2025 Detroit mayoral election
City election in Detroit, US
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2025 Detroit mayoral election was held on November 4, 2025, to elect the next mayor of Detroit, Michigan. It was preceded by a primary election held on August 5, in which the two highest-placing candidates advanced to the general election.[1] Municipal elections in Michigan are officially nonpartisan.
| |||||||||||||
November 4, 2025
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
_(cropped).jpg)
Incumbent mayor Mike Duggan was eligible to run for re-election to a fourth term, but forwent re-election to instead focus on running in the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election.[2] Mary Sheffield, the Democratic Party-affiliated president of the Detroit City Council going into the mayoral election, defeated the Reverend Solomon Kinloch Jr., the senior pastor of a Southeast Michigan-based Charismatic Christian megachurch, in the November 4 general election.[3][4]
Candidates
Filed
The deadline for candidates to file their paperwork to appear on the ballot was April 22, 2025. The following candidates filed by that deadline:[5]
- Jonathan Barlow, businessman (party affiliation: Democratic)[6]
- James Craig, former chief of the Detroit Police Department (2013–2021) and candidate for Governor of Michigan in 2022 and U.S. Senate in 2024 (party affiliation: Republican)[7]
- Fred Durhal III, Detroit City Council member from the 7th district (2021–present) (party affiliation: Democratic)[8]
- Joel Haashiim, businessman (party affiliation: Democratic)[9]
- Saunteel Jenkins, former president of the Detroit City Council (2013–2014) from the at-large district (2010–2014) (party affiliation: Democratic)[10]
- Solomon Kinloch Jr., senior pastor of Triumph Church (party affiliation: Democratic)[11]
- Todd Perkins, attorney (party affiliation: Democratic)[12]
- Mary Sheffield, president of the Detroit City Council (2022–present) from the 5th district (2014–present) (party affiliation: Democratic)[9]
- DaNetta Simpson, retired cosmetologist, niece of Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad, and perennial candidate[13][14]
Write-in candidates
- Arnold Boyd, businessman[15]
- Rogelio Landin, Michigan state director for the League of United Latin American Citizens[13]
Declined
- Mike Duggan, incumbent mayor (2014–present): running for governor as an independent candidate[2]
- Garlin Gilchrist, Democratic incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (2019–present): running for governor[16]
- Portia Robertson, CEO of Focus: HOPE, member of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, and candidate for Michigan's 13th congressional district in 2022 (party affiliation: Democratic)[17]
- Joe Tate, Democratic state representative from the 10th district (2019–present) and former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: running for U.S. Senate (withdrew)[18][6]
- Mary D. Waters, at-large Detroit City Council member (2022–present) and candidate for Michigan's 13th congressional district in 2024 (party affiliation: Democratic): successfully ran for reelection the Detroit City Council[19][20][21]
Primary election
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
James Craig |
Fred Durhal |
Saunteel Jenkins |
Solomon Kinloch |
Todd Perkins |
Mary Sheffield |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glengariff Group[22][A] | May 27–29, 2025 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 9% | 2% | 8% | 14% | 4% | 38% | 3%[b] | 22% |
| Target Insyght[23] | May 4–7, 2025 | 400 (RV) | ± 5.0% | 19% | 2% | 7% | 25% | 5% | 32% | 1%[c] | 10% |
| Douglas Fulmer & Associates[24] | February 16–20, 2025 | 400 (RV) | ± 5% | 20% | 2% | 12% | 5% | 4% | 34% | 2%[d] | 21% |
Endorsements
Fred Durhal III
- Federal officials
- Sandy Baruah, CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber and former Administrator of the Small Business Administration (2008–2009)[25]
- Local officials
- Kevin Coleman, mayor of Westland (2023–present) and former state representative from the 25th district (2019–2023)[26]
- Tim Greimel, mayor of Pontiac (2022–present) and former minority leader of the Michigan House of Representatives (2013–2017) from the 29th district (2012–2019)[26]
- David LaGrand, mayor of Grand Rapids (2025–present) and former state representative from the 75th district (2016–2023)[26]
- Andy Schor, mayor of Lansing (2018–present) and former state representative from the 68th district (2013–2018)[26]
- Organizations
- Detroit Regional Chamber PAC[27]
Saunteel Jenkins
- Local officials
- Dave Bing, former mayor of Detroit (2009–2014)[28]
- QuanTez Pressley, at-large appointed Detroit Police Commissioner (2022–present)[29]
- Party officials
- Jerron Totten, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party LGBT and Allies Caucus (2025–present)[30]
- Individuals
- Christine Beatty, former Chief of Staff of the Mayor of Detroit's office (2002–2008)[29]
- Carla Walker-Miller, businesswoman and Henry Ford Museum trustee (2020–present)[29]
- Newspaper editorial boards
- Michigan Chronicle editorial board (co-endorsement with Sheffield)[31]
- The Detroit News editorial board[32]
Solomon Kinloch
- U.S. representatives
- Brenda Lawrence, former U.S. representative from Michigan's 14th congressional district (2015–2023)[33]
- County officials
- Jonathan Kinloch, Wayne County Commissioner from the 2nd district (2021–present) and 4th Vice Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party (2019–present) (candidate's brother)[34]
- Kym Worthy, Wayne County Prosecutor (2004–present)[11]
- Local officials
- Anthony Adams, former deputy mayor of Detroit (2002–2008) and runner-up for mayor in 2021[23]
- Ralph Godbee, former police chief of the Detroit Police Department (1987–2012)[34]
