Mary Sheffield Secures Historic Victory, Becoming Detroit's First Female Mayor
In a landslide victory, Mary Sheffield has emerged as the first woman to be elected mayor of Detroit, after defeating Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. in Tuesday's general election. With 49% of precincts reporting, Sheffield secured 78.2% of the vote, far surpassing her opponent Kinloch, who garnered just 21.8%.
Sheffield, 38, entered the race as a clear frontrunner, having defeated eight other candidates with 50.8% of the vote in August's primary. Her campaign focused on issues such as affordable housing, tenants rights, neighborhood development, and economic equity.
Throughout her time on the Detroit City Council, Sheffield has established herself as a leading advocate for the city's most vulnerable residents. As council president since 2022, she has been a vocal critic of inequitable investment strategies, calling for policies that prioritize affordable housing and community development.
Sheffield's victory marks a historic milestone for Detroit, which has never elected a woman to the position of mayor in its 324-year history. At just 38 years old, Sheffield will be one of the youngest mayors in city history.
The Associated Press called the election for Sheffield at 9:18 p.m., with dozens of endorsements from labor unions, community groups, pastors, and key political figures, including Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Councilman Fred Durhall III.
Sheffield's opponent Kinloch, a pastor with a large following, campaigned on his faith-based leadership and promised to ensure all Detroiters have a better future. However, he faced mounting scrutiny over various controversies, including delinquent water bills, property tax issues, and a conviction for assaulting his first wife.
Sheffield, who is expected to take office on January 1st, has pledged to prioritize neighborhoods left behind by downtown development and to strengthen police accountability and improve city services. In her campaign, she promised to unite the city and ensure that everyone reaches their potential.
In a landslide victory, Mary Sheffield has emerged as the first woman to be elected mayor of Detroit, after defeating Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. in Tuesday's general election. With 49% of precincts reporting, Sheffield secured 78.2% of the vote, far surpassing her opponent Kinloch, who garnered just 21.8%.
Sheffield, 38, entered the race as a clear frontrunner, having defeated eight other candidates with 50.8% of the vote in August's primary. Her campaign focused on issues such as affordable housing, tenants rights, neighborhood development, and economic equity.
Throughout her time on the Detroit City Council, Sheffield has established herself as a leading advocate for the city's most vulnerable residents. As council president since 2022, she has been a vocal critic of inequitable investment strategies, calling for policies that prioritize affordable housing and community development.
Sheffield's victory marks a historic milestone for Detroit, which has never elected a woman to the position of mayor in its 324-year history. At just 38 years old, Sheffield will be one of the youngest mayors in city history.
The Associated Press called the election for Sheffield at 9:18 p.m., with dozens of endorsements from labor unions, community groups, pastors, and key political figures, including Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Councilman Fred Durhall III.
Sheffield's opponent Kinloch, a pastor with a large following, campaigned on his faith-based leadership and promised to ensure all Detroiters have a better future. However, he faced mounting scrutiny over various controversies, including delinquent water bills, property tax issues, and a conviction for assaulting his first wife.
Sheffield, who is expected to take office on January 1st, has pledged to prioritize neighborhoods left behind by downtown development and to strengthen police accountability and improve city services. In her campaign, she promised to unite the city and ensure that everyone reaches their potential.
Yaaas girl power 
! Detroit just got a major wake-up call! I mean, 78.2% of the vote? That's insane!!! Rev Kinloch thought he had it in the bag with his "faith-based leadership" 
but I guess that didn't quite translate to votes 
. Sheffield's got some serious experience under her belt and she's not afraid to speak truth to power 
. Neighborhoods left behind by downtown dev? Check. Police accountability? Check. It's about time someone in Detroit City Hall put the people first, not just the fat cats 
. Bring it on Mary Sheffield!
omg i cant even believe its finally happening!!! detroit is getting its first female mayor EVER!!! mary sheffield is gonna bring so much change to the city with her affordable housing and tenants rights agenda 
i'm so hyped for her and i think she's gonna make a real difference in the city 
but now that she's in power i'm worried she'll just become another politician who only cares about the rich ppl and not the actual people on the streets 
... meanwhile rev solomon kinloch jr was just trying to bring some faith into the whole thing you know? 
but then again kinloch had those controversies that were, like super shady 
so i guess it's all just a trade-off 
️
. It's so inspiring to see someone like her who has been advocating for the vulnerable residents throughout her career. I'm curious to see how she'll implement her plans, but I have faith that she's got this 
Can't wait to see what she accomplishes, especially when it comes to affordable housing & tenants rights. She's all about unity & making sure everyone has a chance to shine! 
This is such an inspiring moment for women everywhere! 
[GIF of a girl jumping up and down in front of a Detroit skyline]
just imagine a woman leading detroit after all those yrs of corruption & mismanagement...mary sheffield is gonna shake things up big time 
38 yrs old & already makin history, can't wait to see what changes she brings 
that's impressive. i'm not surprised though, she seems like a total boss. affordable housing, tenants rights, neighborhood development - sounds like someone who actually cares about the people of detroit. 
This is a momentous day for Detroit! Mary Sheffield's win is not only a historic milestone but also a testament to the power of grassroots activism. As someone who's seen my fair share of politics, I gotta say that this young woman's commitment to affordable housing and community development really resonated with me. 
At 38 years old, she's going to bring a fresh perspective to the mayor's office, and I'm excited to see how she'll tackle those tough issues head-on. 
she's all about affordable housing, tenants rights, and community development - that's exactly what our city needs! 
she's been in the trenches, fighting for the people of detroit for years, and now it's time for her to lead the charge 
i'm so proud to live in a city that's finally getting some real representation