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.
Todd Perkins, a well-known attorney and civil rights advocate, is entering the mayoral race with a call for bold change. This marks his first run for public office, and he has already submitted more than 3,000 signatures to qualify for the August ballot. Perkins brings a perspective shaped by legal advocacy, community service, and a Jesuit-rooted commitment to justice.
His campaign is centered on transparency, government reform, and rejecting the status quo. Perkins has made it clear that Detroit’s future cannot rest in the hands of recycled leadership or politics-as-usual. He is calling out long-standing political practices that he believes have failed to fully deliver for residents, particularly those in overlooked neighborhoods.
Perkins is positioning himself as a candidate willing to challenge the systems that have kept power concentrated while everyday Detroiters continue to struggle with housing access, failing schools, and limited job opportunities. His approach includes stronger public accountability measures, more resident-driven policy development, and a legal lens on equity and fairness in city governance.
Though new to electoral politics, Perkins has long worked behind the scenes on behalf of those most impacted by systemic inequality. His campaign is built on the idea that real leadership must come from service, not self-interest.
This interview features Perkins’ responses to the same 18 questions presented to all mayoral candidates. His answers offer a grounded vision for a Detroit that values fresh thinking, community-centered leadership, and a return to governance rooted in integrity and inclusion.
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