Mary Sheffield, Solomon Kinloch Jr. face off for Detroit mayor -- What to know about the candidates

DETROIT – Voters in the primary election picked which two of the nine candidates in the Detroit mayor race will advance in the general election.

Mary Sheffield had 51% of the votes in Detroit, and Solomon Kinloch, Jr. just made it for the second spot with 17%, beating Saunteel Jenkins by only about 1,100 votes.

The general election is on Nov. 4, 2025.

Here’s what to know about the two candidates:

Mary Sheffield

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield received over 50% of the votes in the primary election, advancing her to the general election.

She has served in the city of Detroit since 2013 and made history in 2022 for becoming the youngest person to be elected as council president.

According to her campaign website, her vision for Detroit’s future includes public safety, affordable housing, reliable transportation, neighborhood restoration and more. Her main goal for the city in her 100-day plan is to continue Detroit’s progress and set new city hall standards.

She has faced criticism directed at her work on the City Council, which was highlighted during the debate hosted by Local 4 back in June. One of her opponents at the time, Saunteel Jenkins, said in her closing argument, “If you want a mayor who shows up on Instagram but doesn’t show up for meetings, then follow Mary.”

Following the debate, Sheffield acknowledged the criticism and said, “We’re going to continue to focus on the work that I’ve done. We know that there is still more work to do. But we have made tremendous progress, and we’re going to continue to try and move Detroit forward in a positive direction.”

Sheffield joined Local 4 Live on Aug. 6, the day after the primary election. You can watch the full interview below:

Solomon Kinloch, Jr.

Pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. just passed Saunteel Jenkins for the second spot with about 1,100 more votes, securing his name on the ballot for the general election.

Kinloch has served as senior pastor of Triumph Church for the last 27 years, growing it from 40 members to more than 40,000, making it one of the fastest-growing churches in the country.

Before becoming a pastor, he worked at the Chevy Gear and Axle plant and was a member of UAW Local 235.

According to Kinloch’s campaign website, his vision for Detroit’s future includes improving public safety, building affordable housing, creating an inclusive economy and ensuring business prosperity.

The main question voters have been asking Kinloch is if he will remain a full-time mayor even though he is a senior pastor at Triumph. He said the church has an executive team to take over during his absence if he were elected mayor.

Kinloch also faced some backlash after his assault conviction resurfaced. In response, Kinloch said he preaches about second chances, forgiveness and accepting that no one is perfect.

Kinloch joined Local 4 following the primary election results. You can watch the full interview below: