Polls show Sheffield in the lead for Detroit’s next mayor

Detroit’s candidates for mayor are in their final weeks of campaigning.  And a new poll shows voters are making up their minds.  

A Detroit News/WDIV-TV poll shows City Council President Mary Sheffield with a commanding lead in the race over Pastor Solomon Kinloch.  The survey…conducted from October 16-18 shows Sheffield supported by about 65% of those surveyed, Kinloch with 14%, and about 20% undecided.  

The Glengariff Group conducted the poll of 500 respondents.  The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

Just a reminder: a poll is a snapshot in time of the people surveyed.  Polls don’t vote – people do.  Early voting starts on Saturday.  Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. 

Additional headlines for Wednesday, October 22, 2025 include: 

• General Motors earnings surpass Wall Street analysts' predictions
• Diwali in the D offers free events through this Saturday
• Chapter 9 of the Vietnam Veterans of America will hold a BBQ to show its appreciation for the city’s first responders.  Police officers and firefighters are invited to come to the barbecue from noon-5 p.m. on Friday.
• Detroit City Council has approved an ordinance banning the use of smokeless tobacco in the city’s sports stadiums. 
• The Detroit Pistons open their new season on the road tonight against the Chicago Bulls.  Tip off at the United Center tonight is at 8 p.m. ET.    

The Detroit Evening Report is a three-minute daily round-up of the news that city residents need to know. Stories focus on the concerns, problems, passions and needs of Detroiters – specifically residents of color. On the weekends, we take a break from the news and spend some time with community members. Hosted by Sascha Raiyn, Jerome Vaughn, Tia Graham, Nargis Rahman, and Hernz Laguerre, Jr. Detroit Evening Report is a production of WDET, Detroit's NPR Station.