Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield Officially Announces Run for 2025 Mayoral Race

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield has officially announced her candidacy for mayor, marking a significant step in the race to succeed Mayor Mike Duggan as he eyes a potential gubernatorial campaign in 2025. Sheffield, who has served on the City Council for 11 years, enters the race with a platform focused on inclusive growth and addressing long-standing challenges faced by Detroit residents.

Sheffield’s time on the council began during a critical moment in Detroit’s history, coinciding with the city’s emergence from bankruptcy. “Originally when I came into office, we were in the midst of a major bankruptcy, the largest municipal bankruptcy in the country,” shared Sheffield in an exclusive interview with the Michigan Chronicle. “And so, at that time, it was very challenging as far as meeting obligations, cutting city services. A lot of sacrifices had to be made, and it was a very challenging time, especially for our retirees. That allowed me the opportunity to really be able to see how important it is to have a healthy fiscal budget, to be able to take care of the needs and address the various priorities here in the City of Detroit.”

Throughout her tenure, she has been involved in crafting policies aimed at improving housing access, community beautification, and economic mobility. Key initiatives she has championed include inclusionary housing policies, home repair grants, and the Neighborhood Beautification Program.

Outlining her priorities for the city, Sheffield emphasized a vision that centers on equity, safety, and opportunity. “My vision for Detroit is simple: It’s one where every Detroiter can reach their full potential,” she said. “A city with vibrant neighborhoods, safe streets, affordable housing, and economic opportunities for all.”

Her candidacy reflects a commitment to building on the progress made during her tenure while addressing gaps that remain in the city’s development.

“I am so proud that with the collaborative effort of working with my colleagues and the mayor that we were able to emerge from bankruptcy and emergency management,” said Sheffield. “We have now, for 11 years, have balanced budgets every single year. We improved our bond ratings we were able to improve city services. We turned the lights on in Detroit, we enhanced our trash collection, we’ve eliminated blight throughout the city of Detroit; we’ve made tremendous progress.”

“Coming in as the council president there was a lot of eyes on me as the leader of council,” expressed Sheffield. “We were able to build a level of decorum and civility that I think people expected from council, something that has not always been the norm.”

Sheffield highlighted her work on the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, a policy she described as a landmark achievement that has significantly shaped Detroit’s approach to affordable housing. Sheffield explained that the ordinance, the first of its kind in the city, mandated that 20% of all new residential units developed in Detroit be designated as affordable.

“This ordinance essentially mandated that 20% of all new units that come to Detroit or are put online have to be affordable,” Sheffield said. “It triggered an entire conversation in this city for the last 10 years about affordable housing.”

The ordinance marked a turning point in Detroit’s housing policies, establishing a framework that continues to influence discussions about housing access and equity across the city.

Sheffield has highlighted areas such as revitalizing neighborhoods, expanding affordable housing options, and ensuring safety for Detroit families as focal points of her platform. Additionally, she intends to emphasize youth empowerment through education and mentorship programs.

“I’ve passed, over 26 pieces of legislation that has directly impacted the quality of life for so many Detroiters here in our city,” she said. “And now I’m more inspired to be able to have a greater reach and greater impact now moving forward in this next journey.”

Sheffield’s campaign comes at a time when the city is preparing for a transition in leadership. As Detroit continues to evolve, her long-standing involvement in local government and focus on community-driven solutions are likely to shape the upcoming mayoral race.

The question of who benefits from Detroit’s resurgence looms large as the city experiences growth and change. Sheffield has raised critical issues about inclusion and equity. How do we ensure that long-time Detroiters aren’t priced out of their city? How do we create a Detroit where residents of all incomes share in the city’s new growth?

Sheffield points to her work on preserving and expanding initiatives like the Home Repair Grant Program as a way to protect generational Detroiters, particularly seniors, from being left behind. “We actually saved the Home Repair Grant Program for our seniors at a time when the program was going to be eliminated. Now, to date, we have over $50 million in that fund so that our seniors can age gracefully in their homes,” Sheffield explained.

This fund, designed to support seniors in maintaining their homes, highlights a focus on keeping Detroit’s long-time residents in place. For a city that has weathered population decline and economic upheaval, efforts like these aim to stabilize the neighborhoods that form the backbone of Detroit.

Beyond individual homes, Sheffield addressed the broader concerns of neighborhood investment. “We oftentimes see development coming downtown and midtown, and residents always say, what about us in the neighborhoods?” Sheffield said. The Neighborhood Improvement Fund, she explained, was created as a direct response to these concerns. By diverting resources to the city’s neighborhoods, the fund has allocated over $3 million to more than 155 community organizations to beautify and transform their areas.

The work Sheffield describes raises a deeper question: What does equitable development look like in Detroit? For her, it’s about finding ways to ensure that the city’s prosperity touches not only its central districts but also the neighborhoods where Detroiters live, work, and raise families. “We’ve done so much on the council from a legislative standpoint,” Sheffield said, “but now we’re hoping to move forward to have a greater reach, to make sure that the prosperity and the growth that we’re seeing actually touches more residents, more businesses in more neighborhoods.”

Detroit’s future hinges on how it balances growth with preservation, progress with inclusion. Sheffield’s remarks invite reflection on whether the city’s current trajectory addresses the needs of its most vulnerable residents. Are we doing enough to ensure that Detroiters of all incomes, backgrounds, and histories can thrive in the city they call home? For Sheffield, the answer lies in continuing the work of creating opportunities that meet the cries of Detroiters across all corners of the city.

Her campaign emphasizes collaboration and unity as guiding principles for addressing Detroit’s challenges and opportunities. “Together, we can build a Detroit where every family has a path to prosperity,” Sheffield stated.

As the race unfolds, the field of candidates and their platforms will play a critical role in shaping Detroit’s next chapter. Sheffield’s entry into the race sets the stage for a dynamic contest that will center on the city’s priorities and the direction its residents hope to pursue.