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Some UAW Members Break with Leadership to Support Mary Sheffield for Detroit Mayor

July 1, 2025

A controversy erupted within the UAW when some members created and distributed a flyer featuring the union's logo to promote a campaign event for Detroit mayoral candidate Mary Sheffield at a UAW hall, despite the union officially endorsing her opponent, Solomon Kinloch Jr. UAW leadership quickly intervened, instructing members to remove the logo and relocate the event to Sheffield's campaign headquarters instead of the union hall. The incident prompted criticism from both the UAW and Kinloch's campaign about Sheffield potentially causing confusion about the union's official endorsement.

Who is affected

  • UAW members, particularly from Local 7 and Local 51
  • Detroit mayoral candidates Mary Sheffield and Solomon Kinloch Jr.
  • UAW leadership, including President Shawn Fain and Region 1 Director LaShawn English
  • Detroit voters who might be influenced by union endorsements

What action is being taken

  • Some UAW members are organizing support for Sheffield despite the union's official endorsement of Kinloch
  • UAW leadership is enforcing proper use of their logo and clarifying their official endorsement
  • The member-organized event supporting Sheffield is being relocated from the union hall to Sheffield's campaign headquarters
  • Sheffield's campaign removed the controversial flyer from social media after being contacted

Why it matters

  • The incident highlights internal divisions within the UAW regarding the Detroit mayoral race
  • It raises questions about proper use of union resources and symbols in political campaigns
  • The controversy reflects tensions between official union endorsements and individual members' right to support candidates of their choice
  • The incident demonstrates how union endorsements can influence local political races

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle