Biography
Willie Burton is the Democratic candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives, District 9, in the November 3, 2026 general election, after advancing from the August 4 Democratic primary.[1][2] A Detroit community organizer, he previously served on the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners, representing District 5 until 2026.[1]
Burton was born in Detroit and earned a high school diploma from Kettering High School.[1] Ballotpedia lists his affiliations as including the National Action Network, the Southeast Michigan Progressive Democratic Caucus, the Democratic Socialists of America, and the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, he described himself as a lifelong Detroiter and a three-term Detroit Police Commissioner Emeritus.[3]
Burton won election to the Board of Police Commissioners District 5 seat as an incumbent in 2021, and in the November 4, 2025 general election for Detroit City Council District 5 he received 43.1 percent of the vote to Renata Miller's 55.7 percent.[1] In the survey, he said his campaign centers on economic opportunity, public safety, workers' rights, infrastructure, health care and education.[3]
- 1.Willie Burton - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Willie Burton - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, 2026 · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Michigan House District 9
Willie Burton is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Michigan House District 9 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.