Ann Arbor City Council Ward 3 · Nov 3, 2026
Ryan Bartholomew
Candidate for City Council Ward 3
Ryan Bartholomew is running for Ann Arbor City Council Ward 3 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Kenny Leicht.
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.) · Tue, Nov 3, 2026
Legislative director for state Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor. He holds a master's degree from the University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Democratic
- Endorsed by
- Lists endorsements from state Rep. Carrie Rheingans, Yousef Rabhi, Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer, the Ann Arbor Education Association, the Ann Arbor Tenants Union, the Huron Valley Area Labor Federation, Teamsters Local 243 and the Michigan Working Families Party, among others. Ryan Bartholomew campaign
- How the press groups them
- MLive reported that Yousef Rabhi endorsed him in the August Democratic primary. MLive · Aug 4, 2026
- Campaign website
- www.ryanbforward3.com
In the Aug. 4 Democratic primary, Cynthia Harrison defeated Rebecca Arends (Ward 1), Sandy Aldrich defeated Teesha Montague (Ward 2), Ryan Bartholomew defeated Ashley Hall (Ward 3), Aidan Sova defeated Dave Zeglen (Ward 4) and Jenn Cornell defeated Greg Monroe (Ward 5). MLive · Aug 4, 2026
The Ward 3 seat is open: Ryan Bartholomew and Kenny Leicht are running for the seat being vacated by Ayesha Ghazi Edwin. MLive
Where Ryan Bartholomew stands: positions on the record
Affordable housing1 sourced position
Would prioritize building permanently affordable, publicly owned housing over luxury condos.
“Prioritizing building permanently affordable, publicly-owned housing over luxury condos”
Own statementMLive
Public power1 sourced position
as reported by The Michigan Daily
Supports the Ann Arbor for Public Power effort to create a city-run electric utility.
“The city of Ann Arbor running a utility as a public good is going to be much, much better than a private company that wants to just maximize profit”
Own statementThe Michigan Daily · Jul 30, 2026
Arbor South1 sourced position
as reported by The Michigan Daily
Called the council's Arbor South tax-increment financing vote a horrible decision.
“I think that their vote on Arbor South — the $350 million tax giveaway to Oxford — it was a horrible decision”
Own statementThe Michigan Daily · Jul 30, 2026
Data centers1 sourced position
Lists fighting the construction of AI data centers among his goals.
“Stand up to utility monopolies and fight the construction of AI data centers”
Own statementMLive
Childcare1 sourced position
as reported by The Michigan Daily
Proposes a city-run childcare pilot that would subsidize care for teachers, nurses, first responders and government employees first.
“What I would like to do is create a municipal-run childcare pilot, where we would subsidize childcare for folks who serve our community first”
Own statementThe Michigan Daily · Jul 30, 2026
Short-term rentals1 sourced position
Lists reining in non-owner-occupied short-term rentals among his steps on affordability.
“Rein in non-owner occupied short-term rentals”
Own statementMLive
Also running for City Council Ward 3
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