Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified a political committee connected to Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel Jr.
Cash is flowing to candidates vying to be Detroit’s next mayor from influential donors, local residents and deep-pockets that stretch far beyond the city.
Candidates seeking to make the August 2025 primary ballot were required last week to disclose fundraising activities during the final months of last year. The documents offer a glimpse of who is stacking dollars behind the seven possible successors to Mayor Mike Duggan.
Click here to see where donations are coming from
Several candidates have come forward since the last financial reports were due. Those who filed to run for mayor as of Feb. 3 include (in alphabetical order):
- Businessman Jonathan Barlow
- Detroit City Council Member Fred Durhal III
- Businessman Joel Haashiim
- Former nonprofit leader and council member Saunteel Jenkins
- Attorney Todd R. Perkins
- Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield
- Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate
Sheffield leads the fundraising, both in the amount of donations collected at the end of 2024 and the total left to spend on her campaign. She raised roughly $163,000 and has a larger pool of nearly $468,000 to spend.
Money from groups affiliated with billionaire Dan Gilbert has started moving toward Sheffield, who previously collected donations from the Moroun family. Her largest donor is Rock Holdings PAC, a political committee named for Gilbert’s company and partly funded by his family. Sheffield brought in big bucks from an Atlanta fundraiser but also has a pool of smaller donors – a Detroit teacher kicked in $1.
Tate collected $129,683 from individual donors and political committees, including more than $40,000 from other campaign accounts connected to Tate. He hasn’t launched his candidacy yet, but has been a strong fundraiser who developed relationships to statewide organizations during his time in Lansing.
Durhal was close behind, raising $112,090.
Jenkins raised $53,295. She hosted the most fundraising events, according to public records, and has the support of former Mayor Dave Bing and Rip Rapson, CEO of The Kresge Foundation.
Haashiim, a Detroit businessman who hasn’t advertised any public campaign events, loaned himself $16,500. Barlow and Perkins formed their committees after the Jan. 31 filing deadline, so their fundraising activity hasn’t yet been documented.
Disclosures reviewed by BridgeDetroit show several donors gave to multiple candidates, possibly hedging their bets in a growing field of contenders. Sometimes the amounts were identical, but varied widely in other cases – Operating Engineers Local 324 gave Tate $25,000 and Durhal $2,000, for example.
Yourself Almadrah donated $8,325 to Sheffield and Durhal. Real estate developer Richard Hosey gave Sheffield and Durhal $1,000 each.
Todd Sachse, executive of Sachse Construction, gave $1,000 to Durhal and $500 to Sheffield. Jim Nicholson, co-chair of PVS Chemicals, gave Jenkins $2,000 and Durhal $1,000.
Click here for a breakdown of the previous round of campaign finance disclosures.
Donors listed below do not represent a comprehensive list. Anyone can view fundraising information through Wayne County’s online system here.
Mary Sheffield
Sheffield had $467,852 in cash to use on her campaign at the start of this year. She raised $162,830 from Oct. 21 through the end of December. So far, she’s collected $299,188 from individual donors and spent $62,079.
Sheffield formally launched her campaign in December, but her fundraising committee was formed in 2023. Her donors include a mix of entrepreneurs, executive, nonprofit leaders, attorneys and construction contractors.
Her largest donor was Rock Holdings Inc., the parent company of Quicken Loans and other Dan Gilbert companies. Sheffield received $13,000 from a political committee representing Rock and funded in part by members of the Gilbert family.
Bedrock Chief Operating Officer Ivy Greaner, listed as a Florida resident, donated $500.
A political committee representing Deldin Law gave Sheffield $10,000. The Grosse Pointe law firm is owned by Marc Deldin, who also gave Sheffield $8,235.
Another $8,325 was provided by Wafa Eljahmi, who names her employer as Special Medical Services.
Strategic Staffing Solutions CEO Cindy Pasky, who appeared on stage with Sheffield during her December campaign launch, gave the campaign $8,000. Activist Teferi Brent also spoke at Sheffield’s launch and gave $250.
Hiram Jackson, executive of Real Times Media and Michigan Chronicle Publisher, gave $1,000.
Sherry Butler Brown, manager of Capers Steakhouse, gave $2,000. Issam Yaldo, owner of the longtime eastside grocery store Parkway Foods, gave $1,000.
Bobby Christian, who runs the Eastside Colts youth football league, donated $1,000. Christian unsuccessfully ran for Wayne County Commissioner in 2024.
