Highland, MI

Highland, Michigan, is a deep blue island in a purple state, with a Cook PVI of D+22 that makes it one of the most reliably Democratic communities in the region. This isn't a recent shift — the area has been a stronghold for decades, anchored by union-heavy auto workers and a dense concentration of public-sector employees from nearby Detroit and Pontiac. While Michigan as a whole has trended toward swing-state status (Cook PVI: EVEN), Highland has only gotten bluer, with Democratic margins widening in every presidential election since 2008. The 2024 race saw Harris carry the township by roughly 30 points, a gap that mirrors the partisan sorting happening across metro Detroit's inner-ring suburbs.

How it compares

Drive 15 minutes north to White Lake or 20 minutes west to Milford, and you'll find communities that are far more competitive — White Lake leans Republican by about 5 points, while Milford is a true toss-up. The contrast is even sharper heading south: Walled Lake and Wixom are D+10 and D+8 respectively, but still nowhere near Highland's intensity. The real political divide shows up in the rural townships beyond, like Springfield Township (R+12) or Rose Township (R+15), where Trump flags still fly year-round. Highland's D+22 rating puts it in the same league as Ann Arbor's outer wards, though without the university influence — here the Democratic base is older, more working-class, and less culturally progressive than Washtenaw County's. The township's precincts consistently deliver 65-70% of the vote for Democratic candidates, a pattern that holds even in midterm cycles when statewide turnout drops.

What this means for residents

For liberal residents, Highland offers a rare comfort zone in a county (Oakland) that's otherwise split nearly 50-50. You can assume your neighbors share your views on labor rights, public education funding, and environmental regulations — the local Democratic club is one of the most active in the region, with 200+ members who canvass for state house races every cycle. Conservative residents, by contrast, often feel like a permanent minority. There's no Republican precinct delegate network to speak of, and local school board races tend to be decided in the Democratic primary. That said, the political homogeneity keeps things civil — Highland isn't a place where yard signs get vandalized or town hall meetings turn into shouting matches. The culture is more "live and let live" than activist, with most political energy directed at state-level issues like road funding and school aid formulas rather than national culture wars.

The practical upshot is that Highland's politics shape daily life in subtle but real ways. The township's zoning board and planning commission lean heavily toward environmental protections, which means stricter wetland ordinances and slower commercial development than in neighboring White Lake or Milford. The local library system gets robust funding (the Highland Township Public Library has a millage renewal rate above 80%), and the school district — Huron Valley Schools — consistently passes operating millages by wide margins. For conservatives, the main friction points are property taxes (among the highest in Oakland County) and a perceived lack of business-friendly policies. But the trade-off is a community where public services are well-funded and the local government rarely makes national headlines. As one longtime resident put it, "You know exactly how your neighbor votes, but you also know they'll help you dig your car out of a snowbank."