Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. launched his candidacy for Detroit mayor in 2025 by positioning himself as a spiritual leader and unifying community builder who has already put in years of work to improve the lives of Detroit families. 

Kinloch, 51, became pastor of Triumph Church in 1998 and oversaw the rapid expansion of the Detroit-based Christian church. He leads a regional congregation of 40,000 members spanning eight locations from Detroit to Flint. Kinloch formed his candidate committee early Wednesday and launched his mayoral campaign on an energetic “one big night” at The Fox Theatre. 

“So somebody might ask tonight, ‘What does a pastor know about being mayor?’” Kinloch said. “For 27 years, I’ve been on the front line to build people up, build families up, to build neighborhoods up … When you ask the question: Why would a preacher and a pastor get involved in politics? The question I ask is, why did we ever stop?”

Kinloch outlined a plan to build 10 grocery stores in “strategic locations” to “end food deserts” in Detroit, add 10,000 new units of affordable units through a housing “strike force,” and further support for federally-funded job training and downpayment assistance programs.

“We can achieve these goals if the next mayor empowers nonprofit foundations to work together with community groups and neighborhood organizations,” Kinloch said. “We are willing, yes, we are willing to work with any CEO and any corporate leader that is willing to work to invest in the future well-being of the people in the city of Detroit.”

Thousands of supporters filled the lower bowl of the theater. It was the largest crowd at a mayoral launch thus far. His remarks were preceded by a musical performance that had attendees on their feet.

It’s not uncommon for Kinloch to draw a crowd, but the mayoral race is Kinloch’s first foray into politics as a candidate.

Still, he’s orbited elected officials and hosted discussions on certain issues for years. He is reportedly a longtime friend of former U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence and hosted campaign events for President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the late U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Mayor Mike Duggan and others.

Triumph Church hosted Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson in October to stump for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. Kinloch also hosted Harris in Southfield during the 2020 campaign and gave a prayer at Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2018 inauguration.

Kinloch has said Christians have a responsibility to live out their spirituality by improving their communities. In a 2023 interview with Bankole Thompson, Kinloch said political leaders must tackle structural and systemic issues, criticizing politicians who don’t build real partnerships with the faith community but beg for their votes in the 11th hour. 

Kinloch is the latest to join what is becoming a crowded August primary. The two top candidates will advance to the November general election. Other candidates who filed to run for mayor in 2025 include:

• Businessman Jonathan Barlow 
• City Council Member Fred Durhal III 
• Retired businessman Joel Haashiim 
• Former nonprofit CEO and City Council Member Saunteel Jenkins
• Attorney Todd R. Perkins
• State Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit
• City Council President Mary Sheffield 

Kinloch did not take questions from the press after his event, unlike Sheffield, Durhal and Jenkins.

Supporters promote Kinloch as having deep community relationships and strong fundraising potential. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy endorsed Kinloch, who she described as an “honest, transparent and true” leader who can build coalitions and solve problems.

His entry into the race adds a relative level of star power – Kinloch delivered a sermon at Aretha Franklin’s funeral and held Easter services at the Detroit Opera House with Grammy-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin. The church hosted Bill Cosby for a seminar on parenting in 2006. 

Adolph Mongo, a longtime Detroit political consultant, said there’s been an effort to convince Kinloch to run since at least last summer. Kinloch’s name was first floated as a potential mayoral candidate to BridgeDetroit in 2023. Kinloch hypothetically enters the race with a large base of potential supporters, Mongo said, but much of the congregation also lives outside Detroit. 

Housing deemed top issue in mayoral race 

Attendees BridgeDetroit spoke with on Wednesday were all members of Triumph Church.

Temisha Lee, a Clinton Township resident who grew up in Detroit, can’t vote in the mayoral race but said Kinloch is a knowledgeable and passionate leader. Lee said she wants to see Detroit flourish.

Detroiter Michael Bicker said he deeply resonates with Kinloch’s ministry. Bicker said he’s been through hard times but Kinloch’s sermons touch and inspire him.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Bicker said. “He’s made me a better person. He can do the same for Detroit.”

Tony Benson, a Detroit resident, said Triumph Church’s food drives inspired him to start a nonprofit. Benson has since delivered $14,000 worth of meals to unhoused residents from his car.

“I wanted to give back,” Benson said. “That’s what he does.”

Benson said longtime residents have seen an influx of new Detroiters drive up housing prices. He said housing is the biggest issue in this race.

“People aren’t making enough to afford housing,” Benson said. “I’m looking for a two-bedroom apartment. I used to live on the riverfront but the numbers are ridiculous now.”

T. Sapp, a Detroiter wearing a “Rock with Kinloch” T-Shirt, said he’s witnessed the pastor’s work to help residents first-hand. Sapp said longtime residents must benefit from the city’s growth, flagging affordable housing as the top issue in this mayoral race.

