2021 Election: Andy Schor wins second term as Lansing mayor; full city council results
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It's Election Day in Lansing, and voters are choosing between two candidates for mayor and eight candidates running for four seats on the Lansing City Council.
With polls closed as of 8 p.m., here's where things stand in today's races.
Follow along with live results from Ingham County here.
Jackson wins Ward 4 council seat
Updated 11:30 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
Brian T. Jackson, incumbent candidate for Ward 4, won his race against challenger Elvin Caldwell.
Winning nearly 60% of the vote, Jackson took 3,102 votes to Caldwell's 2,074.
Jackson was elected to city council in 2017.
— Elena Durnbaugh, LSJ city reporter
Garza wins Ward 2 council seat
Updated 11:15 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
Ward 2 incumbent candidate Jeremy Garza defeated Oprah Revish to keep his seat on Lansing City Council.
Garza won the vote by a wide margin, taking 2,847 votes to Revish's 1,346, according to unofficial election results.
Garza has served on city council since 2018.
— Elena Durnbaugh, LSJ city reporter
Spadafore, Brown win at-large council seats
Updated 11:00 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021.
Capturing nearly a third of the vote, incumbent candidate and current City Council President Peter Spadafore won the most votes in the race for at-large city council member.
Spadafore won 9,269 votes, according to unofficial election results.
Jeffrey Brown took the second-highest number of votes and will serve alongside Spadafore on city council. Brown will take over Councilwoman Kathie Dunbar's seat, which she gave up to run against Andy Schor for mayor.
Brown defeated Claretta Duckett-Freeman and Rachel R. Willis to take the seat on council with 7,307 votes. Duckett-Freeman won 7,110 votes and Willis won 6,767, according to unofficial election results.
— Elena Durnbaugh, LSJ city reporter
Schor wins mayoral election
Updated 10:35 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
Incumbent Mayor Andy Schor has defeated longtime Councilwoman Kathie Dunbar in the race for Lansing mayor, according to unofficial election results.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Schor won 11,328 to Dunbar's 6,290, according to unofficial election results.
"I'm eager and excited to do the work...it continues tomorrow," Schor said Tuesday night. "We're a great city."
This will be Schor's second term as the city's mayor. He was first elected to the position in 2017 after serving three terms as state representative for Michigan's 68th District.
Tuesday night, Schor thanked his supporters and promised to work to represent all of Lansing's residents while growing the city.
During his campaign, Schor said he looked forward to continuing the work he began in his first term by increasing economic development, supporting Lansing neighborhoods and improving diversity, equity and inclusion in the city.
"The future is bright here in Lansing," he said prior to the election. "There's a lot of work going on, and I look forward to continuing that."
— Elena Durnbaugh, LSJ city reporter
Incumbents leading across the board
Updated 10 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
Results continue to roll in from across Lansing.
Incumbent candidates are leading across the board in their respective races as of 10 p.m., according to unofficial election results.
Schor leads Dunbar in the race for mayor by approximately 400 votes with just more than 37% of precincts fully reported.
Meanwhile, Peter Spadafore is leading the race for Lansing's at-large city council seats with Claretta Duckett-Freeman in a close second. The top two candidates in this race will serve on city council.
Ward 2 incumbent Jeremy A. Garza is leading Oprah Revish by nearly 200 votes, according to unofficial results. Ward 4 incumbent Brian Jackson leads Elvin Caldwell by a margin of about 100 votes.
— Elena Durnbaugh, LSJ city reporter
First results are in!
Updated 9:20 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021.
The first results have been reported. So far, 1,271 votes have been counted, or 11.76% of precincts fully reported.
— Sophia Lada, LSJ news assistant
Lansingites, it's your turn to be the reporter
Updated 8:35 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021.
Last year's general election was controversial to say the least. How about this year?
Did you see something out of the ordinary at the polls today? How long did you stand in line?
Give us a call! We want to hear about it. Contact Sophia at (517) 377-1065.
— Sophia Lada, LSJ news assistant
Polls are now closed
Polls closed at 8 p.m. across the city of Lansing and election officials will begin to process results. Follow along as we continue to provide updates on key city races.
City sees low voter turnout for mayoral election
Updated 7 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021.
Despite issuing roughly 9,270 more absentee ballots this year than during the 2017 mayoral election, voter turnout is low, according to Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope.
