Saunteel Jenkins, former CEO of The Heat and Warmth Fund and a candidate in Detroit’s 2025 mayoral primary, is set to officially endorse City Council President Mary Sheffield in the November general election. Jenkins, who finished third in the primary, told the Michigan Chronicle in an exclusive interview, “I am endorsing President Mary Sheffield to be the next mayor of the city of Detroit.”
Her announcement adds a decisive new layer to the mayoral race, one that could shape the path forward for Sheffield as she seeks to become the first woman and the first Black woman elected mayor in Detroit’s history. Jenkins, once a rival on the debate stage, is now offering her support with a clear sense of conviction about the city’s future. “There are a few reasons why,” she said. “The first is that she and I are very much aligned on issues that are extremely important to me, be it the crackdown on violence and keeping our kids safe, strengthening schools in the city of Detroit and making this a place where our kids can grow and thrive. That’s so important, and I’m really proud to endorse her.”
For those who followed Jenkins throughout the campaign, her endorsement carries weight beyond the usual political ritual. Nicknamed “the small but powerful puncher,” she built a reputation for precision and force in Detroit’s political arenas. Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig once quipped after a sharp exchange during a candidate forum, “the gloves are off,” acknowledging Jenkins’ ability to shift a conversation with just a few cutting words. That same clarity and determination now back Sheffield, whose candidacy carries both symbolic and practical significance.
Jenkins’ embrace of Sheffield is also a reflection of a broader truth about politics in Detroit: leadership here has never been about titles alone but about who shows up for the community. Jenkins’ own history is steeped in community work, from housing initiatives to youth advocacy to her stewardship of THAW, where she expanded access to critical utility assistance for families in crisis. That work mirrors Sheffield’s own legacy of constituent-centered politics on the City Council, where she has prioritized housing stability, economic equity, and public safety reforms. Their shared priorities speak to an alignment not just in policy, but in values.
“It’s my belief that Mary will be the first African-American woman to be the mayor of this great city of Detroit, and I’m proud to stand behind her and her leadership as a woman,” Jenkins told the Chronicle. In her words is a recognition of what this moment represents: the possibility of breaking a barrier that has stood since Detroit was founded nearly 325 years ago. A city that has seen Black men rise to lead through its toughest decades has yet to entrust its highest office to a Black woman. Jenkins’ backing underscores the symbolic and substantive importance of Sheffield’s candidacy—not only for Detroit but for women nationwide watching to see what leadership looks like when the glass ceiling is finally shattered in local government.
The endorsement also speaks to the discipline of Jenkins herself. Losing a race in a city as politically charged as Detroit can fracture coalitions and harden divisions. But Jenkins is demonstrating a larger commitment to the collective progress of Detroit, even when it requires setting aside personal ambition. It is a reminder that leadership does not end when the votes are tallied. Sometimes, it begins anew with the choice to use one’s influence to shape the road ahead.
Sheffield’s campaign also secured the endorsement of Mayor Mike Duggan, a significant addition as she builds support heading into the general election. Duggan’s backing provides her with the influence of an outgoing mayor while adding to the list of city leaders now aligning behind her candidacy.
The symbolic weight of Sheffield’s candidacy is paired with concrete policy stakes. Detroit remains at a crossroads, with challenges in housing affordability, school quality, job creation, and public safety defining the daily lives of residents. Both Jenkins and Sheffield have spoken often about the need to ensure Detroit is a place where children can learn without fear, where families can afford their homes, and where opportunity is not limited to a few zip codes. By aligning her support with Sheffield, Jenkins is reinforcing a vision of Detroit that is inclusive, protective of its most vulnerable, and ambitious about its possibilities.
What makes Jenkins’ endorsement stand out is its tone of personal pride and solidarity. She is not simply checking the box of political loyalty; she is expressing genuine confidence in Sheffield’s ability to lead. That confidence is rooted in a shared experience as Black women navigating Detroit’s often male-dominated political and civic institutions. Jenkins knows firsthand the scrutiny, the resistance, and the resilience required to push through. Her decision to back Sheffield, even after competing against her, underscores a recognition that the victories of one can be the victories of many when the goal is collective progress.
For Detroit voters, the November election will be about more than policy—it will be about the identity and direction of a city that has always defined itself by its resilience and reinvention. Sheffield’s campaign, now buoyed by Jenkins’ endorsement, is poised to harness both the urgency of this moment and the symbolism of history. Jenkins’ role, though not on the ballot, remains pivotal. Her voice adds moral clarity to the stakes of this election: keeping children safe, strengthening schools, and ensuring Detroit is a city where families can thrive.
With less than two months until Election Day, Jenkins’ endorsement gives Sheffield added momentum in a race already marked as historic. It unites two former contenders around shared priorities on safety, schools, and community stability, and positions Sheffield to strengthen her base heading into November. The backing also highlights the growing coalition rallying behind the council president as she seeks to become the first woman, and the first Black woman, to lead the city of Detroit.
