FLINT, Mich. — Councilwoman Jerri Winfrey-Carter announced she will not seek reelection to represent Flint’s 5th Ward.
The 5th Ward councilwoman shared her decision in a Facebook post on Jan. 20, 2026.
Winfrey-Carter has served on the council since November 2017 and plans to complete her current term. After leaving office, she said she will continue working closely with residents to help them achieve their educational goals through adult literacy efforts.
The councilwoman’s full statement can be read below:
To the residents of the 5th Ward and the City of Flint:
After deep reflection, prayer, and honest consideration of where I am called to serve next, I want you to hear this directly from me: I will not be seeking re-election for City Council in the 2026 election cycle.
My service on the Flint City Council began in November 2017, and it has been a profound honor. For nearly a decade, I have fought hard for accountability, transparency, fairness, and respect for our residents. I stepped into this role to be a voice for the people, especially those who are too often overlooked, and I have carried that responsibility every single day with conviction and intention.
I will continue to serve the 5th Ward and the entire City of Flint with the same strength, urgency, and unwavering commitment until the very last day of this term. My responsibility to you does not diminish because I am choosing not to run again. If anything, this decision only intensifies my focus. I plan to finish this term boldly, fully, and unapologetically advocating for the needs of our community.
When my term ends, my service to Flint will not. My mission has always been rooted in education, empowerment, and community uplift. I will continue working closely with residents, especially through adult literacy, to help individuals achieve their educational goals, expand opportunities, and build stronger futures.
To every resident who has supported me, challenged me, prayed for me, and held me accountable: thank you. Serving you has shaped me, strengthened me, and reaffirmed my belief that Flint is full of resilient and determined people who deserve a government that truly works for them.
Strengthened by everything we have pushed through together, this chapter will end with integrity, clarity, and purpose. I will continue fighting as your councilwoman and advocating for you until my last day in office, and I will continue serving this community long after.
With sincerity and steadfast commitment,
Councilwoman Jerri Winfrey-Carter
City of Flint, 5th Ward
Her announcement comes less than two weeks after Councilman Dennis Pfeiffer also announced that he would not seek reelection.