LANSING — With the August 5th primary now behind us, Latino representation in local elections across Michigan is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched storylines heading into the November 5, 2025 general election. Candidates of Hispanic heritage emerged from primaries in Detroit, East Lansing, Lansing, and Taylor, positioning themselves to make history — or build upon it — in city council, mayoral, and treasurer’s offices.
One of the most high-profile races is unfolding in Detroit, where Gabriela Santiago-Romero, currently serving on the Detroit City Council, will face State Rep. Tyrone Carter. Santiago-Romero avoided a primary challenge but now steps into a heavyweight general election contest. She first made her mark in 2016 by defeating Hector Santiago with a decisive 5,922 to 2,028 victory. Carter, a seasoned lawmaker, drew 18,726 votes in last year’s general election for his State House seat. Both campaigns are expected to raise more than $150,000, making voter turnout and effective mobilization critical for a November win.
Also in Detroit, Rogelio Landin has entered the mayor’s race as a write-in candidate. While write-in campaigns face steep organizational challenges, Landin’s candidacy adds another Latino voice to Detroit’s political conversation, ensuring Hispanic voters and issues important to the community have visibility in the city’s top race.
In East Lansing, Joshua Ramirez-Roberts is vying for one of two at-large City Council seats. Out of six candidates, Ramirez-Roberts faces a steep climb; in his previous bid, he finished sixth with 948 votes. In that race, the lowest vote-getter to still earn a seat was Erik Altmann, who garnered 2,327 votes. For Ramirez-Roberts, tripling past support may be necessary to break through in a competitive field.
The Lansing City Council At-Large race also features strong Latino contenders. The top four finishers from the primary now advance to fight for two seats. Current councilmember Jeremy A. Garza led the field with 5,326 votes, followed closely by Julie Vandenboom (4,625) and Clara Martinez (4,622), with Aurelius Christian in fourth (2,531). Past results suggest that winning in November will require surpassing the 8,000-vote mark; in 2023, Tamera Carter won with 8,663 votes and Trini Lopez Pehlivanoglu secured her seat with 8,424. With 87,940 registered voters in Lansing, turnout will be a decisive factor.
In Lansing’s Ward 2 race, Deyanira Nevarez Martinez faces off against Erik Almquist. Historically, victories in this ward have required between 2,360 and 2,847 votes. Averaging recent election results suggests that roughly 2,167 votes could be enough to win in a head-to-head matchup.
Further south, in Taylor, Amira Garza emerged as the top vote-getter in the City Treasurer primary, earning 2,507 votes to Nicone Dragone’s 1,750. While Garza is new to candidacy, she is no stranger to public service through her community involvement and her husband, Alex Garza, who serves on the Wayne County Commission representing District 14.
These races underscore the growing presence and political influence of Latino candidates in Michigan’s local elections. As these campaigns shift into high gear, their success will hinge not only on fundraising but also on energizing their base and appealing to broader constituencies.
If you know of additional Hispanic or Latino candidates running for office in Michigan this year, please share their names with La Prensa Latina Lansing News Wire. We may feature them in an upcoming edition as we continue tracking Latino leadership on the rise across the state.
Raul Garcia