Knight Wins Grand Rapids 2nd Ward Seat

Lisa Knight was re-elected to the Grand Rapids 2nd Ward city commission in unofficial results pending county certification.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Live Poll

Do you trust your city commissioners to keep serving your neighborhood well?

Voters re-elected Lisa Knight to the Grand Rapids 2nd Ward city commission seat, with unofficial results showing 13,305 votes for Knight and 8,994 for Bryan Cody. The results await certification by the Kent County Clerk's Office.

Why it matters

The win gives Knight a final term, since city commissioners are limited to two terms, and keeps the 2nd Ward's representation on the commission in place for Grand Rapids residents. The commission seats are nonpartisan, so the outcome turns on local voter support rather than party affiliation.

Knight received 13,305 votes to Cody's 8,994 in unofficial returns, a 4,311-vote margin. The totals remain subject to certification by the Kent County Clerk's Office, and the final count may change.

The players

Lisa Knight

Lisa Knight is executive director of Girls Choral Academy and a Grand Rapids city commissioner who holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University and a master's degree in ministry leadership from Cornerstone University.

Kent County Clerk's Office

The Kent County Clerk's Office tallies election results and certifies them for Kent County, including the Grand Rapids races.

The details

The election was held Tuesday, November 3, and results were tallied by the Kent County Clerk's Office. Knight, executive director of Girls Choral Academy, was first elected to the commission in 2022 and holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University and a master's degree in ministry leadership from Cornerstone University.

2022: Knight is first elected to the Grand Rapids city commission.
November 3, 2026: Voters re-elect Knight to a second and final term.
2028: Commissioner Milinda Ysasi's term expires.

Legal Context

Grand Rapids city commissioners are limited to two terms, so Knight's re-election makes this her last term under the city's current rules. Commission seats are nonpartisan, which keeps the race decided on local candidate records rather than party lines.

Because Knight's win is unofficial until the Kent County Clerk's Office certifies it, the final result for 2nd Ward residents is not yet locked in. Ward residents will be represented by Knight through her final term, which runs until the city's term limit takes effect.

The takeaway

Local races can turn on a few thousand votes, so checking certified results from the county clerk once they are released gives the clearest picture of who will represent your ward.