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Mary Sheffield One of Two Winners in Detroit’s Mayoral Primary Election: Kinloch, Jenkins Battle for Second

August 6, 2025

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield has emerged as the leading candidate in the mayoral primary election, securing 52% of votes with 72% of precincts reporting. She will advance to the November 4 general election alongside senior pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. , who received 17.

Who is affected

  • Detroit residents and voters
  • Mary Sheffield and Solomon Kinloch Jr. as the advancing candidates
  • Other mayoral candidates who did not advance (Saunteel Jenkins, James Craig, Todd Perkins, Fred Durhal III, etc.)
  • Detroit's Black community, particularly Black women, given the historic potential of Sheffield's candidacy
  • Detroit government undergoing transition

What action is being taken

  • Primary election voting is being conducted and tallied to determine the two candidates for the general election
  • The Associated Press is declaring Sheffield as one of the two leading vote-getters advancing to the general election
  • Sheffield is running a campaign focused on neighborhood reinvestment, land justice, and equitable economic growth
  • Kinloch is campaigning on platforms of public trust, economic mobility, and family support systems
  • City officials are encouraging broader voter participation for the November election

Why it matters

  • This election will determine Detroit's first new mayor in over a decade
  • Sheffield could potentially become the first woman and first Black woman elected mayor in Detroit's 324-year history
  • The election represents a shift in how leadership is defined in the majority-Black city
  • The next mayor will be tasked with steering Detroit through post-bankruptcy recovery
  • The winner will need to address major concerns around public safety, housing affordability, and economic inclusion
  • The election occurs during a sweeping municipal election cycle where all City Council seats, city clerk, and police commissioners are also being selected

What's next

  • The top two vote-getters (Sheffield and Kinloch) will face off in the general election on November 4
  • The winner of the general election will be tasked with leading Detroit's next phase of post-bankruptcy recovery
  • Community leaders are working to increase voter turnout for the November election, especially among younger residents, renters, and working-class families

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle