Detroit Mayor's Race: Mary Sheffield and Solomon Kinloch Jr. Advance to General Election

Strategic Insights -

Mary Sheffield, City Council President, emerged as the leading vote-getter in the crowded mayoral race in Detroit, with 52.0% of the vote (32,525 ballots cast in her favor) and 72% of the precincts reporting. Sheffield, who has served as City Council President since 2013, would become the first woman elected mayor in Detroit's 324-year history and the first Black woman to lead the city if she wins in November. She will face off against Solomon Kinloch Jr., senior pastor of Triumph Church, who secured 17.3% of the vote (10,832 ballots cast in his favor).

Key Takeaways:

  • Mary Sheffield, City Council President, secured 52.0% of the vote (32,525 ballots cast in her favor) and 72% of the precincts reporting, with a significant lead over the other candidates.
  • Solomon Kinloch Jr., senior pastor of Triumph Church, secured 17.3% of the vote (10,832 ballots cast in his favor) and will move on to the general election as the second-place finisher.
  • Sheffield's campaign has focused on neighborhood reinvestment, land justice, and equitable economic growth, themes she has championed during her time chairing the Planning and Economic Development Committee.
  • Kinloch's campaign has emphasized public trust, economic mobility, and family support systems, core issues for a city still grappling with systemic disinvestment and intergenerational poverty.
  • The top two vote-getters from the nonpartisan primary will move forward to November, when the winner will be tasked with steering Detroit through the next phase of post-bankruptcy recovery, addressing major concerns around public safety, housing affordability, and economic inclusion.
  • This election arrives during a year of major transition for the Detroit government, with every City Council seat up for grabs following redistricting, and voters will also select a new city clerk and seven members of the Board of Police Commissioners.
  • Fred Durhal III, current city council member and former State Representative for Michigan's 10th District, placed fifth in the primary with a focus on business alignment and economic development, securing a key endorsement from the Detroit Regional Chamber.
  • The election will feature a high-stakes match-up between two distinct visions for Detroit's future, both shaped by Black leadership and local legacy, with the voter base determining whether it leans toward institutional experience or pastoral stewardship as its next guiding force.

Statistics:

  • 52.0% of the vote (32,525 ballots cast in her favor) with 72% of the precincts reporting.
  • 17.3% of the vote (10,832 ballots cast in his favor) with 72% of the precincts reporting.
  • 9,163 votes (14.7%) for Saunteel Jenkins, former City Council president.
  • 3,553 votes (5.7%) for James Craig, former police chief.
  • 3,188 votes (5.1%) for Todd Perkins, defense attorney.
  • 2,018 votes (3.2%) for Fred Durhal III, current city council member and former State Representative for Michigan's 10th District.
  • 264 votes for Joel Haashiim, write-in candidate.

Sources:

  • "Detroit Mayor's Race: Mary Sheffield and Solomon Kinloch Jr. Advance to General Election" by Ebony JJ Curry, Senior Reporter for the Michigan Chronicle.