2021 Dearborn mayoral election

2021 Dearborn mayoral election

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Candidate Abdullah Hammoud Gary Woronchak Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan First round 8,858 42.01% 3,889 18.45% Runoff 13,035 54.60% 10,795 45.22%   Candidate Susan Dabaja Tom Tafelski Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan First round 2,067 16.33% 2,067 16.33% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

Mayor before election John B. O'Reilly Jr. Nonpartisan Elected mayor Abdullah Hammoud Nonpartisan

The 2021 Dearborn mayoral election took place on November 2, 2021, following a primary election on August 3, 2021. Incumbent Mayor John B. O'Reilly Jr. declined to seek re-election, creating an open seat for the first time in thirty-six years. ^[1] A crowded field emerged to succeed O'Reilly, and in the primary, State Representative Abdullah Hammoud placed first, receiving 42 percent of the vote. Former County Commissioner Gary Woronchak narrowly beat out City Council President Susan Dabaja for second, winning 18 percent of the vote to Dabaja's 17 percent. Hammoud ultimately defeated Woronchak by a wide margin, winning 55–45 percent, becoming the city's first Muslim mayor. ^[2]

Primary election

Candidates

• Abdullah Hammoud, State Representative ^[3]
• Gary Woronchak, former Wayne County Commissioner, former State Representative ^[3]
• Susan Dabaja, City Council President ^[3]
• Tom Tafelski, former City Council President ^[3]
• Hussein Berry, member of the Dearborn School Board ^[3]
• Jim Farrelly, financial adviser ^[3]
• Kalette Shari Willis, Iraq War veteran, Henry Ford College student ^[4]

Results

2021 Dearborn mayoral primary election ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Abdullah Hammoud	8,858	42.01%
	Nonpartisan	Gary Woronchak	3,889	18.45%
	Nonpartisan	Susan Dabaja	3,554	16.86%
	Nonpartisan	Tom Tafelski	3,123	14.81%
	Nonpartisan	Hussein Berry	829	3.93%
	Nonpartisan	Jim Parrelly	736	3.49%
	Nonpartisan	Kalette Willis	85	0.40%
	Write-in		10	0.05%
Total votes			21,084	100.00%

General election

Candidates

2021 Dearborn mayoral general election results ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Abdullah Hammoud	13,035	54.60%
	Nonpartisan	Gary Woronchak	10,795	45.22%
	Write-in		44	0.18%
Total votes			23,874	100.00%

References

1. Warikoo, Niraj (October 27, 2021). "Dearborn mayor's race heats up as attacks launched". Detroit Free Press . Detroit, Michigan . Retrieved July 3, 2025.
2. Crampton, Liz (September 20, 2023). "Finally, the largest Muslim population in the nation has an Arab American mayor. And he has big plans". Politico . Retrieved July 3, 2025.
3. Warikoo, Niraj (February 8, 2021). "3 more is a crowd in race to be mayor of Dearborn". Detroit Free Press . Detroit, Michigan. p. 4A. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
4. "HFC student Kalette Willis is the first African-American woman to run for Dearborn mayor". Henry Ford College. 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
5. "Election Summary Report - August 3, 2021 - City Primary Election - Wayne County, Michigan - OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Wayne County Clerk. August 11, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
6. "Election Summary Report - November 2, 2021 - General Election - Wayne County, Michigan - OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Wayne County Clerk. November 12, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2025.