Detroit’s 2025 ballot taking shape

April 19, 2025

As the April 22 deadline approaches for Detroit's 2025 mayoral race candidates to submit nominating petitions, only three candidates (City Council President Mary Sheffield, Joel Haashiim, and Jonathan Barlow) have been officially certified for the August 5 primary ballot as of April 17. Former nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins and DaNetta Simpson recently submitted their signatures, while Council Member Fred Durhal III plans to submit on the deadline day, with election officials having 10 days to validate all signatures. The mayoral race is taking shape alongside City Council contests across all districts, with various candidates at different stages of the certification process, and several candidate forums scheduled in the coming months to allow voters to hear directly from those running.

Who is affected

Detroit voters who will choose the next mayor and city council members
The 32 potential mayoral candidates who requested nominating petitions
Current candidates seeking certification (Sheffield, Haashiim, Barlow, Jenkins, Simpson, Durhal, Craig)
City Council candidates across all seven districts and at-large positions
Detroit residents who rely on city services that will be managed by the elected officials
Transit users and workers affected by potential policy changes
Middle-class Detroit residents targeted by proposed economic initiatives

What action is being taken

Candidates are collecting and submitting nominating petitions with required signatures from Detroit voters
The Detroit Election Department is certifying candidates who have submitted sufficient valid signatures
Organizations are scheduling mayoral candidate forums for April through July 2024
Campaigns are generating media coverage and social media content around signature submissions
Candidates are conducting community outreach by visiting churches, markets, and community events
Detroit Future City is providing policy recommendations to the next mayor
Transit activists are organizing bus ride-alongs with candidates to highlight transit issues

Why it matters

The April 22 deadline and subsequent validation period will determine who appears on the August 5 primary ballot
This election will determine Detroit's leadership for addressing key challenges including public transit, housing, economic development, and public safety
The campaign provides opportunities for voters to directly interact with candidates and evaluate their qualifications
Candidate strategies demonstrate different approaches to engaging with Detroit residents and addressing city issues
The election comes at a critical time as the city faces the loss of pandemic funding and looming debt obligations
Policy proposals from candidates present different visions for addressing Detroit's challenges

What's next

April 22 at 4 p.m. is the deadline for candidates to submit nominating petitions
The Detroit Election Department will validate signatures within 10 days, potentially finalizing the ballot by early May
Multiple mayoral candidate forums are scheduled, including an AFL-CIO/SEIU forum on April 29, a No BS News Hour forum on May 22, and a BridgeDetroit/Detroit Parks Coalition forum on July 24
Transportation Riders United will host a transit-focused mayoral forum in June

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com