Ann Arbor AF

Today is the second of two episodes about the August 2026 Partisan Primary. And although we’re in Ann Arbor and in some ways this goes without saying, I’ll just say out loud that for the sake of this podcast, we are only talking about the Democratic candidates. If you haven’t already, please check out our first primary episode, where we discuss (aka have strong opinions about) the hyperlocal races, including city council, mayor, and countywide ballot proposals.

Endorsements:

• State Representative for congressional district 33: Morgan Foreman (unopposed)
• State Senator for state senate district 15: Felicia Brabec
• U.S. Representative for congressional district 6: Debbie Dingell (unopposed)
• Governor: Jocelyn Benson
• U.S. Senator: Abdul El-Sayed (we originally endorsed Mallory McMorrow, but she withdrew from the race)

Some references we dropped:

• Tressie McMillan Cottom’s NYT opinion on AI in politics, “This Could Be The Winning Issue for Democrats” - link (you can access it for free through the library)
• More Neighbors Ann Arbor meetings and newsletter (we’re not officially linked! We just love the work they do and the things they advocate for!), which included great info and calls to action. 
  • The July general meeting will feature Matthew Countryman talking about local histories of housing segregation. You know you want to.

Some ways you could do your homework for this election: 

• Women are still underrepresented in local government, despite a woman running for president
• This One’s for the Boys: How Gendered Political Socialization Limits Girls’ Political Ambition and Interest
• Why Don’t Women Run for Office? (A brief overview with links to resources on a lot of things we talk about in this conversation.)
• McMorrow clarifies stance on Gaza, joins Michigan Democrats calling situation a genocide
• El-Sayed’s campaign website
• McMorrow’s campaign website
• “Quit yelling at clouds!”

Election and voting info:

• Visit www.michigan.gov/vote to view a sample ballot and the latest information.
• No-reason absentee vote ballots are available starting June 25, 2026.
• Online and mail requests for an absentee ballot must be received by your township or city clerk no later than 5 p.m. the Friday before the election. If you’re already registered at your current address, you can request an absent voter ballot in person at your clerk’s office anytime up to 4 p.m. Monday, August 3, 2026.
• Constitutionally-mandated early voting period: July 24-Aug. 2, 2026.
• Last day to register to vote by mail or online: July 20, 2026. 
• New voter registrations are required in person for August election July 21-Aug. 4, 2026
• Documents must have your name and current address. You can use your Michigan driver’s license or state ID, a current utility bill or bank statement, your paycheck or government check, or other government document. 
• You can register to vote, and vote in person, on Election Day at your city or township clerk’s office.

Support the show

Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

Today is the first of two conversations preparing for the August 2026 primary election in the City of Ann Arbor; we help you do your homework for the ballot proposals and city races. We let you know how we’re voting and why, and invite you into conversation with fellow Ann Arbor AFers online. 

Endorsements:

Ballot proposals

• Public Schools of the City of Ann Arbor Building and Site Sinking Fund Millage Renewal Proposal: yes
• Washtenaw Community College Operating Millage Renewal Proposal: yes

City Council

• Ward 1: Cynthia Harris
• Ward 2: Teesha Montague
• Ward 3: Ashley Hall
• Ward 4: Aidan Sova
• Ward 5:  Jenn Cornell
• Mayor: Christopher Taylor

What we’re reading as we’re thinking about as we fill out our ballots: 

• All Bullhorn and No Gavel: Why Ann Arbor Needs Taylor, Not Rabhi. Ann Arbor AF producer Scott Trudeau’s essay on the mayoral race
• More Neighbors Ann Arbor’s housing questionnaire! Dropping Juneteenth.
• Donnell Wyche’s phenomenal essay on the challenges of financing affordable housing.

And as always, happy AADL Summer Game Season to all who celebrate! 

Election and voting info:

• Visit www.michigan.gov/vote to view a sample ballot and the latest information.
• No-reason absentee vote ballots are available starting June 25, 2026.
• Online and mail requests for an absentee ballot must be received by your township or city clerk no later than 5 p.m. the Friday before the election. If you’re already registered at your current address, you can request an absent voter ballot in person at your clerk’s office anytime up to 4 p.m. Monday, August 3, 2026.
• Constitutionally-mandated early voting period: July 24-Aug. 2, 2026.
• Last day to register to vote by mail or online: July 20, 2026. 
• New voter registrations are required in person for August election July 21-Aug. 4, 2026
• Documents must have your name and current address. You can use your Michigan driver’s license or state ID, a current utility bill or bank statement, your paycheck or government check, or other government document. 
• You can register to vote, and vote in person on Election Day at your city or township clerk’s office.

Support the show

Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

On this episode, we invited Sunil Rajaraman, founder of Hamlet and author of a recent article about Ann Arbor city council voting patterns titled “The City That Won’t Agree,” which prompted a lot of discussion and debate online. Sunil agreed to join us to discuss his work, his data, and the surprising finding that prompted his article on Ann Arbor.

References:

• Hamlet Ann Arbor Voting Analysis Code
• Wikipedia article on Mayor-council government that explains the “weak mayor” system

Support the show

Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

This episode is a special one for a lot of reasons: On March 10th, along with my cohost Jess Letaw, we did our first-ever live recording, and it was so much fun. We were joined by friend of the pod and Jess’s frequent collaborator, Yodit Mesfin Johnson, and we were hosted by the University of Michigan’s Ginsberg Center, surrounded by our neighbors from Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and the University. Many thanks to everyone who came out and everyone who helped make it possible.

We talked about Ann Arbor’s current comprehensive land use plan update and the process that got us there; Jess and Yodit’s recent Liberated Land Use project, which they developed in direct response to the comprehensive plan process; and different ways for community members to get informed and get involved around local land use justice. If you missed this one, I think we’re all pretty convinced we want to do it again, so you will have other chances. In the meantime, here’s a recording of our first live episode. 

Update

Ann Arbor City Council adopted the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan at their March 16, 2026 meeting.

Links

• Liberated Land Use series (YouTube / Audio)
• Justice InDeed
• Future Root
• Movement Generation: Just Transition

Support the show

Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

After a quiet fall and winter…we’re baaaaaack!

Today, we’re giving you a heads up on what to look forward to from Ann Arbor AF in 2026 (land use planning, library stuff, and ‘lections, plus a lot of other chats). We also take a moment to flash back to when we started the podcast in 2020, what hasn’t changed and what has in the city and for us on the pod. Given what we’re going to be talking about this year, we also recommended some past A2AF episodes as warmup, and we teed y’all up with a couple of calls to action at City Council and the Planning Commission. We also included some information on the current political moment and suggestions on how you can approach supporting our immigrant neighbors if you’re not sure where to dive in.

And…we’re planning our very first Ann Arbor AF LIVE! You can find us at the Ginsberg Center on Tuesday, March 10th, at 11am, joined by special guest and absolute rockstar Yodit Mesfin Johnson to talk about housing justice, Liberated Land Use, and the comprehensive land use plan. Thanks so much to the Ginsberg Center for making this possible!

Support the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR)

Past episodes

New Downtown Library with Eli Neiburger

Deeper Dive: Boards & Commissions

Deeper Dive: Master Plan & Zoning

City Council Meeting: 22 February 2022 (where Jess & Molly talk about their favorite municipal reports)

Support the show

Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

Today we are talking about Proposals A & B, on the ballot this August 5th, which would authorize the city of Ann Arbor to transfer the air rights of the parking lot known as the Library Lot to the Ann Arbor District Library.

Links

• supportaadl.com: volunteer, donate, get a lawn sign
• Your Dream Library (see Molly's Dream Library on the Episode page)
• AADL Prop A & B Voting Information Page
• AADL Downtown Branch Feasibility study from 2019

Support the show

Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

Today we are talking about proposals A and B on the August 5th ballot - yes, we have an August ballot! - and plans for a new downtown library. With us, we have Eli Neiburger, director of the Ann Arbor District Library, to answer our questions and talk all things factual about the ballot measures, as well as share the possibilities of a new downtown branch.

Learn more at the Ann Arbor District Library Voting Information page and get involved at SupportAADL.com.

Support the show

Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

Learn more and get involved at SupportAADL.com

Original Episode Notes

In a continuation of our new miniseries, Civic Therapy, we are talking with Dan Adams about WTF, Library Lot.

Dan is a corporate attorney, local housing activist, and long-time bike person. He has lived in Ann Arbor since 2008 and grew up down the road in Dexter. In November 2022 he published a long piece in Damn Arbor about the current status of the Library Lot, how we got to this place, and what we should do to get out of it. He’s here today to talk about that piece and about the Library Lot, Prop A, and all the big mad feelings.

Referenced Articles

• Damn Arbor: Guest Opinion: Desolate and Uninviting—The Failure of 2018’s Proposal A and the Future of the Library Lot – Dan Adams
• Damn Arbor: Guest article: New Council, Who Dis? A Policy Wishlist – Jessica Letaw

Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on BlueSky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

Support the show

Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

Jess and Molly come out of hiatus to share our recommendations for local non-partisan races and ballot initiatives.

Move the Needle signup: Zoom or Insta.

Get a sample ballot (scroll down)

Our list of recommendations (Reminder: These are only the contested races):

JUSTICE OF SUPREME COURT
8 Year Term
Kimberly Ann Thomas

JUSTICE OF SUPREME COURT
Incumbent Position
Kyra Harris Bolden

JUDGE OF CIRCUIT COURT
22ND CIRCUIT COURT
Jinan Hamood

JUDGE OF DISTRICT COURT
15TH DISTRICT COURT
S. Kerene Moore

COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBER
WASHTENAW COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Diana McKnight Morton
Alex Milshteyn

LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER
ANN ARBOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Megan Kanous
Don Wilkerson
Leslie Wilkins

COUNTY PROPOSALS

Renewal and restoration of the Enhanced Emergency Communications System Millage
Yes

Renewal and restoration of the Veteran’s Relief Millage
Yes

Establishing an Older Persons Services Millage
Yes

Renewal and restoration of the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health and Public Safety Preservation Millage
Yes

A2 CITY PROPOSALS

Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Creation of a Sustainable Energy Utility
Yes

Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Authorizing Tax for Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements
Yes

Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Non-Partisan Elections
No

Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Fair Elections Fund
No

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Washtenaw Intermediate School District Special Education Millage Renewal Proposal
Yes

Support the show

Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

Check out the week of events and updates at www.dogoodwork.org/houseparty

Registration for Jess' panel: History to Present Day: Race and Housing in Ann Arbor

Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Twitter and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

Support the show

Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.