Smaller donors included entrepreneurs and community leaders like WeRun313 co-founder Lance Woods, who gave $100 and$250 from Bird Anderson, an events promoter and owner of Octane clothing brand.
Maha Freij, CEO of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), gave Sheffield $500. Freij is a Palestinian-American who became the first Arab woman to earn an accounting license in Israel before immigrating to the United States. ACCESS Chief Operating Officer Lina Harajli also gave $500.
Toby Barlow, owner of Detroit-based creative agency Lafayette American, gave Sheffield $500.
Sheffield is also bringing in cash from people in the entertainment industry.
Demetrice Dixon, a producer with Tyler Perry Studios and stylist on blockbusters like “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” pitched in $25. Jonte Bothwell, owner of Smoke Promotions and actor in local film productions, gave $1,000. Tarik Haygood, president of Punchline Comedy Lounge, gave $250.
Construction firms that do business with the city of Detroit continue to be a source of donations. Gayanga founder Brian McKinney gave $1,000.
Sheffield has also started pulling in money from across the country. In the latest filing, she gathered $17,979 in donations from people who don’t live in Michigan.
Sheffield held a Nov. 23 fundraiser at an Italian restaurant in Atlanta, where she raised $6,479. One of the donors included Sukari Johnson, who founded a travel agency for mothers. Marc Hardy, president of a Georgia facilities cleaning company, donated $2,600.
Louisiana real estate agent Jamar Thrower and Atlanta venture capitalist Arian Simone Reed each donated $2,500.
Reed co-founded the Fearless Fund, which provides support to entrepreneurs. It was forced to end a grant program for Black women after settling a federal lawsuit with a conservative activist who argued the program discriminated against non-Black business owners.
Sheffield received $250 from Steven Parker a lobbyist for Atlanta’s metro rail system. Love Cannabis Co. CEO Amru Meah Li gave $250
Leslie Love, a former state lawmaker and assistant deputy director for the Michigan Department of Transportation, gave $100.
Cleophus Bradley, director of operations for the Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance, gave $100.
Sheffield spent $26,000 on consulting fees with 98 Forward and $3,660 to AVIMA Design for her campaign website, buttons, bumper stickers and T-shirts. Sheffield also paid Dante Rionda, a photographer who works for the city, $400.
Molly Goldberg was paid $8,062 for consulting. Sheffield also paid Wisconsin-based Uprising Strategies $2,000 for consulting work. She paid California-based Political Data Intelligence for robo call services.
Saunteel Jenkins
Jenkins had $116,709 in cash on hand to spend on her campaign when 2025 started.
She raised $53,295 from Oct. 21, 2024 through the end of December. Jenkins collected $173,205 from individual donors and spent $52,632.
Jenkins formally launched her campaign in January but had formed a fundraising committee in August. Donors include business and nonprofit leaders, plus attorneys, consultants and dozens of smaller donations from residents who didn’t list their occupations.
Her largest donation ($5,000) came from William Phillips, CEO of PIE Management employment agency. Jenkins received $2,500 donations from E’Lois Thomas, president of Solutions for Energy Efficient Logistics, Mariners Inn COO Carina Jackson and Linda Orlans, founder of a multi-state law firm.
Bing, Detroit’s former mayor, now a Franklin resident, gave Jenkins $1,000. He was listed as a guest host for a January fundraiser.
Jenkins held three campaign fundraisers in December before her public kickoff. Walker-Miller Energy Services Senior Vice President Dan Ringo hosted the first on Dec. 4. It was attended by 45 people and Jenkins collected $10,250.
Two days later, she collected $1,500 more at a second fundraiser attended by 25 people. It was held at a Detroit home owned by Colleen Robar, according to Wayne County records. Robar is a public relations representative for Jenkins.
A third fundraiser was hosted by Donna Joseph-Kemp at her home in Bloomfield Hills. It was attended by 35 people and raised $6,650. Joseph-Kemp donated $1,500 personally.
Jenkins had just over a dozen donors who live outside of Michigan who collectively gave in $2,100 the latest report.
Jenkins received donations from several people with political connections. Former state representative and twice-failed congressional candidate Adam Hollier gave Jenkins $250. Rachel Kuntzsch, founder of the nonpartisan policy firm Public Sector Consulting, gave $1,000.
Rip Rapson, executive of The Kresge Foundation, gave Jenkins $1,000. Multiple others with the foundation donated to Jenkins earlier in the year.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan President Dan Loepp also gave $1,000.
Thomas Hardiman, a former city contractor who testified against conspirators in the bribery case against former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, gave Jenkins $500.
Another notable donor is Fay Beydoun, who gave $500. The CEO of Global Link made headlines after The Detroit News found Beydoun received a $20 million state grant before her business accelerator organization was created. The grant was reportedly used on a $4,500 coffee maker plus $408,000 in salaries for Beydoun and another person.
LaShawn Carrington, manager at JPMorgan Chase, gave $1,950.
Woodbridge Pub co-owner Spiro Vamvakas gave Jenkins $1,000. Comerica Bank Associate Vice President Alexander Berry gave $1,000. So did Ann Arbor consultant Leslie Murphy.
Fred Durhal III
Durhal had $111,778 in cash on hand to spend on his campaign when 2025 started.
He raised $112,090 from individuals and spent $311. Durhal formed his candidate committee last October and formally launched his candidacy in January.
Durhal’s largest donation ($10,300) came from Advancing for Detroit and MI, a political committee. The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters gave $10,000.
Durhal’s wife Briaunna, an attorney with a Chicago-based law firm, donated $8,325.
Durhal received $1,000 from Hertel for Michigan, a political committee connected to state Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores.
Virgil Bernero, a former state lawmaker and Lansing mayor, gave Durhal $250. So did Brad Dick, former Detroit chief operating officer in the Duggan administration. Former City Planning Director Antoine Bryant, now managing director of Detroit-based architecture firm Gensler, also gave $250.
Majid Shaukat, a project supervisor for DMC Group, donated $8,000. Durhal also received $2,500 from Manish Chaudhary, CEO of DMC Group.
Dewey Santoro, owner of an auto mechanic company that bears his name, gave $3,000, which was matched by Francis Santoro.
Durhal received $3,000 from Paul Quasarano, owner of Eastown Distributors, a family-owned beverage distributor based in Highland Park.
Donors include a few prominent downtown figures. Jared Fleisher, vice president of Rock, gave Durhal $2,000.
Visit Detroit CEO Claude Molinari gave Durhal $250. Chris Chamberlain, owner and Captain of Princess Riverboats, gave $900.
Out of state donors contributed $7,410 to Durhal’s campaign. Chris Mitchell, CEO of the Iowa Hospital Association, gave $3,000.
Durhal received $1,500 from Chicago lawyer Andrew Schapiro, who works at the same firm as Durhal’s wife.
Durhal received $1,000 from Juvaria Khan, executive director of the Appellate Project. The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit supports law students of color.
Most of his campaign cash remains unspent. His committee paid Allied Media $311 for yard signs.
Joe Tate
Tate has $128,683 in cash to spend on his campaign at the start of 2025.
Tate formed a campaign committee in November but hasn’t officially launched his candidacy. Documents label the organization as an “exploratory committee,” which has no real meaning in Michigan campaign finance law.
Tate raised $89,583 from donors between Nov. 21 and the end of 2024. He spent $899. Political committees made up most of Tate’s early fundraising.
Tate moved $40,000 from his state House campaign committee and $1,000 from a political committee used to fund other Democrats.
Operating Engineers Local 324 was Tate’s top donor, giving him $25,000. The Transformational Leadership Fund gave Tate $16,977. The political committee was funded by a number of donors and took $50,000 from Central Transport Owner Matthew Moroun in 2024.
The MI Forward Fund gave Tate $6,830. It was a major contributor to Michigan House Democrats in 2024 and has the same treasurer as Tate’s campaign committee.
Antonio Pollicella, CEO of Team Wellness, gave Tate $8,325, making him the top individual donor.
Georges Investment Group owner James George and Patricia George each gave Tate $8,300. Alan Baskins, CFO of Group 10 Management, gave $5,000.
David Meador, executive director of Detroit Regional CEO Group, gave Tate $5,000 and Jennifer Hayes, senior vice president of Invest Detroit, gave $500.
Tate has no out of state donors so far.
Editor’s note: This story was updated since publication to correct David Meador’s title and affiliation.
Our People perish for lack of a Political Education (or lack of reading a dam thing). If Detroiters just researched into who donating and who’s pulling the strings of a predominantly Black City with Kids graduating reading on a 5th grade level they’d Vote their own interests instead of a Corporate Masters. Remember all Skin Folk ain’t Kin Folk.