for Harris, but Trump still saw gains both inside and outside Ann Arbor.

In Ann Arbor, 59,424 votes went to Harris, while 8,951 went to Trump.

Trump's tally in the city grew by 1,289 compared to four years ago, while Harris netted 214 more than Biden did before.

That's a roughly 17% increase in support for Trump in the liberal college town, home to the University of Michigan.

Results for the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County

Mayor Christopher Taylor, a Democrat, said he doesn't know what to make of that change and he's interested in understanding it more.

On a national level, pundits have cited support for Trump among young men, including male college students, who like his "unabashed machismo" vibe, as some have called it, while hesitancy to vote for a woman of color has been cited as another factor that may have kept Harris from getting more votes.

Taylor is among a number of local Democrats reacting with sadness as Trump is slated to return to the White House.

"Like so many, I am stunned and frightened for our world this morning," Taylor said in a statement.

"And yet, we need to remember that yesterday Ann Arbor stood up for each other, stood up for a constructive and inclusive future. The facts show that we remain an optimistic community committed to pluralism. We know that climate change is real, we know that we have a responsibility to each other. We love our neighbor and have faith in a common future."

Ann Arbor still has so much promise at home and much to be thankful for, despite the heartbreak, Taylor said.

Ann Arbor voters turn out for Kamala Harris

Democrat Jen Eyer, who was reelected to the Ann Arbor City Council on Tuesday, offered a similar sentiment, calling it both a day to mourn and a time to think about next steps.

She recalled she first ran for city office four years ago when Trump was president and Michigan had a Republican state government, because she felt she could make a difference locally. That will continue to be her focus, she said in a statement.

Michigan GOP leaders said Tuesday's election showed a Republican resurgence across the state reflecting strong support for Trump's "America First" policies.

Ann Arbor Mayor Pro Tem Travis Radina, a Democrat, said he's still trying to make sense of what Tuesday's results mean for the community, the state and the nation, and how to move forward.

Democrats have some work to do to ensure voters hear their message more clearly on issues impacting families, he said in a statement, calling the Democratic Party a party that fights for the working class, raises wages, stabilizes and strengthens the economy, defends democracy, fights for healthcare and reproductive rights, works to make housing and education more affordable, protects the environment and more.

Trump's campaign was divisive and dark, pitting neighbors against neighbors, while insulting minority groups, Radina said, arguing the former president capitalized on unease and uncertainty about the economy and inflation, even though Trump's policies will make things worse, in his opinion.

"I am, of course, disappointed in his electoral success, but it only strengthens my resolve for the important work that lies ahead," Radina said, adding Ann Arbor leaders will not back down from their progressive vision for the future, including building more affordable housing and investing in renewable energy.

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In addition to votes for Trump and Harris, another 2,824 votes across Washtenaw County — 1.3% — went to Green Party candidate Jill Stein, who had the most votes among the six third-party candidates on the ballot.

Those third-party candidates collectively pulled 5,300 votes in the county, while 863 voters wrote in other names. That's up from 2,903 third-party votes and 651 write-in votes in 2020.

In Ann Arbor, 1,443 votes in the latest election went to third-party candidates, 261 went to write-ins and roughly 300 people who voted did not make a choice for president at all.

There were 70,378 ballots cast in Ann Arbor, reported as a 57% turnout among all registered city voters. But the registered voter count includes many inactive voters who have not voted in city elections in years and may have moved away.

Countywide, 223,257 ballots were cast, reported as a 66% turnout among all registered voters, active and inactive.

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