Mayor Mary Sheffield restored a city tradition Friday by hosting the first inaugural ball in decades to cap off a day of celebration for her new administration.
A lavish function with well-dressed guests reflected how much the city has changed since the previous Mayor Mike Duggan took office in 2014. A city spokesperson said that Duggan’s transition team at the time felt an ornate party might send the wrong message, given the city’s shadow of bankruptcy and emergency management.
“It is such an honor to have our first inaugural ball in quite some time,” Sheffield said during a brief speech Friday night. “Does anybody remember the last Inaugural Ball?”
“Not really,” someone in the audience answered.
Festivities for the 1994 inauguration of former Mayor Dennis Archer featured a feast at the city’s convention center, a concert featuring Ray Charles, and a ball at the State Theatre. His son, Dennis Archer Jr., led an inaugural committee that organized Sheffield’s coronation party, which also served as a fundraiser for the Homeless Action Network of Detroit.
All proceeds from Sheffield’s ball, which cost $100 for admission, were donated to HAND. Executive Director Tasha Gray said the funds would go to prevent homelessness for 500 households. Sheffield’s transition committee didn’t have an immediate figure for how much the event raised.
“If you all have followed my work in Detroit, you all know that my number one initiative has always been the issue of affordable housing and homelessness,” Sheffield said. “As your next mayor, I can guarantee you that I will elevate and support homelessness in the city of Detroit, making sure that families, mothers and children, our kids, have access to safe, quality, affordable housing.”
Mayor Mary Sheffield’s inaugural ball had supporters dressed in their best formal wear on Jan. 9, 2026. (BridgeDetroit photo by Malachi Barrett)
It was hosted at Icon Building, a former UAW and General Motors complex on the east riverfront now owned by Dan Gilbert’s real estate company. Sheffield’s transition team said no taxpayer, transition, or campaign funds were used.
State Rep. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn, said he plans to be an ally for Sheffield in the state Legislature. Dessa Cosma, executive director of Detroit Disability Power, said she’s encouraged by “genuine” conversations about improving transit issues happening among members of the transition team.
Transit activist Michael Cunningham wore a formal jacket with “Fix DDOT” on the back. Cunningham said he wanted to remind Detroit’s elite about the city’s less fortunate.
Sheffield marked the start of a “new chapter” Friday, beginning with a symbolic oath of office ceremony that drew hundreds of Detroit residents, faith leaders, public officials and political figures to the 2,700-seat Detroit Opera House.
Detroit Clerk Janice Winfrey and newly elected members of the City Council and Board of Police Commissioners also took their oaths of office during the “investiture” event.
Several political hopefuls seeking office in 2026 witnessed Sheffield take her place in history, including U.S. Senate candidates Mallory McMorrow and Abdul El-Sayed.
Three gubernatorial rivals sat together in the front row. Duggan, who is running as an independent, accepted a standing ovation from the audience as Democratic hopefuls Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Lt. Gov Garlin Gilchrist looked on.
Sheffield’s father Rev. Horace Sheffield III endorsed Benson for governor on his Saturday morning radio show. He said Duggan did a “great job” in Detroit, and talked with Duggan on Friday, but can’t support his gubernatorial ambitions.
“We have a theme among our comrades, 3Ds: Don’t do Duggan,” Horace Sheffield said on Saturday. “We cannot afford to parse our vote in a state with some Democratic control where Republicans act the way they are. Just imagine if they have complete and total power.”
Benson said the new mayor’s announcement that Detroit families will qualify for the Rx Kids program will bring critical financial support to new parents. Benson said she would seek to further expand the program if elected governor.
Sheffield told reporters her administration defines success as improving the well-being of all residents.
After the investiture event, Sheffield and her staff visited an east side high school, a senior housing building and Cooking with Que, a Black-owned culinary business.
The visits emphasized her priorities as mayor and provided a window into how her administration plans to deliver on her campaign promises. She also introduced residents to members of her staff and outlined some new initiatives.
Sheffield said the future of all residents is bound together and pledged to lead in partnership with Detroiters, “including voices that too often have been overlooked.”
She said every resident must feel the resurgence of the city, which she defined as expanding access to services, affordable housing, good-paying jobs, reliable transit, safe neighborhoods and opportunities for young people to realize their dreams in Detroit.