DEARBORN-The Primary election results are in, and despite a low turn-out, three first time Arab American city council candidates landed in the Top 14, and will be advancing to the November elections.

Mike Sareini, with 5,302 votes, came in second place on the ballot. He received endorsements from both the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC), and Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly.

Meanwhile Susan Dabaja, came in third place with 4,696 votes. Dabaja was also one of seven candidates on the AAPAC endorsement list, but did not receive an endorsement from the Mayor. Dabaja paced ahead of several incumbents on the ballot, making her ranking all the more impressive.  

Tarek Baydoun also advances to the November election, coming in ninth place, with 3,308 votes. Baydoun also received AAPAC’s endorsement. 

Baydoun and Dabaja celebrated their victories together after the polls closed at a gathering at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center in Dearborn, where many of their campaigners had iftar after fasting all day..

In the mayoral category, current Dearborn Mayor O’Reilly unsurprisingly won in a landslide, with 8,592 votes. Edward Binkley will be his opponent on the November ballot, coming in a distant second place with 989 votes. 

For the city clerk race, Kathleen Buda comes in first place with 7,291 votes, while Khalil Dakhlallah comes in second place with 2,190 votes.

The Arab American News will have more detailed coverage of the Primary elections later this week.

Below are the results of the top 14 city council candidates who will be advancing to the November election. They will be vying for seven city council seats.  

Thomas Patrick Tafelski. . . . . . 5,637   8.99

Mike T. Sareini . . . . . . . . 5,302   8.46

Susan A. Dabaja . . . . . . . . 4,696   7.49

Patrick A. Melton. . . . . . . . 4,321   6.89

Mark C. Shooshanian . . . . . . . 4,302  6.86

Brian C. O’Donnell . . . . . . . 4,237    6.76

Robert Alex Abraham . . . . . . . 4,057   6.47

David W. Bazzy. . . . . . . . . 4,005   6.39

Tarek M. Baydoun . . . . . . . . 3,308   5.28

Sharon Dulmage. . . . . . . . . 3,258   5.20

Jane Ahern . . . . . . . . . . 3,013   4.81

Kristyn Taylor. . . . . . . . . 2,277   3.63

Colette Richards . . . . . . . . 2,172   3.46

Stephen S. Dobkowski, Jr. . . . . . 2,161   3.45