Local Republicans swept their races on Nov. 8 as Democrats took control of Michigan’s legislative and executive branches.

State Rep. Andrew Fink won re-election to represent the 35th District, and former state Rep. Joseph Bellino Jr. won his state Senate race in the 16th District. Both candidates are Republicans.

At the same time, Democrats gained the state legislature and maintained the governor’s office. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won re-election against Tudor Dixon with 54.5% to 43.9%, according to the New York Times. While some races have not been counted, Democrats claim control of the state Senate with a balance of 20 to 18, according to the Detroit Free Press, and Democrats will control the state House by a margin of 56 to 54. 

Locally, Mayor Adam Stockford won re-election, and Hillsdale College-connected candidates Professor of Economics Gary Wolfram and graduate student Joshua Paladino ‘18 won their races for city council. 

County Clerk Marney Kast said the results were not final as of Wednesday evening. 

According to Kast, the board of canvassers will meet Thursday to review the unofficial election results. Kast said she expects the race has settled its winners, but things can always come up last minute.

In the state House race, Fink defeated Democratic opponent Andrew Watkins with 74.7% to 25.2%. Fink won 13,580 votes, while Watkins garnered 4,584 votes.

“I am looking forward to serving another two years, fighting for the people of Branch, Hillsdale, and Lenawee counties, and fighting for jobs, traditional values, and common-sense policies,”  Fink said in a Facebook post.

Fink said he thinks if Republicans want to win, they should focus on the Declaration of Independence, a “humane” vision of the American founders, and limited government by the people. 

Watkins, a veteran, previously told the Collegian he hoped to represent the county’s Democrats and bring a spirit of bipartisanship to the state legislature.

Bellino won his state Senate race against opponent Katybeth Davis, a Democrat, with 73.7% to 26.3%. Bellino gained 10,411 votes, while Davis won 3,714 votes.

“No single person should be at total power over everyone in our state, and the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic saw policies from our governor that crossed the rubicon,” Bellino said in a Facebook post. “We need elected officials that stand up to misuses of power.”

Stockford won re-election against opponent Rondee Butcher with 83.5% to 16.6%. Stockford won 1,840 votes, while Butcher garnered 365 votes. 

“We won by a landslide victory,” Stockford said in a Facebook post. “Thank you Hillsdale for your vote of confidence! I am proud to serve you for an historic second term.”

The Hillsdale City Council will welcome Wolfram and Paladino after they won the only contested races. Unchallenged incumbents Greg Stuchell and Will Morrisey will represent Wards 1 and 2, while Wolfram will represent Ward 3 and Paladino will represent Ward 4. 

Paladino defeated opponent Penny Swan with 54% to 46%. Paladino won 386 votes, while Swan gained 329 votes. 

Paladino said he looks forward to serving his constituents on the city council.

“I’m grateful to residents of Ward IV for choosing me to represent them,” Paladino said. “I’m excited to get to work on the issues that matter to Hillsdale’s residents.”

Wolfram defeated opponent Cindy Merritt with 52.3% to 47.7%. Wolfram garnered 325 votes, while Merritt won 296 votes. 

“It was an interesting race. Merritt would have been a fine city councilperson as well,” Wolfram said. “But I think I have a little more experience in the main thing, to try to increase revenue sharing.”

Wolfram said it would be easy to push road repairs off, but that infrastructure will eventually crumble without attention. He said he hopes to secure state tax funds for such projects while encouraging community development.

“The Keefer House is being redone, and the Dawn Theater is now back, it’s a new dawn,” Wolfram said. “A lot of good things are happening in Hillsdale.”