Ann Arbor will likely become even more progressive as a democratic socialist won the Democratic primary for mayor.
Yousef Rabhi easily defeated the incumbent, Chris Taylor, by a 55%-45% margin in the Tuesday contest, according to the Washtenaw County Clerk’s Office.
With no Republican on the ballot in the heavily Democratic city, Rabhi is virtually assured of winning the mayor’s race in November.
Rabhi, 38, is former state legislator and current Washtenaw County commissioner whose stances often strayed further left than his colleagues.
He said the election showed the city isn’t doing enough to defend residents against rising prices and federal overreach.
“The people of Ann Arbor sent a message,” he said in a statement. “We are ready to fight for a better tomorrow. We are ready to embrace a vision of the future that works for the many, not just the few.”
He said the city will do more to fight ICE and the policies of President Donald Trump.
Taylor, who was mayor for 12 years, said it was an honor to have the job.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the campaign we ran,” he said in a statement. “We led with honesty, integrity and an optimistic vision for Ann Arbor’s future.”
Rabhi focused his campaign on the high cost of living in the city, especially for housing.
He said the city could create affordable housing by building it on public land. The government would invest in co-ops and land trusts, and maintain the city-owned housing, he said.
He also supported a group that wants to replace DTE Energy Co. with a city utility powered by renewable energy. The organization, Ann Arbor for Public Power, is collecting signatures to put the measure on the November ballot.
Taylor touted his role in pushing for a 2020 millage that will pay for the construction of lower-cost homes for 20 years. He said the city will add 1,200 units in five years, which is double the number it built during its first 200 years.
He also championed a new comprehensive land use plan that expands housing throughout the city by easing restrictions on duplexes and triplexes in neighborhoods once limited to single-family homes. A bigger supply of housing would push down the cost of rent, he said.
But the land use plan was resented by residents who opposed higher housing density. Some of the critics joined Rabhi’s campaign.
As for DTE, Taylor said replacing the utility would be a money pit. He led a campaign that allows residents to supplement their service from DTE with green power.
Given that Ann Arbor has a weak-mayor form of government, the power of the part-time mayor is no greater than the other 10 members of the Ann Arbor City Council.
Despite that, the race drew outsized interest.
Rabhi was endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist from Vermont, while Taylor was supported by two moderate Democrats, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Holly.
It also was one of the most expensive campaigns in city history with the candidates receiving $390,000 in campaign contributions. The 2022 race drew just $122,000.
The outside interest could stem from the race’s possible impact on bigger races, said political strategists. Republicans could use the ascension of a democratic socialist in their ongoing campaign to paint all Democratic candidates as radical.
fdonnelly@detroitnews.com
(313) 223-4186
@ prima_donnelly
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Democratic socialist likely to take the helm in Ann Arbor
Reporting by Francis X. Donnelly, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Francis X. Donnelly, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
