Detroit Mayoral Primary Race Held

This Tuesday, Detroit residents voted in the primary election for the next Mayor of Detroit. Current Mayor Mike Duggan chose not to run for reelection, opting instead to run for governor in 2026. With approximately 645,000 residents, Detroit is the most populous city in Michigan, with a population more than triple that of the second largest city, Grand Rapids. As such, the city always has, and continues to, have a significant impact on the state. As the resurgence in the city continues to grow each year, all eyes will be on this race in November.

Candidates:

• • Nine candidates were running in the primary, including a former state representative, former Detroit City Council president, and the former Detroit Chief of Police.
  • Of those, two candidates will move forward to this November’s election: Mary Sheffield and Rev. Solomon Kinloch.

Mary Sheffield:

• • She received 50.68% of the vote.
  • Currently, she serves as the president of the Detroit City Council.
  • In 2013, at the age of 26, she was the youngest person elected to the Detroit City Council.
  • Additionally, Ms. Sheffield has been appointed to serve on the boards of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), and the General Retirement System Pension Board.
  • Endorsements include:
    • The Detroit Free Press
    • Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus
    • SEIU Michigan

Rev. Solomon Kinloch:

• • He received 17.32% of the vote.
  • He’s served as the senior pastor of Triumph Church for 27 years.
  • The church has multiple campuses and more than 40,000 members.
  • Prior to becoming a pastor, Rev. Kinloch worked at the Chevy Gear and Axle plant.
  • Endorsements include:
    • Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence
    • The UAW
    • AFSCME Michigan 925