Detroit’s mayoral race took center stage on the evening of October 15, 2025, as City Council President Mary Sheffield and the Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. faced off in their first televised debate on WXYZ-TV. With the general election looming on November 4, the hour-long event quickly turned combative, with both candidates determined to convince Detroiters that they alone could steer the city’s next chapter.
The debate, which covered everything from crime and education to affordable housing and city services, showcased two sharply contrasting visions for Detroit’s future. Sheffield, touting her 12 years on city council, positioned herself as the experienced choice, ready to build on the city’s hard-won progress. “This is a critical moment in Detroit's recovery where we can move forward with progress, or we can gamble with our future with inexperienced leadership,” Sheffield declared, according to The Detroit News. “I am prepared, and I am ready day one to move this city forward.”
Kinloch, the senior pastor of Triumph Church, countered by highlighting Detroit’s persistent challenges, particularly its high rates of child poverty and crime. He accused the current leadership of failing to deliver real change. “This is a failure of institutional politics and institutional leadership. And Detroit deserves more,” Kinloch argued. “Particularly when you're seeing mothers and fathers sitting on the front row of a funeral, and they are living life in reverse, because no parent expects to have to bury their child.”
Both candidates agreed that improving education and public safety are top priorities, but their approaches diverged. Sheffield emphasized the importance of prevention, proposing the creation of the city’s first Office of Gun Violence Prevention, more year-round youth employment, and robust after-school programs within two miles of every school. She also pledged to invest in wraparound services to support children’s mental health and ensure access to food and stable housing. “We know one life lost is still far too many,” she said.
Kinloch, meanwhile, proposed the creation of a Chief Educational Officer to partner directly with Detroit Public Schools. “There are a whole lot of things that take place before those children get to class, and so we got to make sure that they have access to mental health professionals, that they have access to affordable housing, that they have access to food and grocery stores and healthy eating, that they have access to extra curriculum activities to keep them off the street and give them a sanctuary to be safe,” Kinloch explained, as reported by The Detroit Free Press.
The debate also touched on Detroit’s ongoing struggle with poverty. Kinloch pointed out that more than 51% of Detroit’s children still live in poverty, a statistic he called unacceptable. He outlined his “Kinloch Promise” — a trust fund that would provide every baby born in Detroit with a $1,000 seed, allocated yearly until age 18, to help them start a business, attend college, or invest in their community. Sheffield, in turn, highlighted her work establishing the Housing Trust Fund and home repair grants for seniors and residents with disabilities, as well as down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.
The candidates clashed over the city’s approach to affordable housing. Kinloch has campaigned on building 1,000 affordable housing units but has faced criticism for not providing enough detail. Sheffield challenged his record, saying, “We have a pastor here who has not developed one unit of housing, but we have a lot of your peers who joined in to our faith-based initiative, where we're going to be supporting our faith-based institutions to spur economic development and build housing here in the city of Detroit.” Kinloch shot back, “Mary, it's disingenuous for you to assault me and my church for all of the work that you know we've done in this community, even helping you and your father. Triumph Church and Solomon Kinloch have done more in this community than anybody you know.”
Public safety and the potential deployment of the National Guard were another flashpoint. Sheffield flatly rejected the idea, citing the painful legacy of the 1967 civil uprising. “I do not believe that militarization of our neighborhoods is the solution,” she said. Kinloch said he wouldn’t support martial law but was open to collaboration with the Guard to protect vulnerable areas, provided it was done in partnership with local stakeholders.
Transit improvements also featured prominently. Sheffield pledged to increase bus frequency, pay drivers fair wages, and invest in micro-transit options, touting her endorsement from the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26. Kinloch agreed on the need for better pay and reliability, recalling his own experiences riding city buses as a child. “It’s not an option; it's an obligation that we provide reliable transportation,” he said, noting the long-standing neglect of transit issues.
The debate’s tone turned personal as both candidates addressed controversies. Kinloch criticized Sheffield for accepting concert tickets to see rapper Jeezy, calling it “a clear violation of Detroit’s charter” and warning of a “culture of corruption” at City Hall. Sheffield refuted the allegations, pointing to a finding by the city’s corporation counsel that no ethics rules were broken. In turn, Sheffield questioned Kinloch’s real estate dealings with Triumph Church and his residency move from Oakland Township to Detroit, suggesting he lacked understanding of the city’s day-to-day realities.
Both candidates tried to position themselves as coalition-builders. Sheffield cited her track record of working across political divides, referencing the inclusionary housing ordinance and her relationships in Lansing. Kinloch described himself as a CEO with experience hiring, budgeting, and managing staff, promising a “We” administration that would engage state and federal officials as well as corporate leaders to tackle Detroit’s toughest problems.
As the debate concluded, the stakes were clear. Detroiters will soon choose between electing the city’s first female mayor or its first active minister in at least 125 years. The race to succeed Mayor Mike Duggan, who is leaving office to run for Michigan governor as an independent, has drawn intense interest. Absentee ballots began going out in late September, with early voting set to open at eight centers on October 25. Officials expect turnout between 18% and 23%, with about two-thirds of voters expected to cast ballots early.
With three more forums scheduled before October 30, both Sheffield and Kinloch will have further opportunities to make their case. But after a debate marked by pointed exchanges and sharp policy contrasts, Detroiters are left with a clear choice — one that will shape the city’s future for years to come.