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Mary Sheffield, Saunteel Jenkins and Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr.
Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield, with a convincing win Tuesday, will square off against Rev. Solomon Kinloch in the mayor's race in the general election in November, the Associated Press reports.
The top two vote-getters adance to the general election in what is labeled as a nonpartisan race.
With 85,971,215 votes tabulated as of 5:55 a.m. Wednesday, and all 430 precincts reporting, Sheffield garnered nearly 51 percent in Tuesday's primary, followed by Kinloch, with more than 17 percent. Former Council President Saunteel Jenkins came in third with just more than 16 percent of the vote, losing to Kinloch by just a little more than 1,100 votes.
The top two vote-getters will face off in the November general election.
Earlier in the evening, pollster Ed Sarpolus of Target Insyght declared to Deadline Detroit that "Mary Sheffield is definitely coming in first."
He said it appeared that many undecided voters had turned to Sheffield instead of Jenkins.
He also noted that Kinloch had maintained a 1 to 3 points over Jenkins all evening.
The results of the race are as follows:
- Mary Sheffield: 43,572
- Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr: 14,893
- Saunteel Jenkins: 13,732
- Todd Perkins: 4,597
- James Craig: 4,453
- Fred Durhal III: 2,902
- John Barlow:706
- Danetta Lynese Simpson: 538
- Joel Haashiim: 349
“Detroit, we made this moment together,” Sheffield told supporters at her watch party at the Cambria Hotel in downtown Detroit, according to the Associated Press. “We claimed it together, and, Detroit, I believe that our best days are ahead of us.”
Kinloch posted a victory statement, saying:
"This campaign has never been about chasing power. It is about serving a purpose. We spent this campaign connecting with residents because we believe Detroit deserves more. More than empty promises. More than photo-ops. More than Downtown headlines that leave neighborhoods behind."
"Detroit is not just choosing a mayor. We are choosing a direction. A city that lifts every block. A city that finally puts people first. Let’s keep going. Let’s make history."
In a concession statement after midnight, Jenkins said:
“This isn’t just about our campaign. It’s about our city’s future and the road ahead to a brighter future for everyone, in every neighborhood. I want to congratulate Mary and Solomon and all the other candidates—Jonathan, James, Fred, Joel, Todd, and DaNetta. This is not easy. It takes guts and courage to raise your hand and put yourself out there. We didn’t always agree but we stood on common ground in our love for the City of Detroit.”
Todd Perkins at his watch party.
Perkins delivered a concession speech to his supporters Tuesday night that was streamed on Facebook after 10 p.m.
"I don't want anyone with any long faces," Perkins told the gathering at his election night watch party. "We ran a great race, we overcame so many obstacles."
"What I can do for you in exchange is to continue to lead a life that you can be proud of. I can continue to serve the community the way that i've done and and that way that I will do."