The Lansing Clerk’s Office sent out about 16,000 absentee ballots ahead of Tuesday’s election, but thousands still hadn't been returned as of Thursday evening.
“We could see about 20% turnout,” he said. “That’s on the lower range of what we would see for a mayoral election.”
There isn’t one defining reason why voters aren’t casting their ballots this year, Swope said.
“You could ask 100 different voters and get 100 different answers,” he said.
Absentee ballots can be returned until 8 p.m. tonight to any one of the city’s election drop boxes. Polling locations are also open until 8 p.m.
-Elena Durnbaugh, LSJ city reporter
Voters weigh Schor vs. Dunbar for mayor
Updated 6:30 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021.
In the race for mayor, voters were still weighing their decision between incumbent Andy Schor and longterm city councilwoman Kath Dunbar.For many, it was a choice between change and consistency.
Lansing resident Mary Mireles said she voted for Schor because of his experience as mayor.
“He’s been the mayor, and it’s running OK,” she said.
Meanwhile, Eric Kumar said he voted for Schor in 2017 but switched to Dunbar this year hoping she’ll change how the city operates.
“She cares about housing, and she cares about non-white citizens,” he said.
Still, Kumar said he wished voters were deciding between candidates who were pushing for bigger changes.
“We could still get better candidates,” he said. “The conversations that were happening in my friends group were, ‘I might not vote for mayor.’ ” Stephen Manchester said he voted for Schor, but he wouldn’t be too disappointed if Dunbar won.
“I’ve lived in Lansing for 40 years,” he said. “My choice is the one I consider to be more steady.”
-Elena Durnbaugh, LSJ city reporter
Absentee voting is up, meaning low in-person turnout
Updated 5 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021. In-person voter turnout has been low at Gardner School in Ward 2, the polling location for four city precincts.
As of 5 p.m., 90 people had cast their ballots in-person in precincts 14 and 18, and 100 people had voted in-person in Precincts 19 and 20.
The area was the site of a major push for absentee voting leading up to Election Day, according to election officials.
“A lot of people, especially since COVID, have voted absentee,” said Anita Wilson, election chair for precincts 14 and 18.
Maddy Dean, election chair for precincts 19 and 20, suggested that people have gotten used to the idea of voting absentee, so they don’t feel the need to be at the polls.
In previous years, Dean said they often had people come in to register to vote on Election Day, but that hadn’t happened this year. “A lot of people are getting used to voting absentee,” she said.
-Elena Durnbaugh, LSJ city reporter
Elvin Caldwell says he's walked 60 miles canvassing in three days
Updated at 4 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021.
Ward 4 candidate Elvin Caldwell was outside the Letts Community Center Tuesday afternoon answering last-minute questions before voters cast their ballots.
“It’s the effort,” he said. “I’m here.”
This is the culmination of several days of canvassing for Caldwell, who said he’s walked over 60 miles in the last three days.
“It’s been a building effort,” he said. “People have been supportive.”
Caldwell is running against Ward 4 incumbent Brian Jackson to represent northwest Lansing.
— Elena Durnbaugh, LSJ city reporter
To be clear, no masks required
Updated at 2:30 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
A note from the Michigan Department of State: no masks are required to vote at polling places. You can also vote absentee sans mask.
VOTER ALERT: Polling places that are used for other purposes most days may still have signage up requiring masks today. However, masks are not required for anyone exercising their right to vote.
— Michigan Department of State (@MichSoS) November 2, 2021
Candidates for city council wards 2 and 4 — who are they?
Updated at 1:30 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
Four candidates are running for two open ward seats on the Lansing City Council. Incumbent Jeremy Garza and challenger Oprah Revish are running in Ward 2. Watch the video here.
WATCH: 2021 candidates for Lansing Ward 2 in their own words
And incumbent Brian Jackson will face off against challenger Elvin Caldwell in Ward 4. Watch the video here.
WATCH: 2021 candidates for Lansing Ward 4 in their own words
Learn more about all of the ward candidates in their own words here.
And watch the video below to listen to them address key issues facing the city — including support for small businesses, racial equity and more.
— Jordan Nelson, LSJ news assistant
Get to know the candidates, FAQ
Updated at 12:30 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
LSJ staff have compiled answers from questionnaires for all ten candidates running for Lansing Mayor and Lansing City Council. Read what they had to say in their own words, listen to them in video clips and learn more about their stances on key issues before you vote.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about the 2021 general election in Lansing
Scroll down to the bottom of the file for an FAQ ... not sure where to vote? Is it too late to vote absentee? Etc. Your questions answered by clicking here.
— Matt Hund, LSJ engagement editor
Young people, get out and vote
Updated at 12 p.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
Historically, younger populations aged 18 to 34 make up a very small percentage of the voting population. Nationally, 57% of this population voted in the 2020 election, compared to 49% in 2016, according to the Census Bureau.
Marty Jordan, a professor of political science at Michigan State, wrote in a viewpoint that less than 20% of 18 to 29 year olds vote in local elections, even though local and state policies are the ones that affect young people the most.
READ MORE: Young people's votes matter, so do policies important to Gen Z
For young people and college students in Lansing, Michigan law allows you to vote here rather than going to your hometown on a Tuesday during the semester.
RELATED: Away from home during Michigan elections? Here’s how to vote in your college town.
— Sophia Lada, LSJ news assistant
A slow start to in-person voter turnout
Updated at 11:30 a.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
"I wish more people would vote in this election," said Emily Miller of Lansing after casting her ballot at Willow School on Lansing's northside. She was the 25th voter at 10:30 a.m.
— Matthew Dae Smith, LSJ photographer/videographer
Four candidates for city council at large — who are they?
Updated at 11 a.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
Four candidates are running for two open at large seats on the Lansing City Council. Peter Spadafore, in his fourth year on city council, is running for re-election. Jeffrey Brown, Claretta Duckett-Freeman and Rachel Willis are seeking their first terms.
Learn more about the candidates in their own words here. And watch the video below to listen to them address key issues facing the city — including support for small businesses, racial equity and more.
While all of the candidates have expressed plans to improve the city, they have different approaches to doing so. Watch the video clip now by clicking here.
— Sophia Lada, LSJ news assistant
Not sure where to vote? Check out LansingVotes.com
Updated 10:30 a.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
Polling locations, voter information and more available at LansingVotes.com.
Today is Election Day and polls are open until 8PM! Find your voting information at https://t.co/e08OKinkWF. pic.twitter.com/kYjgEvQz87
— City of Lansing, MI (@lansingmichigan) November 2, 2021
Mayoral candidates voice their views
Updated 10 a.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
Mayoral candidates Andy Schor and Kathie Dunbar have a lot to say about solutions to key issues facing Lansing. They agree on some ideas, but have sharply colliding opinions on others.
This video touches on some of these ideas such as racial equity, attracting or supporting small businesses and police priorities in the city of Lansing.
Watch the video clip now.
— Sophia Lada, LSJ news assistant
Schor vs. Dunbar in mayoral race
Updated 9:30 a.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
Lansing Mayor Andy Schor is running for re-election for his second term as Lansing Mayor. Challenger Kathie Dunbar has served on Lansing City Council for four terms, or 16 years.
The race for the mayor's seat in Lansing is not a question of experience or qualifications, but one of an approach to leadership.
Read the full story here.
READ MORE: What to know about Lansing mayoral candidates Schor and Dunbar
— Elena Durnbaugh, LSJ city reporter
Polls are open, are you ready to vote?
Updated 8 a.m. ET, Nov. 2, 2021
In-person voting in the Lansing general election is now underway. On the ballot today are the office of Lansing Mayor — where longtime city councilwoman Kathie Dunbar is challenging incumbent Andy Schor — as well as four open seats on Lansing City Council.
Read up on the candidates' positions and responses to key issues facing the city at the links below, and help yourself be ready to vote.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Candidates for Lansing Mayor, City Council respond to key issues facing the city
— Matt Hund, LSJ engagement editor
Support our work
Lansing State Journal staff who contributed to this reporting are: City Reporter Elena Durnbaugh, Photographer/Videographer Matthew Dae Smith, News Assistant Sophia Lada, News Assistant Jordan Nelson and Engagement Editor Matt Hund.
Contact us by emailing metro@lsj.com or calling 517.377.1112. Follow us on Twitter @LSJnews or like us on Facebook to support local journalism.
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This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: 2021 Election: Schor wins second term; full city council results
