Who's in so far for Detroit City Council races
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Detroit City Council pictured during a recent formal session. Most current council members are running for reelection. Photo: Courtesy of the city of Detroit via Flickr
The mayor's race isn't the only consequential local election this year — Detroit's lawmaking body could be reshaped.
Why it matters: Nearly all City Council members are running for reelection this year, but there are challengers looking to edge in and two seats without an incumbent.
- It's a pivotal time to be on council, with a power vacuum as Mayor Mike Duggan is replaced and big budget decisions loom with the end of federal pandemic rescue dollars.
State of play: Detroit's nine-member City Council has seven geographic seats, one in each district, as well as two at-large seats, all for four-year terms. City Council President Mary Sheffield, who has been on council for more than a decade, leaves a void as she runs for mayor.
- That means her seat as president and representative of District 5 — which includes the RenCen and Eastern Market — are both empty.
- Council member Fred Durhal III is also running for mayor, leaving District 7 open.
What we're watching: Along with Districts 5 and 7, top races to watch will be in Districts 6 and 2, where incumbents have strong early challengers.
What they're saying: "In District 5, we don't have anyone who has a really well-known name, so they're going to have to work hard, knock on doors, raise money. ... No one really has the cutting edge right now," Mario Morrow, president of a local communications firm and political consultant, tells Axios.
- District 6 might be the most costly, because of both top candidates' popularity. "It's going to come down to who can pull their supporters out to the polls."
Here are all the candidates planning to run for City Council so far, per their statements to Axios, county election records and/or social posts:
The two at-large seats:
- Former state Rep. Mary Waters plans to seek a second term.
- Coleman Young II, the son of former mayor Coleman Young and a past candidate for mayor against Duggan, also intends to run for reelection for a second term.
- Author and former wrestler and lifeguard Ramon Jackson also plans to run, and workforce and returning citizen issues expert Cyrus Wheeler filed to run.
District 1:
- City Council President Pro Tem James Tate, who was first elected in 2009 and is the body's longest-serving member, is running for reelection.
- The only challenger who has filed is Deon Thompson, per county campaign records.
District 2:
- Angela Whitfield-Calloway is also seeking a second term after she beat incumbent Roy McCalister Jr. in an upset in 2021.
- McCalister has filed with the county to run again this year against Whitfield-Calloway.
District 3:
- Scott Benson, a 10-year council member, appears headed for another victory this year without anyone filing to take him on yet.
District 4:
- Community advocate Latisha Johnson is running for a second term in her district, she confirmed to Axios. County records show no competitors.
District 5:
- The race for Sheffield's seat is already crowded, including candidate Whitney Clarke, a youth advocate who is on a community development board and works at Oasis of Hope Church.
- Youth mentor, former teacher and advocate Kevin Jones is another candidate, per county records and BridgeDetroit.
- Entrepreneur and community advocate Michael Clemmon has also filed to run, as well as activist and organizer Chantel Watkins.
District 6:
- A Southwest Detroit native and the first out LGBTQ+ woman elected to City Council, Gabriela Santiago-Romero is running for a second term, per social media.
- She's expected to see a strong challenge from Democratic state Rep. Tyrone Carter, per campaign records.
- Anita Martin also filed to run.
District 7:
- State Rep. Karen Whitsett, who was in the news over a contentious lame-duck session, filed to run this year.
- Denzel McCampbell, a community advocate who previously ran for city clerk and served on U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib's staff, also filed to run.
- Local teacher and advocate Regina Ross also told Detroit one million she plans to run. She previously lost to Durhal in 2021.
📬 This is a developing story, with more candidates likely to enter the race as the months unfold and more details to be revealed about existing candidates.
- If we missed a candidate, or you're a candidate who wants to speak with Axios about your campaign, email [email protected].
Editor's note: This story was corrected to show Mario Morrow is a current (not former) political consultant. It was also updated with new information on Coleman Young II's plan to run for a second term.