Photo: Curtis Paul ~ WJR
DETROIT ~ Mary Sheffield was elected Tuesday as Detroit’s first female mayor, a milestone in the city’s 324-year history. The city council president defeated Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. with 77% of the vote, concluding a campaign driven by a promise to make Detroit’s resurgence reach every corner of the city.
“This is a victory for every little girl watching tonight,” Sheffield said during her victory speech. “Know that you are gifted, powerful, and capable of achieving anything you believe in.” Sheffield’s win follows a decade of public service, including her tenure as the youngest council member and later council president. Sheffield pledged to “build a Detroit that rises higher — together,” emphasizing equity and inclusion in city development.
PODCASTS:
Nov. 5, 2025 ~ Mario Morrow, president and CEO of Mario Morrow & Associates, joins Chris Renwick and Jamie Edmonds to recap the results from yesterday’s elections around metro Detroit. Photo: Mandi Wright ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
Nov. 5, 2025 ~ Sheila Cockrel joins Kevin Dietz to recap last night’s election results.
Nov. 5, 2025 ~ Roe Strategic Principal Jason Roe joins Chris Renwick and Jamie Edmonds to recap the results from key races where Democrats have swept across the country.
Nov. 4, 2025 ~ Mary Sheffield delivers her victory speech from her election night watch party at MGM Grand Casino Detroit, following her historic win as Detroit‘s first woman mayor. In her remarks, Sheffield outlines priorities for neighborhood investment, public safety, education, and inclusive governance across Detroit.
(CONTINUED) Kinloch, a popular pastor and political newcomer, campaigned on closing Detroit’s economic divide — arguing that the city’s leaders had concentrated too much on Downtown while leaving many neighborhoods behind. His platform, known as the “Kinloch Promise,” included anti-poverty initiatives, housing reform, and youth investment. In his concession speech Tuesday night, Kinloch thanked supporters and pledged to continue serving the city, saying the work was “far from over.”
Outgoing Mayor Mike Duggan, now a candidate for Michigan governor, endorsed Sheffield after the August primary and praised her leadership Tuesday in a statement: “She ran an outstanding campaign and will do a great job running the City of Detroit. Our city’s progress is in very good hands.” Duggan led Detroit through its post-bankruptcy recovery, and Sheffield has pledged to build on that legacy while expanding opportunity across the city.
Sheffield’s speech Tuesday carried a deeply personal tone, shaped by family and formative experiences. She honored her late mother, praised her 88-year-old grandmother who returned from retirement to canvass, and recalled a third-grade teacher who once noted her “gift for leading others.” “Tonight, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we go to work,” she told supporters, signaling a swift transition from celebration to action.
