By Mary Sheffield For Mayor Campaign
Photos: Mary Sheffield For Mayor Campaign\Wikimedia Commons
Detroit, MI — Council President Mary Sheffield has made history becoming the first woman candidate in Detroit’s mayoral history to raise $1 million before the August primary. This groundbreaking achievement sets a new precedent in Michigan’s political arena. It also places her among the top-performing mayoral candidates nationwide in a year marked by major elections in cities like New York, Atlanta, and Seattle. As local races gain national significance, Sheffield’s grassroots-driven campaign is drawing widespread attention and momentum.
“Surpassing $1 million at this stage of the campaign is so humbling, and more than a financial milestone—it’s a signal that Detroiters believe in what we’re building together,” said Council President Mary Sheffield. “As the only candidate to reach this level of support, I carry the hopes of our communities with me—and together, we are going to move Detroit forward.”
A New Standard in Detroit Politics
While former Mayor Mike Duggan raised significant funds during his campaigns—including over $2.8 million in direct donations and $3.1 million in PAC support in 2013—Sheffield’s achievement is unmatched for a female candidate and for any campaign this early in the election cycle.
“Detroit is a bellwether city, and this is a historic moment—not just for Detroit, but for cities across the country watching how real momentum is built from the ground up,” said Chris Scott, campaign manager for Mary Sheffield for Mayor. “Raising $1 million at this point keeps our primary strategy on schedule to have the most robust grassroots campaign and is proof of the belief that people have in the Council Presidents candidacy. We’ve built a campaign that resonates with everyday Detroiters and major supporters alike, combining disciplined fundraising with a message that connects across every neighborhood and every level of this city.”
The campaign has reported nearly 1,100 individual contributions from several ZIP codes throughout Detroit, with a large portion coming from grassroots donors—underscoring widespread enthusiasm from residents across the city’s neighborhoods.
With less than 60 days left until Detroit’s primary elections, this historic milestone etches Mary Sheffield’s name in the political record books—cementing her status as a formidable contender and signaling a transformative new chapter in Detroit’s political future.
Endorsements and Growing National Support
Mary Sheffield earned her first national endorsement from EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for pro-choice Democratic women in politics. Sheffield’s campaign has also been endorsed by a growing coalition of leaders, businesses, and labor organizations, including:
- Judge Greg Mathis
- Attorney Benjamin Crump
- Cindy Pasky, founder of Strategic Staffing Solutions
- Tommey Walker, founder of Detroit Vs Everybody
- Melissa Butler, founder of The Lip Bar
- Laborers’ Local Union 1191
- UNITE HERE! Local 24
- SEIU Michigan
- MI List
- Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights
- Keith Ellison, Attorney General of Minnesota
- Fannie Lou Hammer PAC
- Bishop Marvin Winans, Rev. Nicholas Hood and over 30+ Clergy members
With broad-based support from national advocates, grassroots leaders, and everyday Detroiters, Sheffield is continuing to build a dynamic and inclusive campaign for the city’s future.
Detroit in a National Landscape of Mayoral Elections
Detroit’s mayoral race is part of a larger trend of high-profile municipal elections across the country in 2025. Major cities with mayoral contests this year include:
- Detroit, MI– Primary August 5 | General November 4
- New York, NY – Primary June 24 | General November 4
- San Antonio, TX – Runoff completed June 7
- Seattle, WA – Primary August 5 | General November 4
- Atlanta, GA – General November 4
- Boston, MA – General November 4
- Minneapolis, MN, Cincinnati, OH, Buffalo, NY, Birmingham, AL, and others
These races reflect heightened engagement from voters and donors alike as local government increasingly drives urgent policy solutions on public safety, housing, economic growth, and equity.
If elected, Sheffield would not only become the first woman to serve as mayor of Detroit, but also one of the few Black women to hold executive leadership in a major U.S. city. With the primary approaching and national attention growing, Sheffield’s campaign is poised to continue building momentum through voter engagement, community organizing, and historic representation.
About Council President Mary Sheffield
Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield made history as the youngest council member elected in 2013 representing District 5. For the past 11 years, Sheffield has served as chair of the Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee, and as a member of the Planning, Economic Development, Budget Finance, and Audit Standing Committees for the Council. Additionally, Council President has been instrumental in passing 23 significant legislations during her tenure on the Detroit City Council some of which include: Inclusionary Housing, Property Tax Reform, Home Repair Grant Funding, Neighborhood Improvement Fund, Neighborhood Beautification Program, Homeowner Property Tax Exemption (HOPE) and Right to Counsel.
Sheffield’s public awards and recognitions include being named to Crain’s Detroit Business’s ‘Twenty in their 20s’ honorees in 2014, and Crain’s ‘40 Under 40’ honorees in 2022; Michigan Chronicle’s 2022 Class of ‘Women of Excellence’ and ‘Power 50 Leaders’ in 2024; Detroit Branch NAACP’s Great Expectations Award in 2016; the Black United Fund’s 2024 Black Excellence Award; the 2023 JoAnn Watson Soul Day Soul Sister Award, and the 2021 Maryann Mahaffey/Erma Henderson Elected Official of the Year Award.
Visit marysheffield.com for more information.
