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.
Saunteel Jenkins, former Detroit City Council president, has entered the race with a platform rooted in equity, safety, and access to opportunity. Her experience spans both public office and nonprofit leadership, offering voters a candidate who understands the intersection between policy and direct community impact. Jenkins is known for her work supporting Detroit’s most vulnerable populations, and she is emphasizing that every decision made at City Hall must center the well-being of everyday Detroiters.
Her campaign is shaped by a belief in inclusive growth. Jenkins has voiced concerns about development that overlooks longtime residents and is pushing for policies that create meaningful access to housing, economic mobility, and neighborhood safety. She highlights her work on the council and in the nonprofit sector as evidence of her ability to lead with both compassion and competence.
Jenkins also brings a personal connection to the challenges facing Detroit. Her story is grounded in lived experience—growing up in the city, navigating its systems, and returning to serve at multiple levels. She says those roots, paired with her leadership track record, make her the most prepared candidate to guide Detroit through its next chapter.
This interview includes Jenkins’ answers to the same 18 questions posed to all mayoral candidates. The conversation covered housing, safety, sustainability, education, and the city’s fiscal outlook. Her responses reflect a balance of policy knowledge and community connection, offering a vision for Detroit that prioritizes people, not just metrics.
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