- Reneé Hall, former chief of the Dallas Police Department (2017–2020) and former Chief deputy of the Detroit Police Department (2014–2017)[35]
- Kandia Milton, former deputy mayor (2008) and acting mayor of Detroit (2008)[36]
- Individuals
- Shawn Fain, president of United Auto Workers (2023–present)[28]
- Party chapters
- 12th Congressional District Democratic Party[37]
- 13th Congressional District Democratic Party[e][34]
- Labor unions
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Michigan Chapter 925[38] and Retirees Chapter 255[39]
- United Auto Workers Region 1 and Region 1A[40]
Todd Perkins
- Municipal officials
- Richard Hathaway, former Wayne County Treasurer (2015–2016) and former 3rd circuit court judge (1985–2004) (campaign committee leader)[34]
Mary Sheffield
- Statewide officials
- Keith Ellison, Attorney General of Minnesota (2019–present) and former U.S. representative from MN-05 (2007–2019)[28]
- State legislators
- Mari Manoogian, former state representative from the 40th district (2019–2022)[41]
- Local officials
- Nicholas Hood III, former city councilor from the 3rd district (1994–2002) and 2001 mayoral candidate[42]
- Greg Mathis, former 36th judicial district court judge (1995–1998) and television court show arbitrator on Judge Mathis[43]
- Party officials
- Keith Williams, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus (2018–present) and former Wayne County Commissioner from the 6th district (2003–2010)[34]
- Individuals
- Melissa Butler, beauty entrepreneur[44]
- Benjamin Crump, civil rights attorney[28]
- Nick Rathod, founder of State Innovation Exchange (campaign advisor)[45]
- Marvin Winans, gospel singer and pastor[42]
- Organizations
- Labor unions
- International Association of Fire Fighters Local 344[47]
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58[48]
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council #43[49]
- Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1191[42]
- Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council[49]
- Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters[48]
- Service Employees International Union Michigan[50] and SEIU Healthcare Michigan[51]
- UNITE HERE Locals 24[52] and 1191[42]
- Newspaper editorial boards
- Detroit Free Press editorial board[53]
- Michigan Chronicle editorial board (co-endorsement with Jenkins)[31]
Declined to endorse in primary
- Local officials
- Mike Duggan, outgoing mayor of Detroit (2014–present) (Independent)[28]
- Latisha Johnson, city councilor from the 4th district (2022–present) (Democratic)[54]
- Gabriela Santiago-Romero, city councilor from the 6th district (2022–present) (Democratic)[54]
- Mary Waters, at-large city councilor (2022–present) and former state representative from the 4th district (2001–2007) (Democratic)[54]
- Political parties
- Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus[34]
Debates
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Participants | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn |
|||||||||||||
| Craig | Durhal | Jenkins | Kinloch | Perkins | Sheffield | ||||||||
| 1 | May 29, 2025 | Detroit Regional Chamber | Stephen Henderson Nolan Finley |
P | P | P | P | N | P | ||||
| 2 | June 16, 2025 | WDIV-TV AARP Michigan |
Jason Colthorp | P | N | P | P | N | P | ||||
| 3 | June 21, 2025 | Daily Detroit Eastside Community Network Outlier Media |
Orlando Bailey Donna Givens Davidson Jer Staes |
A | P | P | A | P | P | ||||
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Sheffield | 43,597 | 50.7 | |
| Solomon Kinloch | 14,900 | 17.3 | |
| Saunteel Jenkins | 13,738 | 16.0 | |
| Todd Perkins | 4,603 | 5.4 | |
| James Craig | 4,458 | 5.2 | |
| Fred Durhal III | 2,902 | 3.4 | |
| Jonathan Barlow | 707 | 0.8 | |
| DaNetta Simpson | 538 | 0.6 | |
| Joel Hashiim | 349 | 0.4 | |
| Write-in | 228 | 0.3 | |
| Total votes | 86,020 | 100.00 | |
General election
Candidates
- Mary Sheffield, president of the Detroit City Council (2022–present) from the 5th district (2014–present)
- Solomon Kinloch Jr., senior pastor of Triumph Church
Polling
Post-primary endorsements
Mary Sheffield
- 2025 mayoral candidates
- Fred Durhal III, city councilor from the 7th district (2021–present)[57]
- Saunteel Jenkins, former president of the Detroit City Council (2013–2014) from the at-large district (2010–2014)[58]
- Federal officials
- Sandy Baruah, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration (2008–2009)[59]
- Local officials
- Mike Duggan, former mayor of Detroit (2014–2026)[60]
- Svante Myrick, former mayor of Ithaca, New York (2012–2022)[61]
- Gabriela Santiago-Romero, city councilor from the 6th district (2022–present)[62]
- Individuals
- Juanita Bynum, gospel singer and pastor[63]
- Horace Sheffield III, pastor and talk show host (candidate's father)[63]
- Organizations
- Detroit Regional Chamber PAC[59]
- People for the American Way[61]
- Newspaper editorial boards
Debate
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Participants | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn |
|||||||||||||
| Kinloch | Sheffield | ||||||||||||
| 1 | October 15, 2025 | WXYZ-TV | Carolyn Clifford Chuck Stokes |
P | P | ||||||||
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Sheffield | 88,229 | 77.02% | |
| Solomon Kinloch Jr. | 25,725 | 22.46% | |
| Write-in | 601 | 0.52% | |
| Total votes | 114,555 | 100.00% | |
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - Jonathan Barlow, Joel Haashiim & DaNetta Simpson each with 1%
- John Barlow with 1%
- Joe Tate with 2%; Joel Haashim with 0%
- This chapter is led by Jonathan Kinloch, who is the candidate's brother. According to the article, Jonathan recused himself from screening and recommending in the endorsement process.
- Partisan clients
- Poll sponsored by The Detroit News and WDIV-TV
- Poll sponsored by The Detroit News and WDIV-TV