Democrats Jordan Acker and Paul Brown have been elected to fill two eight-year terms on the University of Michigan’s Board of Regents.
With all 83 Michigan counties reporting, statewide totals indicate Acker was the top vote-getter in Tuesday’s election, with 1,718,097 votes or 24.89 percent of votes cast. Brown drew 1,658,476 votes, or 24.03 percent.
Paul Brown
Garlin Gilchrist II
Regent Andrea Fischer Newman, a Republican seeking her fourth term, finished third with 1,600,726 votes, or 23.19 percent. Regent Andrew Richner, a Republican seeking his third term, drew 1,471,575 votes, or 21.32 percent.
Meanwhile, Garlin Gilchrist II, executive director of U-M’s Center for Social Media Responsibility, was elected lieutenant governor, as Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer’s running mate. Gilchrist had been on an unpaid personal leave of absence from U-M during the campaign.
Samuel Bagenstos, Frank G. Millard Professor of Law and professor of law, was unsuccessful in his bid for one of two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court.
Acker worked in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel before spending two years as an attorney-adviser appointed by President Obama at the Department of Homeland Security. Since returning to Michigan with his family, he has worked at the law firm Goodman Acker P.C. as the director of business development.
Acker graduated from U-M with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 2006, and from the American University Washington College of Law in 2010.
Brown teaches a finance and business class at U-M and is a partner in eLab Ventures, where he invests in and supports technology and life science companies. He began his legal career as a law clerk in federal court and then practiced at Skadden Arps. He previously was vice president of capital markets for the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
Brown received his Bachelor of Arts and MBA degrees from U-M and his law degree from Wayne State University.
Other candidates for the Board of Regents and their vote totals were:
• James Lewis Hudler, Libertarian — 83,907 votes.
• John Jascob, Libertarian — 84,218 votes.
• Joe Sanger, U.S. Taxpayers — 63,207 votes.
• Crystal Van Sickle, U.S. Taxpayers — 98,896 votes.
• Kevin A. Graves, Green Party — 71,861 votes.
• Marge Katchmark Sallows, Natural Law — 51,455.
Note: This article has been updated from a previous version to reflect final vote totals.
