Detroit mayoral primary results: Council President Sheffield dominates nine-candidate field

On this episode: Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield secured 51% of the vote in the city's August 5th mayoral primary, significantly exceeding pre-election polling that predicted she would finish with around 35-36%. Sheffield will face Reverend Solomon Kinloch, who finished second with 17%, in November's general election. The nine-candidate field included several experienced politicians, but none captured significant voter enthusiasm according to local coverage. Pulitzer Prize-winning Detroit Free Press columnist M.L. Elrick analyzes the results and what they mean for Detroit's continued revitalization efforts, the challenge of spreading downtown development to neighborhoods, and potential implications for Michigan politics including outgoing Mayor Mike Duggan's independent gubernatorial campaign in 2026.Follow along with our coverage of the race:https://ballotpedia.org/City_elections_in_Detroit,_Michigan_(2025) Check out Elrick’s reporting: https://www.freep.com/staff/5026771002/ml-elrick/ Complete a brief 5 minute survey to review the show and share some feedback: https://forms.gle/zPxYSog5civyvEKX6 Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.