The Oakland County Commissioner Primaries on August 4, 2026, are primary elections for county commissioner seats across multiple districts in Oakland County, Michigan. Voters will select nominees from each party to advance to the general election in November, where they will compete for seats on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, which oversees county services, budgeting, and policy for over 1.2 million residents.
About This Race
The Oakland County Commissioner Primaries on August 4, 2026, are primary elections for county commissioner seats across multiple districts in Oakland County, Michigan. Voters will select nominees from each party to advance to the general election in November, where they will compete for seats on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, which oversees county services, budgeting, and policy for over 1.2 million residents.
Candidates
Important Dates
Election Date
August 4, 2026
Registration Deadline
July 7, 2026
Early Voting Starts
July 25, 2026
Early Voting Ends
August 3, 2026
How to Vote
To vote in Michigan, residents must be registered by July 7, 2026, either online, by mail, or in person at their local clerk's office. Registered voters can vote early in person from July 25 to August 3, 2026, at designated early voting sites, or vote absentee by requesting a ballot through their clerk; photo ID is required at the polls, but voters without ID can sign an affidavit and vote a regular ballot.
MK
Incumbent
Republican
Mike Kowall
Oakland County Commissioner, District 5
Biography
Former Michigan State Senator and Oakland County Treasurer, Mike Kowall is seeking re-election to the County Board of Commissioners to continue his work on fiscal responsibility, public safety, and infrastructure improvements in northern Oakland County.
Community organizer and former Oakland County Parks Commissioner, Janice Hawkins is running to bring greater transparency, environmental stewardship, and equitable access to county services, particularly focusing on youth programs and green space expansion in District 5.
Many Muslim and Arab American voters are leaning toward third-party candidates or not voting, feeling neither main candidate values their families' lives. Others are choosing between Harris and Trump.