Detroit area's urban voters to narrow choices of next leaders as probes hang over 2 cities
Voters in Detroit, Hamtramck and Pontiac are poised Tuesday to select the finalists who will compete in the fall to become their next mayors as two of the communities have been roiled by investigations into possible electoral fraud, residency fraud and misspending.
The more tranquil and investigation-free primary election is Detroit, where nine hopefuls are competing to succeed Mayor Mike Duggan, who isn't pursuing reelection so he can run as an independent for Michigan governor. Duggan leaves a legacy of stabilizing the city as it emerged from municipal bankruptcy, resulting in an 84% voter approval rating. His potential successors said they want to expand the city's progress citywide by further boosting neighborhoods, lowering taxes and crime, and improving public schools.
The primary gives Detroit voters a chance to put a woman on the November ballot for the first time since 1993, when lawyer Sharon McPhail lost to former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Dennis Archer. Three hopefuls, including the projected frontrunner, are hoping to become the city's first female mayor.
Voters could also back a political newcomer for the first time since 2009, when former basketball Hall of Famer and steel-processing executive Dave Bing was elected mayor. The Black-majority city is already assured of getting a Black successor to Duggan, the first White mayor in 40 years, since all nine candidates on the ballot are African American.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/04/detroit-areas-urban-voters-pontiac-hamtramck-narrow-choices-next-leaders-probes-2-cities/85482387007/