Oakland County, Michigan

Judge of District Court — 47th District (non-incumbent position)

2 candidates are tracked for Judge of District Court — 47th District (non-incumbent position) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Moneka Sanford and Michael Sawicky. Candidate information follows official Oakland County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Moneka Sanford won the most votes with about 40 percent and Michael Sawicky advanced with about 35 percent in the August 4 nonpartisan primary, eliminating Anthony Bordoley and Shelley Drain, per official results certified by the Michigan Secretary of State; Sanford and Sawicky meet on the November 3 ballot.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot.

Michigan › Oakland County › Judge of District Court — 47th District (non-incumbent position)

Moneka Sanford

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

A balanced, fair and common-sense approach rooted in courtroom experience
Commitment to fairness, dignity and equal access to justice

Per the campaign site.

Biography

An attorney, state-trained social worker, and court-appointed advocate with more than 20 years of legal experience who actively practices in the 47th District Court, per her campaign site. At the League of Women Voters forum she emphasized staying current on the law and on courtroom technology, per C and G Newspapers.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Michael Sawicky

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Ensuring fair, efficient court operations that serve all community members
Applying the law firmly and fairly without political influence
Supporting accountability paired with treatment in cases involving addiction or mental health

Per the campaign site.

Biography

The sitting magistrate of the 47th District Court, where he conducts arraignments, authorizes warrants, and presides over small claims and traffic hearings, per his campaign site. An attorney since 1995 and former Oakland County assistant prosecuting attorney, he authored the arrest and arraignment chapter of the Michigan Criminal Procedure Handbook, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotWest Bloomfield Township Supervisor (Democratic primary)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Judge of District Court — 47th District (non-incumbent position) in 2026?

When is the Judge of District Court — 47th District (non-incumbent position) election in Michigan?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Michigan are on the Michigan election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Oakland County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Oakland County and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Michigan election office, or see the full Oakland County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Oakland County ballot

44 tracked races in Oakland County, Michigan. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

West Bloomfield Township Trustee (Democratic primary)Holly Township Park Commissioner Groveland Township Trustee (Republican primary)See all 44 Oakland County races

Candidate profiles

Moneka Sanford, full profile Michael Sawicky, full profile Official Michigan election office