The 2020 Oakland County Executive election was held on November 3, 2020. Long-time County Executive L. Brooks Patterson died on August 3, 2019, and Ferndale Mayor David Coulter, a Democrat, was appointed to serve out the remainder of Patterson's term. Two elections were held on the same day: one for the remaining two months of Patterson's term, and one for a full four-year term. Coulter defeated County Treasurer Andy Meisner in the Democratic primary and faced former State Senator Mike Kowall, the Republican nominee, in the general election. Coulter defeated Kowall by a wide margin, becoming the first Democrat to be elected County Executive.[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Regular primary results

Democratic primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Coulter (inc.) 109,761 53.96%
Democratic Andy Meisner 93,475 45.95%
Democratic Write-ins 178 0.09%
Total votes 203,414 100.00%

Special primary results

Democratic special primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Coulter (inc.) 112,679 56.02%
Democratic Andy Meisner 88,256 43.87%
Democratic Write-ins 219 0.11%
Total votes 201,154 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Regular primary results

Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Kowall 91,421 74.85%
Republican Jeffrey G. Nutt 30,515 24.99%
Republican Write-ins 197 0.16%
Total votes 122,133 100.00%

Special primary results

Republican primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Kowall 88,612 73.69%
Republican Jeffrey G. Nutt 31,452 26.16%
Republican Write-ins 185 0.15%
Total votes 120,249 100.00%

General election

Regular election results

2020 Oakland County Executive election[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Coulter (inc.) 403,863 54.75%
Republican Mike Kowall 321,803 43.62%
Libertarian Connor Nepomuceno 11,441 1.55%
Write-in 569 0.08%
Total votes 737,676 100.00%
Democratic hold

Special election results

2020 Oakland County Executive special election[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Coulter (inc.) 406,933 55.82%
Republican Mike Kowall 321,151 44.05%
Write-in 938 0.08%
Total votes 729,022 100.00%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ↑ Hunter, George (November 3, 2020). "Oakland executive: Coulter wins a full term over Kowall". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  2. ↑ Laitner, Bill (July 23, 2020). "Oakland County exec races sizzles with 2 top Dems". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. p. 4A. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  3. ↑ Martindale, Mike (March 4, 2019). "Oakland County Treasurer Meisner to run for executive". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  4. ↑ "August 4, 2020 Primary Election: COUNTY EXECUTIVE - DEM". Oakland County Clerk. August 20, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  5. ↑ "August 4, 2020 Primary Election: COUNTY EXECUTIVE TERM ENDING 12/31/2020 - DEM". Oakland County Clerk. August 20, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  6. ↑ Stokes, Chuck (July 10, 2020). "Spotlight on the News: Rev. Keyon Payton, Atty. Phyliss Craig-Taylor & GOP candidate Jeffrey G. Nutt". WXYZ-TV. Detroit, Michigan. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  7. ↑ "August 4, 2020 Primary Election: COUNTY EXECUTIVE - REP". Oakland County Clerk. August 20, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  8. ↑ "August 4, 2020 Primary Election: COUNTY EXECUTIVE TERM ENDING 12/31/2020 - REP". Oakland County Clerk. August 20, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  9. ↑ "November 3, 2020 General Election: COUNTY EXECUTIVE". Oakland County Clerk. November 18, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  10. ↑ "November 3, 2020 General Election: COUNTY EXECUTIVE". Oakland County Clerk. November 18, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Oakland_County_Executive_election