Bloomfield Hills residents will choose between competitive primaries for governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, and two state legislative seats when they head to the polls August 4, 2026. A school property tax increase that would add about $300 a year to a typical homeowner's bill is also on the ballot.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Early voting runs through August 2, at 4:30 p.m. Bloomfield Hills voters should contact the city clerk's office to confirm their early voting location.
Oakland Schools millage
The biggest dollar question on the ballot: a countywide 1.5-mill property tax increase for six years (2026–2031) that would raise an estimated $125.8 million and send roughly $781 per pupil to each of 28 participating districts, including Birmingham Public Schools and Bloomfield Hills Schools. One mill equals $1 per $1,000 of taxable value.
For a home with a taxable value of $200,000 (roughly $400,000 market value), the levy would add about $300 to the winter tax bill starting December 2026.
The Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education voted 6-0 on February 23, to request the millage be placed on the ballot. Nearly 30 Oakland County districts approved similar resolutions, according to C&G Newspapers.
Novi Superintendent Ben Mainka told WXYZ on July 22 that state per-pupil funding is inadequate and the millage gives districts flexibility to fund "things like intervention services, things like transportation, things like extracurricular and athletics and curricula."
Governor
The active Republican race is between U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township, who carries President Trump's endorsement, and Bloomfield Hills businessman Perry Johnson, 78. Former Attorney General Mike Cox suspended his campaign July 17, and former state Sen. Aric Nesbitt dropped out June 22. Both names remain on the ballot.
On the Democratic side, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, 48, of Detroit faces Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Robert Swanson, 53, of Fenton Township.
U.S. Senate
Birmingham Congresswoman Haley Stevens and epidemiologist Abdul El-Sayed of Ann Arbor are the two active Democrats. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow suspended her campaign July 5 but remains on the ballot. Republican Mike Rogers is running unopposed.
11th Congressional District
Four Democrats are competing for the seat Stevens is vacating: State Sen. Jeremy Moss of Bloomfield Township, attorney Aisha Farooqi of Troy, public administrator John Paul Torres, and retired engineer Don Ufford. Republican Ethan Baker is unopposed.
7th State Senate District
Three Democrats are on the ballot: Shadia Martini, a builder and real estate broker from Bloomfield Township; Dr. Rakesh Ramakrishnan, an orthopaedic spine surgeon and 11-year Birmingham resident; and State Rep. Jason Hoskins of Southfield. Republican Anthony Paesano is unopposed.
54th State House District
The district covers Bloomfield Hills, part of Bloomfield Township, part of Auburn Hills, part of Oakland Township, and Orion Township. Republicans Roman Gaskey, 23, of Orion Township and Jeffrey M. Omtvedt are vying for the nomination. Democrat Sarah Pounds is unopposed.
Judicial races
Two nonpartisan seats are on the ballot. For the 6th Circuit Court, candidates Nadine Renee Hatten, Victoria King, and Lisa Marie Neilson compete for two spots advancing to November. Neilson is a Birmingham resident and former probate judge who served from 2012 to 2022. For Oakland County Probate Court, Elisabeth Dery, Jessica Ann Hallmark, and Sheila Calvary Worthy-Williams seek two November spots.
The general election is November 3, 2026.
