Detroit Council President Sheffield, Pastor Kinloch Win Mayoral Primary

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield and Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. emerged as the top two candidates in the Detroit mayoral primary election and will face off in the November general election. Sheffield dominated the nine-candidate field with around 50-52% of the vote, while Kinloch secured roughly 17%, positioning himself as a political outsider focused on addressing economic and social inequalities in Detroit neighborhoods. Sheffield, a progressive leader since 2013 and council president since 2022, has advocated for affordable housing, tenant rights, and equitable investment strategies that benefit vulnerable residents. Kinloch, a senior pastor and former factory worker, is campaigning on expanding affordable housing, workforce training, and improving city services. The incumbent mayor, Mike Duggan, is not running for re-election as he seeks the governorship of Michigan. The race marks a potential historic moment since Sheffield could become the first woman mayor of Detroit since its incorporation in 1802.