Detroit’s top five mayoral candidates approached the 2025 primary with sharply different strategies. Each one operated from a distinct playbook shaped by how they’ve built political capital, who they mobilized, and how they positioned themselves to lead a post-Duggan city.
Sheffield dominates, Kinloch advances
Council President Mary Sheffield led the nine-person field with 51% of the vote, pulling 43,572 ballots in the August 5 primary. Pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr., senior pastor of Triumph Church, came in second with 14,893 votes, securing 17% and advancing to the general election.
Saunteel Jenkins, former Detroit City Council President and CEO of The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW), finished in third place with 13,732 votes. Attorney Todd Perkins placed fourth with 4,597 votes, while former Detroit Police Chief James Craig placed fifth with 4,453 votes.
Distinct strategies shaped the top five
Mary Sheffield
Sheffield’s campaign combined digital communication with grassroots organizing and labor support. Her team regularly posted campaign updates, neighborhood events, and community appearances across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Her digital-first approach resonated with younger voters and expanded her reach citywide.
As of July 2025, she had raised approximately $1.3 million—more than double any other candidate—and had over $450,000 on hand heading into August. Her endorsements included Detroit Free Press, Michigan Chronicle, EMILY’s List, SEIU Michigan, UNITE HERE! Local 24, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters.
“I say to every Detroiter that is watching tonight, whether you voted for me or not, I am here to serve you, to fight for you, to listen to you,” Sheffield said during her election night speech. “No matter our background, our language, our zip code, one thing is very clear: We are one Detroit. We may come from different walks of life, but at the end of the day, we all want the same things: safe neighborhoods, affordable homes, good paying jobs and a future that we all can believe in.”
Solomon Kinloch Jr.
Kinloch leveraged the strength of Triumph Church and his endorsement from the United Auto Workers (UAW), including Regions 1 and 1A. UAW President Shawn Fain and Regional Directors LaShawn English and Laura Dickerson publicly supported his campaign, citing Kinloch’s record of standing with workers and advocating for working-class families.
His campaign infrastructure included UAW-led phone banking, church-based organizing, and direct outreach grounded in community relationships. Kinloch avoided large-scale media campaigns, focusing instead on movement-building and values-based messaging.
“If we want a city that shines, we cannot ignore what’s in the shadows,” Kinloch said Tuesday night. “If we want Detroit to rise, we cannot celebrate billions in investment Downtown, but police poverty in the neighborhoods. If we want a true renaissance, we need a reconciliation.”
“The mayor is not just a manager of downtown development. The mayor is a moral leader. A servant of the people,” he added.
Saunteel Jenkins
Jenkins ran a steady campaign focused on executive readiness and policy experience. Backed by the Detroit News, Michigan Chronicle, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, she concentrated on housing access, energy equity, and public health.
Rather than large rallies, Jenkins organized targeted policy forums and stakeholder meetings with nonprofit leaders, healthcare providers, and funders. Her background as THAW CEO and her prior council experience were central to her campaign messaging.
Jenkins received 13,732 votes, finishing just 1,161 votes behind Kinloch in one of the closest margins of the night.
Todd Perkins
Perkins built a campaign grounded in street-level engagement and legal credibility. A well-known defense and civil rights attorney, he started by knocking on doors and talking directly to voters across neighborhoods that have historically seen low turnout.
Polling initially placed Perkins outside of the top five. But his campaign invested in voter registration, polling place presence, and targeted messaging on police accountability, justice reform, and transparency. Perkins raised $230,126, spending nearly ten times more than Craig. He finished fourth with 4,597 votes, just 144 votes ahead of Craig.
James Craig
Craig ran a law-and-order campaign centered on public safety and fiscal audits. Known to many as “Hollywood Craig” due to his national media appearances, the former police chief entered the race with the highest name recognition but lacked a visible ground game.
He openly aligned himself with Donald Trump, claiming it would give Detroit better federal access. His campaign raised just $23,060, with only 1% of donations coming from Detroiters. His largest donor was former Michigan Republican Party Chair Ronald Weiser.
Craig failed to secure labor or institutional endorsements and finished fifth with 4,453 votes.
Turnout and what’s next
A total of 85,971 votes were cast in the August primary, resulting in a turnout just under 17%. While turnout remains low overall, the number of ballots cast increased by nearly 15,000 compared to 2021.
City Clerk data also showed that while 14,899 more people voted, Detroit registered 20,455 new voters since the last municipal primary. In 2021, turnout in the general election reached 19%. That number is expected to increase slightly this November.
Runoff sets two clear paths
Sheffield moves into the general election with majority support from the primary, union endorsements, and a fully funded campaign. Kinloch enters with strong second-place momentum and the weight of the UAW’s organizing machine behind him.
Detroit voters will now choose between two visions for leadership—one shaped by legislative experience, and one rooted in community and faith-based organizing.
