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

July 1, 2025

A controversy erupted in Detroit's mayoral race when UAW members supporting City Council president Mary Sheffield created a flyer using the union's logo for a campaign event, despite the UAW officially endorsing her opponent, Reverend Solomon Kinloch Jr. The unauthorized flyer was briefly posted on Sheffield's Instagram before being removed after media inquiries. UAW leadership criticized Sheffield for the confusion, though her campaign denied responsibility, clarifying that union members created the flyer independently.

Who is affected

UAW members, particularly those from Local 7 and Local 51
Detroit City Council president and mayoral candidate Mary Sheffield
Triumph Church pastor and mayoral candidate Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr.
UAW leadership, including president Shawn Fain and Region 1 director LaShawn English
Detroit voters who may be confused about the UAW's official position

What action is being taken

UAW members supporting Sheffield are relocating their event from a union hall to her campaign headquarters
UAW leadership is publicly criticizing Sheffield for the unauthorized use of the union logo
The UAW is continuing to support Kinloch's campaign with official endorsement and resources
Some UAW members are organizing support for Sheffield despite their leadership's endorsement

Why it matters

The incident highlights division within the UAW regarding the mayoral race
The unauthorized use of the UAW logo could mislead voters about which candidate has the union's official backing
The situation reflects broader tensions within unions when members support candidates different from official endorsements
It demonstrates how union endorsements can influence local politics in Detroit

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle