Detroit’s next mayor will be chosen without an incumbent defending the seat. For the first time since 1974, when Coleman A. Young made history, the path is clear for a new Black mayor to lead a city that remains over 80% Black. This shift reflects not only a political opportunity but a long-overdue return to representation rooted in the community’s core.
The candidates stepping forward represent a wide spectrum of leadership: two sitting councilmembers, a former council president, a retired police chief, two entrepreneurs, a prominent pastor, a leading attorney, and a grassroots advocate. Their presence speaks to what Detroit has long needed—leaders shaped by the same streets, schools, and struggles as the residents they seek to serve.
The Michigan Chronicle took an approach grounded in accountability and consistency. Each candidate sat down for a one-on-one interview and answered the same 18 questions. These focused on the priorities weighing most heavily on Detroiters: community safety, education, job creation, the role of technology, affordable housing, environmental justice, economic development, and preparing for federal funding gaps ahead.
Every contender had the space to outline their vision without filters or political spin. Their answers reflected their records and the realities of their lives as Detroiters.
Jonathan Barlow is one of those voices. A 40-year-old lifelong resident of Detroit, Barlow blends experience as an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and community organizer. He has submitted the signatures required to secure a place on the August ballot and awaits official certification.
Barlow’s campaign centers young people and families, two groups he believes hold the key to Detroit’s long-term strength. His message pushes for a city where generational wealth is not just possible but protected. With experience investing in early-stage businesses and organizing in neighborhoods often left behind, Barlow brings a combination of business insight and community-first values.
His approach to leadership is rooted in building upon progress while refusing to leave people behind. He points to the city’s development gains but stresses the importance of ensuring that those gains reach longtime residents, not just developers or investors. Education, entrepreneurship, digital access, and safe neighborhoods sit at the center of his platform.
Barlow also emphasizes the urgency of acting now—before federal COVID-era funding disappears and economic gaps widen. He speaks directly to the need for financial literacy programs, expanded youth mentorship, and real partnerships with Detroiters already doing the work.
This interview captures Barlow’s full responses. His words reflect a Detroit-born belief that leadership means listening first, acting boldly, and never forgetting who’s most impacted by the policies created downtown.
