Garrett Wins 18th District House Seat
Lathrup Village Councilmember Kelly Garrett won the Michigan House race, and the city council will appoint a successor to her open seat.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Are your property taxes, water bills, and grocery costs rising faster than your income?
Kelly Garrett received 38,400 of 47,357 votes cast in the 18th District representative race, according to unofficial results from the Oakland County Clerk's Office. Her win sends her to the state House, and her Lathrup Village City Council seat will become vacant.
Why it matters
Garrett, who has been an elected official in Lathrup Village for nearly 15 years, will move from local government to Lansing, leaving the city to fill her council seat. The 18th District spans Lathrup Village, southern Southfield, parts of Farmington Hills and nearly all of Farmington.
Garrett received 38,400 votes out of 47,357 cast, according to unofficial county figures. Official certification of the results and the Lathrup Village council appointment remain pending.
The players
Kelly Garrett
Garrett is a longtime Lathrup Village elected official who has served on the city council and as mayor for nearly 15 years.
Oakland County Clerk's Office
The Oakland County Clerk's Office is the county election authority that released the unofficial results of the 18th District race.
The details
Garrett has served on the Lathrup Village City Council and as mayor. Once she submits her resignation letter, the council will appoint someone to finish her term, which runs through November 2027; applications will be available on the city's website and Facebook page.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Election for the 18th District representative seat held.
November 2027: Garrett's Lathrup Village council term scheduled to end.
Political Context
Garrett's move follows a familiar path of Michigan municipal officials advancing to the state House. Her departure leaves the local council to fill the vacancy by appointment rather than by a special election.
Lathrup Village residents will see a vacancy on the city council that will be filled by appointment rather than by voters. Residents of the 18th District will be represented in Lansing by Garrett once she takes office.
The takeaway
Local council seats often change hands quietly after a state-level win, so residents who want a voice in the appointment should watch the city's announcements. The appointment process will determine who represents Lathrup Village until the term ends.
What happens next
The Lathrup Village City Council will appoint a successor after Garrett submits her resignation letter, and applications are being accepted through the city's website and Facebook page.
Further reading
For more on how state legislative seats are decided, see Michigan Elections.
More information
Applications for the open council seat are listed on the Lathrup Village city website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by West Bloomfield Beacon.
Live Poll
Are your property taxes, water bills, and grocery costs rising faster than your income?
