Mary Sheffield

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Mary Sheffield
State of the Youth with Mary Sheffield (6C5A7985) (cropped).jpg
Sheffield in 2024
76th Mayor of Detroit
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2026

Mary Sheffield (born June 9, 1987) is an American politician who is serving as the 76th mayor of Detroit since January 2026. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the first woman to serve as mayor of Detroit. She previously served on the Detroit City Council from 2014 to 2026, and was president of City Council from 2022 to 2026, as the youngest person ever to hold that office.

Contents

Early life and career

Sheffield grew up on the west side of Detroit. [1] She is the daughter of Horace Sheffield III, a civil rights activist and pastor at New Destiny Christian Fellowship Church. [2] Sheffield earned a bachelor's degree in public affairs from Wayne State University in 2008. [3] She earned a master's degree in public administration from Central Michigan University. [4]

While she attended college, Sheffield met Benny Napoleon, the sheriff of Wayne County. He recruited her to work in the county jail system as a disciplinary hearing officer. [5] [6] In 2010, Sheffield ran in the election to represent the fourth district in the Michigan House of Representatives, where Coleman Young II was not seeking reelection. In the Democratic Party primary election, Sheffield lost to Maureen Stapleton. [7] By 2013, Sheffield was the co-pastor of New Destiny Christian Fellowship Church. [1]

Detroit City Council

In 2013, Sheffield ran for the Detroit City Council seat for the fifth district. She defeated Adam Hollier in the non-partisan November general election. [8] [9] At age 26, Sheffield became the youngest Detroit council member in history. [10] She won reelection in 2017 against Jewel Ware, a Wayne County commissioner, [11] [12] and was reelected in 2021 without opposition. [13]

In January 2022, the members of the council elected Sheffield to serve as council president over Mary D. Waters, succeeding Brenda Jones. [14] She became the youngest president of the council. [15]

Mayor of Detroit

In August 2023, Sheffield set up an exploratory committee for a candidacy for mayor of Detroit in the 2025 election, hiring Nick Rathod as an advisor. [16] Following the decision of Mike Duggan, the incumbent mayor, to not seek another term, Sheffield announced her candidacy to succeed him in December 2024. [5] [17]

During her mayoral campaign she campaigned on investing in underserved neighborhoods, saying in her primary election victory speech, "I do believe that our neighborhoods need more investment without a doubt. We are going to elevate issues and ensure that we're bringing more attention to our communities." [18]

Sheffield placed first in the primary election, and advanced to the general election in November. [19] [20] She defeated Solomon Kinloch Jr., becoming the first woman to be elected mayor of Detroit. [21] She was sworn into office on January 1, 2026. [22]

Personal life

In December 2025, Sheffield married Rickey Jackson Jr., a program manager for a nonprofit organization. Jackson is also the brother of WNBA player Rickea Jackson. [23]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Callwood, Brett. "Mary Sheffield, District No. 5". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  2. ↑ Warikoo, Niraj (March 30, 2020). "With coronavirus spreading, Detroit churches struggle to keep on". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Wayne State alumna Mary Sheffield discusses new role leading Detroit City Council". Today@Wayne. May 15, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  4. ↑ Neavling, Steve. "Mary Sheffield lays out vision for a more equitable Detroit, if she runs for mayor". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Afana, Dana (December 10, 2024). "Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield announces run for mayor". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  6. ↑ Barrett, Malachi (December 11, 2024). "Sheffield lays out vision for Detroit's next chapter". BridgeDetroit. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Mary Sheffield, Stacy Pugh request recounts in closely-contested primaries for Michigan House". mlive. Associated Press. August 26, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  8. ↑ AlHajal, Khalil (November 6, 2013). "Five new faces will join four re-elected Detroit City Council incumbents". mlive. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  9. ↑ "4 incumbents, 5 newcomers elected to Detroit City Council". Crain's Detroit Business. November 5, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  10. ↑ Dixon, Delaina. "Standing on Business: Mary Sheffield Bids to Make History as Detroit's First Woman Mayor". Ebony. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  11. ↑ Terry, Nicquel (October 24, 2017). "Councilwoman Sheffield faces longtime commissioner Ware". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Detroit City Council members Tate, Sheffield, Castaneda-Lopez, Jones keep their seats". November 7, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  13. ↑ Dickson, James David (November 3, 2021). "Detroit City Council newcomers say turnover signals need for change". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Mary Sheffield selected as Detroit's next city council president". FOX 2 Detroit. January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Detroit's Youngest City Council President Empowers Black Women To "Lead From Where They Are"". Essence. April 8, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  16. ↑ Afana, M. L. Elrick and Dana (August 28, 2023). "Council President Mary Sheffield gets a head start in the 2025 race for mayor of Detroit". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  17. ↑ Aguilar, Louis (December 10, 2024). "Council President Mary Sheffield launches campaign to be Detroit's first female mayor". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  18. ↑ Chambers, Melissa Nann Burke, Louis Aguilar and Jennifer. "Sheffield, Kinloch to face off in November general election". The Detroit News. Retrieved December 8, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ Afana, Dana; Ikonomova, Violet; Erick, M.L. (August 5, 2025). "Mary Sheffield, Solomon Kinloch heading to the general election for Detroit mayor". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Detroit Mayoral Primary Election Results 2025". The New York Times . August 5, 2025. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  21. ↑ Ikonomova, Violet; Afana, Dana; Elrick, M.L. (November 5, 2025). "Mary Sheffield wins Detroit mayor race, makes history". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  22. ↑ Altavena, Lily (January 1, 2026). "Mary Sheffield sworn in as Detroit mayor, making history". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  23. ↑ Afana, Dana (December 8, 2025). "It's official! Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield 'thrilled' to be married". Detroit Free Press . Archived from the original on December 8, 2025. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
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