Editor’s note: This list has been updated as of Oct. 28.

For the first time since he won the role 12 years ago, Mike Duggan will not be on the ballot for Detroit mayor. His term expires at the end of 2025, opening up a competitive contest to succeed him. 

Voters made their choices from a wide field of candidates in the Aug. 5 primary. Mary Sheffield and Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., the top two vote-earners, will advance to face off in the Nov. 4 general election.

The City Council president took the first spot with 51% of the vote, capturing 43,572 votes out of 85,971 ballots cast. The Triumph Church leader received 17% of the vote, collecting 14,893 votes total.

Solomon Kinloch – Senior pastor, Triumph Church

Congregants confiding that they’ve felt ignored by government leaders is part of the reason why Rev. Solomon Kinloch says he decided to run for mayor in 2025. He’s seeking to unite corporate, nonprofit and community leaders around fixing Detroit’s biggest problems. Yet, Kinloch said he has no plans to step down from his role at the helm of a 40,000-member network of churches across the metro region.

He plans to release a four-year plan that outlines his ambitions for a prospective first term: Building new grocery stores to “end food deserts,” creating 10,000 units of affordable housing, supporting workforce training for $35 per hour jobs and launching the “greatest” downpayment assistance programs in Detroit’s history.

Mary Sheffield – Detroit City Council President

In her role as council president, Sheffield has had to carefully navigate decisions on offering massive tax breaks to secure developments that, in turn, create jobs and eventually new revenue for city services. Sheffield has often said she’s not against development but needs to see real benefits for residents in exchange for subsidies. She opposed a version of Detroit’s Community Benefits Ordinance that was backed by Duggan and approved by voters. Sheffield worried about the enforcement of community investments negotiated by residents and developers under the direction of the city. One of Sheffield’s first decisions on the council was to transfer city land to the Downtown Development Authority to build Little Caesars Arena. Sheffield said it was the right decision because the city needs new jobs. 

Sheffield launched her campaign in December by proposing an entertainment tax or a ticket surcharge at the entertainment venues of downtown, an idea to generate income for the city and reduce resident taxes by taxing visitors to the city. 

Write-in candidates

• Rogelio Landin – political advocate
• Angelo Brown – businessman
• Langston Burke
• Jeremy Conn – teacher
• Delores Scott
• Jamelle Sims

Unofficial Write-in

• Arnold Boyd – businessman

Editor’s note: Are you running and not on this list? Do you have a campaign website we missed? Reach out to lrazzaq@bridgedetroit.com.