“His passion for the people has been taken to another level with the power he has, he can do more,” Sapp said. “He has a vision that’s incredible.”

Kinloch is registered to vote at a downtown Detroit address in the eXchange tower on Gratiot Avenue but also owns a home in Oakland Township. 

A pre-recorded campaign video featured Kinloch recounting his difficult childhood, at one point living in an abandoned home. The night Child Protective Services visited his mother, Kinloch had a spiritual experience. He said God called him to service.

Throughout his remarks Wednesday night, Kinloch said the city’s revitalization has left longtime Detroiters out.

“The central question facing Detroit tonight is, where do we go from here? What city do we want to be?” Kinloch said. “As I look at the city of Detroit, I see undeniable progress in pockets of the city marked by significant commercial and residential growth. Yet for too many people in this city, this revival has not become what we have dreamed in America. It has become a tale of two cities where the benefit and the growth has not reached everyone that lives in this city.”

Kinloch pledged to be a mayor who will represent everyone.

“There are a lot of us and a lot of families who are quietly struggling in silence and in sin, and we don’t talk about it, but I am going to be a mayor for them,” Kinloch said. “Not just then, but all Detroiters, whether you’re wealthy or not, whether you’re straight or gay, whether you’re Black, white or brown, whatever your faith or no faith at all, I pledge to be a man that will fight for all.”

Campaign staff collected signatures for Kinloch’s nominating petition from the large crowd after Wednesday’s event.

Triumph Church blooms under Kinloch

Triumph Church was founded in 1920 as a missionary Baptist church. It became one of the fastest growing churches in the country after Kinloch took the helm at the age of 24. 

The church was adding 100 new members per month by 2009, bolstering its ranks with an influx of working-class attendees. Kinloch also oversaw the addition of new campuses.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kinloch transformed the church into a community response organization. The church offered coronavirus testing and distributed groceries, electronics and crisis care packages to families dealing with instability made worse by the pandemic.  

Kinloch continued socially-distant worship services by streaming mass online. He delivered sermons from the back of a truck in the church parking lot. Kinloch has said the pandemic taught him how much people can accomplish when they work together. 

The membership of Triumph Church includes many notable public figures and government officials. Former Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee is chief of staff for the church. Kinloch officiated the wedding of Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and his wife Renata Seals McCord in 2017.

Kinloch’s campaign kickoff is the fourth among mayoral candidates. Sheffield launched her campaign from a union hall, Jenkins was in a recreation center gymnasium and Durhal was at the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan.

Tate has a “campaign announcement” scheduled for Feb. 24 at The Corner Ballpark, headquarters of The Police Athletic League in Corktown. An email sent from the campaign Wednesday morning includes a “Joe Tate for Detroit Mayor” logo. 

Kinloch is a board member of the Belle Isle Conservancy and Black Male Educators Alliance. He’s previously served on the board of the Skillman Foundation and Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. His wife Robin, the “first lady” of Triumph Church, graduated from Cooley Law School.  

Kinloch started ministering at age 14 under the tutelage of the Rev. Robert Smith Jr. of New Bethel Baptist Church. He graduated from Northwestern High School and American Baptist Theological Seminary. 

He’s the second-youngest of five siblings. His older brother Jonathan Kinloch is a Wayne County commissioner and chair of the Michigan Democratic Party’s 13th District. 

Kinloch has said his parents at times struggled to cover water bills and provide the bare necessities for their family. He said the experience molded his character and motivated him to find success. 

Meanwhile, other candidates are getting active. 

Sheffield and Durhal so far agreed to a 2025 mayoral candidate debate moderated by Detroit students at Communication and Media Arts High School. The date hasn’t been set, a spokesperson for Sheffield’s campaign said Wednesday that it will be held after the April filing deadline so all candidates have the chance to participate.

Sheffield started a “block-by-block tour” on Monday, meeting residents in the Northwest Goldberg Neighborhood. She’s planning a March fundraiser hosted by Greektown business leaders Stella Pappas, Yanni Dionisopoulos, Tony Piraino and Shellie Lewis.

Jenkins held a fundraising event on Tuesday and has another fundraiser focused on women voters scheduled for March 27. Guests advertised for this week’s event included and leaders of nonprofit foundations and businesses. 

Billboards for Jenkins and Sheffield are located a few blocks apart along The Lodge Freeway. One billboard paid for by Leadership at Work thanks Jenkins “for a decade of keeping Detroit families healthy, safe and warm.” Another billboard paid for by 5PLUS1 includes Sheffield’s campaign tagline “together we can, together we will.”

Onstage, Kinloch referred supporters to “KinlochforDetroit.com.” However, the domain name was taken and used to promote his opponent Barlow. Kinloch’s official campaign page is kinlochformayor.com.