BridgeDetroit reached out to voters we met throughout the campaign season. Their reactions were mixed — and some said they didn’t even know the debate was on.
Malachi Barrett
Malachi Barrett is a mission-oriented reporter working to liberate information for Detroiters.
Barrett previously worked for MLive covering local news and statewide politics in Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Detroit. He was named Michigan’s 2019 Newspaper Rising Star by the Associated Press. Barrett graduated from Central Michigan University in 2016.
Barrett lives in Detroit's Pingree Park neighborhood on the eastside with his wife. He's mostly from Battle Creek, but also lived in California, Wisconsin, West Virginia, South Carolina and Japan.
Posted inElection 2025
Mary Sheffield, Solomon Kinloch fight for Detroit’s future in heated mayoral debate
The hour-long debate — so far, the only televised debate ahead of the Nov. 4 general election — featured several testy exchanges between the two candidates seeking to replace outgoing Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who is running for governor as an independent in 2026.
Posted inElection 2025
Live updates: Sheffield and Kinloch face off in Detroit mayoral debate
Follow live updates and analysis by BridgeDetroit and The Detroit Free Press on the Detroit mayoral debate.
Posted inMichigan Government, Transportation
Passenger train planned for Detroit transit hub at Michigan Central campus
The transit hub would be built across the street on land owned by Ford Motor Co. Riders who travel to and from Canada would go through a border checkpoint in Windsor.
Posted inElection 2025
7 things we learned from our last big Sheffield interview
City Council President and mayoral candidate Mary Sheffield joined us on Oct. 9 for a long interview touching on a variety of topics about her leadership style, policy platform and commitment to transparency ahead of the Nov. 4 general election.
Posted inCity Council Notebook
Appeals court rules Detroit ShotSpotter contracts violated oversight law
Malachi Barrett has the latest from Detroit City Council: A ruling on ShotSpotter, free bus rides to the polls, disaster funding for public housing and Pistons redevelopment plan.
Posted inCity Council Notebook, Environment
Benson seeks options to close Cadillac Heights concrete facility
Detroiters, elected officials and organizers held a rally last week demanding closure of the plant, which was allowed to stay open despite being initially built without proper permits.
Posted inBusiness, Civic and Community Information
What’s in Detroit City FC community benefits proposal?
Detroit City FC agreed to create plans to tackle parking, housing, noise reduction from construction and more.
Posted inElection 2025
Kinloch campaign targets unhappy residents with pitch for new leadership
With the Nov. 4 election just weeks away and absentee ballots mailed out, Rev. Solomon Kinloch and City Council President Mary Sheffield are making their final efforts to reach voters and will face off during a live debate on Oct. 15 broadcast by WXYZ-Channel 7.
Posted inCity Council Notebook
Saving old schools could save the neighborhood
Outgoing Ombudsman Bruce Simpson released his final report to the City Council to put the contributions made under his administration on the public record.