2025 voter guide: Nov. 4 elections in Detroit and beyond

Detroit mayor's race

It's a sprint to the finish as the Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. and City Council President Mary Sheffield battle to replace three-term Mayor Mike Duggan.

Why it matters: Whoever wins will lead the city in a pivotal and challenging time, with budgetary pressures and a need to build the city equitably amid deep poverty.

• The next mayor follows a 12-year run from Duggan that has drawn national acclaim and stabilized the city's finances and services — but also garnered activist pushback.

What they're saying: Political consultant Mario Morrow, the president of a local communications firm, gives this advice to undecided voters:

• "Stay away from name recognition and focus on their messaging, as it relates to answering questions or moving the city forward," he says. "Do not read the pamphlets that the candidates put out. Do some real research …"

Sheffield says she leads with integrity, conviction and action.

• The daughter of activist the Rev. Horace Sheffield III was elected as the youngest City Council member ever in 2013 at age 26. She was then named the youngest council president ever in 2022.
• She says her achievements include grants for longtime businesses, securing funding for home repair, creating industry standards boards to advocate for better worker conditions and launching a neighborhood beautification program.
• "We have accomplished so much, but I believe our best days are still ahead of us," Sheffield said in her debate closing statement, adding that she'll ensure opportunity reaches everyone, that housing is affordable and that educational outcomes for children improve.

Kinloch says Detroit deserves more than status-quo politicians.

• The senior pastor at Detroit-based Triumph Church started with around 50 members in 1998. The church estimates it has since grown to 40,000 members across locations in Detroit, Flint, Southfield and elsewhere.
• He says that under his direction, the church has assisted its communities with scholarships, financial and mental health workshops, and provided students with free laptops during the pandemic.
• In Kinloch's debate closing statement, he asked: While more than 50% of children in Detroit live in poverty, do Detroiters want an "administrator" looking out mostly for downtown, or do they want someone to build a city that's "not just working for some," but "working for all"?

Go deeper: Look back at some of our past coverage.

• Takeaways from Sheffield's and Kinloch's town halls.
• Our summaries of their televised debate — or watch it yourself.
• How the candidates would address poverty.
• Catch up on our Trail Mix roundups of bite-sized election news.
• We also detailed Duggan's Sheffield endorsement, the Jeezy tickets controversy, other Sheffield endorsements and how Kinloch is banking on the undecided vote.

How to vote

Voters have options to consider for casting their ballot — even if they haven't registered to vote yet.

The big picture: Recent reforms give Michiganders more opportunities to vote before Election Day.

Yes, but: You can still vote the old-fashioned way next Tuesday.

• Polls will be open from 7am-8pm.

🗳️ Polls: If you have a photo ID, you must bring it to the polls. But if you don't have one, you can still vote.

• The state's voter website has information about where to vote.

⏰ Early in-person: Early voting sites are open daily in Detroit and several surrounding cities through Saturday.

📩 Absentee: There's still time to request and vote with an absentee ballot.

• Registered voters have until 5pm on Friday to request an absentee ballot online.
• With the election so close, voters are encouraged to request and drop off their absentee ballots in person, either at a drop box, early voting site or their local clerk's office.

✅ Haven't registered? That's OK. You can do so until 8pm on Election Day at your local clerk's office. Bring proof of residency — options listed here.

🚗 Need transportation to the polls? DDOT and SMART buses will be free for everyone on Nov. 4.

Detroit City Council races

Detroit has new boundaries for its seven districts, and residents should use those to determine their district when voting in this year's elections. The boundaries go into effect Jan. 1 when those elected take office.

All nine city council seats are up for reelection this year, including seven members who each represent districts and two at-large members representing the whole city.

• Confirm your new district and polling place.

City Council: At-large

All Detroiters can vote for two of the four at-large candidates who advanced from the primary:

Janeé Ayers, a former City Council member, has a history in union leadership and the city's parks and rec department.

• Her focuses include fiscal responsibility, making affordable housing truly affordable, and improving the rights of citizens returning from incarceration.
• She told WDET that better job opportunities and transportation are needed to improve access to housing.

James Harris, the Detroit Fire Department's community relations chief, has worked to modernize fire services and improve emergency response efforts, per his website.

• His priorities include funding for entrepreneurs, improving public safety through community policing and creating training and apprenticeships to prepare youth for future careers.
• He presents himself as a public servant, not a politician, BridgeDetroit wrote.

Mary Waters, an incumbent seeking her second term, is formerly a state representative, congressional candidate and union activist.

• According to a candidate video by nonpartisan Citizen Detroit, her plans include supporting home repair grants and reforming the Detroit Land Bank Authority.
• She told WDET of wanting to make streets safer through community policing and has decried President Trump's National Guard deployments to combat crime.

Coleman Young II, another incumbent running for his second term, is formerly a state legislator and mayoral candidate whose father served as mayor from 1974-1994.

