City Council President Mary Sheffield has made history by becoming Detroit’s first female mayor. She defeated megachurch pastor Rev. Solomon Kinloch in Tuesday’s general election. Sheffield will take office in January, succeeding three-term Mayor Mike Duggan, who is running for Michigan governor as an independent.
Sheffield inherits a city that has made steady progress since emerging from bankruptcy in 2014. Under Duggan’s leadership, Detroit improved city services, reduced crime, and achieved 12 straight years of balanced budgets. The city’s population has also grown, reaching 645,705 in 2025 — its first increase in decades.
Elected to the City Council in 2013 at age 26, Sheffield became council president in 2022. She earned nearly 51% of the vote in the August primary. Her father, Horace Sheffield III, is a longtime activist and pastor.
Duggan endorsed her, calling Sheffield “the most qualified and best prepared” to lead Detroit. She plans to focus on education, public safety, and strengthening neighborhoods. “Detroit’s progress must reach every block and every family,” Sheffield said during her campaign.
Kinloch conceded the race, urging residents to stay engaged in local government and continue pushing for affordable housing and safer communities.
