The April 22, 4 p.m. deadline has come and gone, and nine candidates have filed their petitions with City Clerk Janice Winfrey’s office to declare their candidacy for Detroit’s 2025 mayoral race.
Of the nine hopefuls, two are current city councilmembers, one is a former city councilmember, two are entrepreneurs, one is the city’s former police chief, one pastors the largest church in the city, one is a lawyer, and one is a resident hoping to have a fighting chance against some of his more experienced opponents. Notably, they’re all Black. That’s not surprising for a city where 80% of the residents are Black, but it is important considering that the city’s current mayor is the first white mayor in Detroit since Roman Gribbs was replaced by Coleman A. Young in 1974.
It’s the first time in 12 years that Mayor Mike Duggan’s name won’t be on the ballot running for Detroit Mayor, but unless a dark-horse write-in candidate overtakes the field, Detroit will have a Black mayor again in 2026.
The nine candidates who have officially filed are City Council President Mary Sheffield, City Councilman Fred Durhal III, former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, former Detroit City Council President Saunteel Jenkins, Triumph Church Pastor Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., businessman and entrepreneur Joel Haashiim, lawyer Todd Perkins, businessman and entrepreneur Jonathan Barlow, and Dean Evans, a Detroit resident who works in the criminal justice field. Additionally, political activist Rogelio Landin – formerly of Southwest Detroit, but now a downtown resident – declared that he would be running for mayor, but he did not file his petition with the required signatures, so he said he’d be running as a write-in candidate.
According to the city clerk’s office, 32 people requested forms to file petitions to run for mayor. In order to formally file a petition, candidates must turn in a minimum of 500 signatures from Detroit residents with the petition paperwork, and each candidate can turn in a maximum of 1,000 signatures with their petition. The clerk’s office must still certify the signatures before the candidate’s name can appear on the Aug. 5, 2025, ballot for the primary. The top two vote-getters will then move on to the general election, which takes place on Nov. 4, 2025.
Without any interference in the form of third-party challenges to the validity of the signatures, the clerk’s office could potentially finalize the certification process within the first week of May to determine whether the nine candidates will all appear on the August ballot.
Six of the candidates will take part in a forum this coming Saturday, April 26, hosted by the African American Leadership Institute, Supermajority, and United Precinct Delegates. 
Eight of the nine candidates who filed petitions to be on the August ballot sat down for interviews with Michigan Chronicle. Below is a brief overview of eight of the nine candidates, in alphabetical order, plus a description of Landin, who also sat down to talk with Michigan Chronicle. (Michigan Chronicle has not yet connected with candidate Dean Evans, but a brief description is provided below):
Jonathan Barlow
Jonathan Barlow is a 40-year-old lifelong Detroiter with a diverse background as an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and community organizer. If his petition is certified, he will have earned a spot on the August ballot after submitting his verified signatures. Barlow is particularly focused on elevating the role of young people and families in Detroit’s future, while creating opportunities for generational wealth. Drawing on his experience in business and community development, he aims to build on the successes of the current administration. Barlow’s approach emphasizes continued growth while ensuring that the city’s revitalization efforts are inclusive of all residents.
James Craig
Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig is making another bid for office after briefly running in the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary. Craig, who served as Detroit’s police chief from 2013 to 2021, is positioning himself as a leader with strong management experience. While Craig’s previous political affiliations may raise questions in Detroit’s heavily Democratic city, Detroit’s mayoral race is nonpartisan, and he hopes that will help his bid. His campaign underscores his approach to leadership, with an emphasis on hands-on engagement with voters and a focus on improving the city’s public safety and overall quality of life.
Fred Durhal III
Fred Durhal III is a former state legislator and current Detroit City Councilman, with extensive experience in both state and local government. Representing northwest Detroit, Durhal is focused on continuing the city’s positive trajectory while ensuring that the progress benefits all neighborhoods. With a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the city, Durhal’s candidacy offers voters leadership built on years of service in both the state legislature and city council.
Dean Evans
Dean Evans, a newcomer to the political scene, brings his background in criminal justice to his mayoral campaign. Focused on issues of public safety, Evans has garnered support from voters who are looking for leadership that understands the community’s concerns. As a first-time candidate, Evans emphasizes the importance of community engagement and being present on the ground to address the city’s most pressing issues.
Joel Haashiim
Joel Haashiim, a retired businessman, is running on a platform that challenges the influence of corporate interests in city government. He believes that Detroit’s leadership has become too heavily shaped by corporate priorities, and his campaign is focused on returning the city’s leadership to a more community-centered approach. He also is focused on diversifying the city’s tax base by creating a city that is more inviting to international companies to relocate. Haashiim emphasized his strong international business background with more than 15 countries as a supplier and dealmaker, and has submitted his petitions and will be on the ballot in August.
Saunteel Jenkins
Saunteel Jenkins, former City Council president, brings a wealth of political experience to her mayoral run. With a background in both local government and nonprofit leadership, Jenkins is campaigning on a platform that prioritizes equity, safety, and opportunity for all Detroiters. She says that her deep ties to the community, combined with her proven track record of leadership, makes her the most qualified candidate in the race. Jenkins has earned recognition for her efforts in supporting Detroit’s most vulnerable populations and is advocating for continued growth and progress for the city.
Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr.
Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., pastor of Triumph Church, is running on a platform of unity and inclusivity. With a congregation of over 40,000 members, Kinloch’s candidacy highlights the divide between Detroit’s revitalization efforts and the residents who feel left behind. His campaign focuses on addressing these inequities, ensuring that the city’s growth benefits everyone. Kinloch sees Detroit at a crossroads and believes that the city’s future depends on a leadership that is committed to bridging gaps and fostering unity. As a first-time candidate, Kinloch says he sees, from a resident’s perspective, where the city could make immediate investments into schools, which would have an exponentially impactful affect in other areas where the city need improvement.
Rogelio Landin (Write-in candidate)
Rogelio Landin, a longtime advocate for Latino civil rights, is running as a write-in candidate. With a focus on the needs of southwest Detroit’s Latino community, Landin is calling for the annexation of several surrounding Metro Detroit communities to restore Detroit’s population to 1 million residents. He says that the tax base and additional revenue generated from annexation would create a cashflow that would solve many of the city’s problems. As the president of the state chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Landin has a vision for expanding Detroit’s influence and revitalizing its regional power through annexation.
Todd Perkins
Todd Perkins, an attorney and civil rights advocate, is making his first run for public office with a strong message of change. Having gathered 3,000 signatures to secure a place on the ballot, Perkins is offering a fresh perspective on Detroit’s leadership. With a background rooted in the Jesuit tradition of service, Perkins is critical of established political figures and promises to bring new ideas and accountability to the city’s government.
Mary Sheffield
Mary Sheffield, the current City Council president, was the first candidate to submit her nominating petitions for the mayoral race. A fourth-generation Detroiter, Sheffield’s platform emphasizes building on the city’s progress while ensuring that growth reaches all neighborhoods. With her deep ties to Detroit’s civil rights legacy, Sheffield is campaigning to ensure that the prosperity of the city is shared equitably, with a focus on expanding opportunities for residents and businesses alike. During her time as City Council president, Sheffield says the city has grown beyond many Detroiters’ beliefs, and she is the most qualified leader to continue the growth.
In the end, the race for Detroit’s next mayor presents a diverse group of candidates, each with unique visions for the city’s future. From experienced political figures like Durhal, Jenkins, and Sheffield, to newcomers like Barlow, Evans, Haashiim, and Kinloch, to former local leaders like Craig and Landin, voters have a wide array of leadership styles and policy platforms to consider. Whether focusing on public safety, economic development, or addressing the influence of corporate interests, each candidate is vying for the opportunity to shape Detroit’s next chapter. With so many distinct approaches, Detroiters will have a crucial decision ahead in choosing the leader who can best guide the city forward.
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