Michigan State University | Susan J. Demas
Alongside the presidency and various congressional and legislative races on the ballot, Michigan voters were also tasked with selecting two members apiece to serve on the boards of Wayne State University, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.
Once elected, members serve for eight years, with each board consisting of eight members.
With former President Donald Trump notching a win at the top of the ticket in Michigan, that was good news for the vast majority of Republicans running down-ballot in the university board races.
Here are the winners of each board election:
University of Michigan
While Democratic Regent Denise Ilitch secured her party’s nomination to run for a third term, Republican Regent and former MIGOP Chair Ron Weiser did not receive the Republican nomination, leaving a seat open on the board.
Alongside Ilitch, former board member and dermatologist Shauna Ryder Diggs sought reelection to the university board, facing Republican investment manager Carl Meyers and financial advisor Sevag Vartanian.
Libertarian Andrew Chadderdon and U.S. Taxpayers Party Nominee Donna Oetman also ran to be on the Board of Regents.
As of 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, Meyers and Ilitch were the top vote earners, with 25.76% and 24.95%, respectively, with nearly all counties fully reporting.
The results will change the makeup of the board from six Democrats and two Republicans to five Democrats and three Republicans.
Michigan State University
The Michigan State University board has been the subject of a number of controversies in recent years, from accusations of misconduct and infighting within the board to various lawsuits and the continued push for accountability for the crimes of former MSU doctor Larry Nassar, who was convicted on seven counts of felony criminal sexual conduct in 2018.
With Democratic Trustee Diane Byrum deciding against running for reelection and Republican trustee Dan Kelly failing to secure his party’s nomination for reelection, there were two seats left open on the board.
On the ballot was Democratic former Ingham County Commissioner Rebecca Bahar-Cook, former Democratic state Rep. Thomas Stallworth III, U.S. Navy Veteran and Republican Mike Balow and Republican Julie Maday, a member of the Novi Economic Development Corp.
Libertarian Grant T. Baker, Green Party candidate John Anthony La Pietra and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidates Janet M. Sanger and John Paul Sanger were also on the ballot.
At about 9:30 a.m., the Associated Press called the race for Balow (26.43%) and Maday (25.78%).
While the board is currently made up of six Democrats, one Republican and an independent, the addition of Balow and Maday will give the new board makeup of five Democrats, two Republicans and one independent.
Wayne State University
Democratic Board of Governors member Mark Gaffney and Republican member Michael Busuito were back on the ballot, each seeking their second term.
Alongside Gaffney, Democrats nominated former Port Huron Area School District Board of Trustees member Rasha Demashkieh, while Busuito was joined by GOP businessman Sunny Reddy.
Additionally, Libertarian Farid Ishac, U.S. Taxpayers Party member William Mohr II, Green Party candidate Sami Makhoul, Working Class Party candidate Suzanne Roehrig and Natural Law Party member Kathleen Oakford ran for the Board of Governors.
The race was called around noon Wednesday for Busuito (26.14%) and Reddy (25.46%).
With the board currently made up of six Democrats and two Republicans, control will shift to five Democrats and three Republicans when Reddy takes his position on the board.
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