• Young's past work has included directing funding to food access initiatives and getting residents better access to jobs.
• His policy priorities are family-centered, including public health, heat and energy assistance and public safety.

City Council: District 2

Northwest Detroit's District 2 includes the Livernois Avenue of Fashion, Renaissance High School, Palmer Park and Marygrove Conservancy.

• This race is a rematch between incumbent Angela Whitfield-Calloway, who took 45% in the primary, and former City Council member Roy McCalister Jr., who took 30%.
• Whitfield-Calloway unseated McCalister in 2021.

Whitfield-Calloway, a retired public schools employee and leader, said she wants to make sure every family feels included in Detroit's resurgence.

• Her campaign prioritizes safe and affordable housing, neighborhood investments, infrastructure improvements and tools to help Detroit workers succeed.
• She's described herself as being a "fighter since day one" and not a "rubber stamp" for the administration, per BridgeDetroit.

McCalister, who has experience in the U.S. Army and Detroit Police Department, said his main objective is improving residents' quality of life.

• He pointed to public safety, neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing. He'd fight blight and seek to give youth more opportunities.
• His campaign advocates for lower auto insurance and property taxes, more community violence interruption strategies in the police department and job creation.

City Council: District 5

The District 5 race pits a police oversight commissioner against a community leader with a UAW background.

• The winner will represent one of the city's higher-profile districts. It includes a portion of downtown, New Center, Belle Isle, the bustling riverfront and parts of the east side.

Willie Burton has been the district representative on the city's Board of Police Commissioners since 2014.

• Burton has advocated for more downtown jobs for young people and skilled trades workers. He also wants less red tape for businesses and more affordable housing.
• He pledges to defend affordable water rates on the basis that water is a human right.
• His tenure on the police oversight board has been marked by controversy, such as his arrest during a 2019 meeting for disrupting the proceedings. Burton told the Detroit News that the incident was connected to his opposition to facial recognition technology.
• The Free Press and News have endorsed Burton.

Renata Miller is a UAW retiree who has been active in the Indian Village neighborhood.

• Her campaign prioritizes historic preservation, community-led development and government transparency.
• Her endorsements for the August primary included backing from City Council members Scott Benson and Mary Waters.
• Miller's past includes multiple legal and financial issues and strained community relations, as a Free Press editorial recently laid out.

City Council: District 6

District 6 features a showdown between incumbent Gabriela Santiago-Romero and State Rep. Tyrone Carter. The area contains Southwest Detroit, with its strong Hispanic population, as well as Wayne State and Corktown.

• The demographics are 45% Hispanic and 32% Black, per BridgeDetroit.

Santiago-Romero: Seeking a second term, Santiago-Romero is a social worker, organizer and former policy and research director at We the People Michigan. She's also the first out female LGBTQ+ member of the City Council and an immigrant from Mexico raised in Southwest.

• She describes having prioritized affordable housing, down payment assistance for homes and sidewalk replacement.
• She works closely with small businesses and block clubs and says she'll continue to work toward building "a city that is safe and healthy for everyone."

Carter: The fourth-term representative, whose district includes part of Detroit, is a retired police lieutenant and small business owner. He says during a time of political change, residents "deserve proven leadership."

• "I don't just understand the issues — we've lived them together," he says, adding that his top priority is education.
• His platform also centers health care disparities and modernizing Detroit's infrastructure, including streets, sidewalks and public transit.

City Council: District 7

District 7 voters will pick between a candidate compared to New York City's Zohran Mamdani and a veteran state lawmaker.

• The west-side district borders Dearborn and includes green spaces like Rouge Park.

Denzel Anton McCampbell previously worked for U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) and ran unsuccessfully for city clerk in 2021.

• McCampbell is an unabashed member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
• "It's an important label," he told BridgeDetroit, adding that he will put residents before corporations and others with "ulterior motives."
• He's talked about government partnerships in co-op model grocery stores and community land trusts to support basic needs.

State Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) is running for Council while serving her fourth term in the state House, where she has clashed with fellow Democrats.

• She's looking to improve the district's walkability and crack down on illegal dumping.
• She attended only 23% of this year's House session days in Lansing, where attendance was taken as of early October, the Detroit News reported.
• Whitsett argued that she has gained leverage to bargain on behalf of her constituents by withholding her vote. "I look like the person who's out of line because I know my worth and I know it's in my vote," she told the News.

City Council: Noncompetitive races

Other council candidates are in races considered less competitive or are running unopposed.

Suburban elections to watch

Wayne County: Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck and Grosse Pointe are among the area cities with elections.

• Here is the county's full list of Nov. 4 candidates and proposals.

Oakland County: Several communities have elections, including Pontiac, Southfield, Royal Oak, Madison Heights, Hazel Park and Clawson.

• Go deeper: Full list of candidates and proposals

Macomb County: Sterling Heights, St. Clair Shores, Mount Clemens and a handful of other municipalities have elections.

• Go deeper: Full list of candidates and proposals