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

July 1, 2025

A controversy erupted within the United Auto Workers (UAW) when some members created and distributed a flyer using the union's logo to promote Detroit mayoral candidate Mary Sheffield at a UAW Local 7 union hall. This caused tension because UAW leadership, including president Shawn Fain, had officially endorsed Sheffield's opponent, Reverend Solomon Kinloch Jr. The members who created the flyer, led by Lynda Jackson of UAW Local 7, were instructed by senior UAW leadership to remove the logo and relocate their event to Sheffield's campaign headquarters.

Who is affected

UAW members, particularly those 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 confused by conflicting endorsement messages

What action is being taken

Some UAW members are organizing support for Mary Sheffield despite the union's official endorsement of Kinloch
The members who created the flyer are relocating their pro-Sheffield event to her campaign headquarters
UAW leadership is pushing back against the unauthorized use of their logo
Sheffield's campaign removed the flyer from her Instagram story after being contacted

Why it matters

The incident highlights internal divisions within the UAW regarding political endorsements
It raises questions about the endorsement process, with Jackson suggesting Kinloch's church connections may have influenced the union's decision
The controversy reflects broader tensions about union member autonomy versus official union positions
The UAW's endorsement carries significant weight in Detroit politics, with the union promising to put "boots on the ground" for their endorsed candidate

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle