KENT COUNTY, MI – Democrat incumbent Melissa LaGrand defeated a challenger to retain her seat on the Kent County Board of Commissioners, according to Tuesday’s unofficial election results.

LaGrand defeated Republican Emil Savoy by a total of 11,252 votes to 3,615 votes, the Kent County Clerk’s Office reported.

District 16 represents a portion of Grand Rapids. LaGrand has served two terms on the Kent County Commission since 2021.

Commissioners are elected to four-year terms in districts throughout Kent County that have approximately the same population. Previously the terms were two years, but a change in state law lengthened them.

Kent County District 16 is located in downtown Grand Rapids, encompassing downtown and adjacent portions east of the Grand River, between Wealthy Street to the south and Knapp Street to the north. It also includes a small portion of the city’s West Side between Leonard and Knapp streets, near the Grand River.

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