Ann Arbor Democratic mayoral primary winner?
$7.8K
AUG 5, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer State Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyDemocratic Socialist
Age38 years old (Jun 9, 1988)
GenderMale
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LocationMichigan
BackgroundPolitician
EducationUniversity of Michigan — B.S., Environmental Science (2010)
Notable personal detailsYousef D. Rabhi is a Washtenaw County Commissioner (District 8) and former member of the Michigan House of Representatives, where he represented the 53rd District (Ann Arbor area) from 2017 to 2023 and served as Democratic Floor Leader. He earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan (2010) and has worked in local environmental and community roles, including with the City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation and the University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum. In 2026, he announced a campaign for Mayor of Ann Arbor.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports expanded public investment and city-run services to reduce costs for working-class residents, opposes tax exemptions that favor large data centers, and favors using public funds and policies to support services rather than privatization.
Healthcare
Yousef Rabhi has proposed and promoted a publicly administered single-payer plan (called “MiCare”) to provide comprehensive, universal health coverage for all Michigan residents, including dental, mental health, and prescription drug coverage. He framed healthcare as a human right and has introduced legislation (House Bill 5966) to establish the plan and remove private insurance profit motive.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate supports local protections for immigrants, including measures to limit civil immigration-enforcement activity on county property and to provide county-issued IDs to undocumented residents. He has publicly opposed federal travel bans and condemned aggressive ICE actions, and has worked with immigrant-rights groups on local policy protections.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports protecting and expanding abortion access, co-sponsored Michigan House bills (HBs 5542–5548) to repeal a 1931 abortion ban and to affirm reproductive rights including the ability to terminate a pregnancy before viability and to protect abortion when necessary for life/health. He has participated in abortion-rights rallies and said abortion access was a major driver of voter engagement in his area.
Climate & Energy
Supports transitioning Michigan to 100% renewable energy by 2050 and has sponsored legislation and local initiatives to expand clean energy and energy-efficiency financing. Emphasizes renewable energy, climate mitigation, and county-level actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and review high-energy projects for environmental impacts.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate supports expanded background checks for firearm purchases and emphasizes addressing mental-health funding as part of reducing gun violence. He has also criticized police-caused gun violence and discussed holding officers accountable while treating mental-health intersections with gun policy as important.
News
Yousef Rabhi is in the news because he is challenging incumbent Christopher Taylor in the Ann Arbor Democratic mayoral primary, with absentee voting underway and the primary set for August 4. The race has featured repeated clashes over housing, taxes, labor, immigration enforcement, climate policy, and development, including a recent forum where the two sparred again. Rabhi has also picked up notable support, including endorsements from Bernie Sanders and the Huron Valley Area Labor Federation. He has backed the city’s public power effort and opposed the DDA tax-capture expansion.
Gloves come off as Ann Arbor mayoral candidates go on attack at heated debate
Bernie Sanders endorses Yousef Rabhi in Ann Arbor mayoral race
‘When to stop asking for more.’ Ann Arbor mayor pledges to oppose new city taxes
Public power debate heats up, some Ann Arbor officials urge residents not to sign petition
Endorsements
Endorsers of Yousef Rabhi for Ann Arbor Democratic mayoral primary winner?
Ann Arbor Education Association
Elected official
Ann Arbor Education Association endorsed Yousef Rabhi for Ann Arbor mayor.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising