Gabriela Santiago-Romero

Gabriela Santiago-Romero is a member of the Detroit City Council in Michigan, representing District 6. She assumed office on January 1, 2022. Her current term ends on January 1, 2026.

Santiago-Romero is running for re-election to the Detroit City Council to represent District 6 in Michigan. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025. The primary for this office on August 5, 2025, was canceled.

Biography

Gabriela Santiago-Romero was born in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit Mercy in 2015 and a master's degree from the University of Michigan in 2018. Her career experience includes working as a research and policy director for We the People Michigan. Santiago-Romero also worked for the nonprofits Alternatives for Girls, The Alley Project, and Urban Neighborhood Initiatives. She also worked for Wayne County Executive Warren Evans (D) and ran youth programs for Real Media at UNI and Girls Making Change at the Mary Turner Center. Santiago-Romero has also served as a member and volunteer for We The People Michigan, as a member of the Southwest Detroit Community Cares Mutual Aid Group, as a board member for the Detroit Community Wealth Fund, as a fellow alumni of Challenge Detroit, and as a fellow alumni of the New Leaders Council.^[1]^[2]

Elections

2025

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Detroit City Council District 6

Incumbent Gabriela Santiago-Romero and Tyrone Carter are running in the general election for Detroit City Council District 6 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Gabriela Santiago-Romero (Nonpartisan)
		Tyrone Carter (Nonpartisan)

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Gabriela Santiago-Romero and Tyrone Carter advanced from the primary for Detroit City Council District 6.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Anita Martin (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

Santiago-Romero received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

SEIU Michigan State Council

2021

General election

General election for Detroit City Council District 6

Gabriela Santiago-Romero defeated Hector Santiago in the general election for Detroit City Council District 6 on November 2, 2021.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Gabriela Santiago-Romero (Nonpartisan)	73.9	5,922
	Hector Santiago (Nonpartisan)	25.3	2,028
	Other/Write-in votes	0.8	62

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,012
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

The primary election was canceled. Hector Santiago and Gabriela Santiago-Romero advanced from the primary for Detroit City Council District 6.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

David Sanchez (Nonpartisan)
Myamika Jordan (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

To view Santiago-Romero's endorsements in the 2021 election, please click here.

2020

General election

General election for Wayne County Commission District 4

Incumbent Ilona Varga defeated Loel Gnadt in the general election for Wayne County Commission District 4 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Ilona Varga (D)	86.6	25,653
	Submit photo	Loel Gnadt (L)	11.6	3,430
		Other/Write-in votes	1.8	548

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 29,631
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wayne County Commission District 4

Incumbent Ilona Varga defeated Gabriela Santiago-Romero and Lisa Carter in the Democratic primary for Wayne County Commission District 4 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Ilona Varga	47.3	4,474
		Gabriela Santiago-Romero	34.4	3,254
	Submit photo	Lisa Carter	17.9	1,696
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4	40

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,464
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Santiago-Romero's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

Gabriela Santiago-Romero has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Gabriela Santiago-Romero, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.

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2021

Gabriela Santiago-Romero completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Santiago-Romero's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a proud immigrant from Mexico, a Southwest Detroit native, and an active organizer in Michigan. Growing up an immigrant in poverty in Southwest Detroit forced me to see and learn things the hard way. Too many families in our community struggle to make ends meet, have been pushed out of their homes by foreclosures, and have difficulty obtaining jobs and education due to a lack of reliable public transportation.

My love for community has led me through many paths. I have had the opportunity to mentor young women of color through leadership programs such as Girls Making Change, lead statewide policy change with local electeds like Senator Chang, and directly serve constituents’ needs by connecting them to resources and creating mutual aid paths. Most recently, I was the Policy and Research Director with We the People Michigan, a state based movement organization.

I am proud to be the first in my family to pursue higher education. I graduated with a master’s degree from the University of Michigan School of Social Work after completing my bachelor’s at the University of Detroit Mercy, where I studied international business.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Trust: Our campaign is dedicated to building a bridge between local government and residents of Detroit District Six to enhance trust and grow a larger table of representation.
Transparency: Our campaign is 100% supported and funded by the people. Government and fiscal transparency are priorities for our campaign.
Service: Our campaign believes the city of Detroit’s leadership and resources should be accessible and accountable to the community.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Growing up in poverty to a single mother taught me how important safety, meeting our basic needs and a healthy community meant for families. There are a lot of issues I'm personally passionate about, and ensuring that our families have what they need to live with dignity is my main priority.

Safety. As councilwoman, I would prioritize investment directly to our neighborhoods who lack lighting, safe roads, buildings and homes. I am also a proponent of alternative strategies for public safety. In particular, I support investment in unarmed responses to certain emergencies by mental health and substance use professionals, mentorship and education programs for at-risk youth, and reentry initiatives for returning citizens.

Environmental Justice. We need to invest in long-term environmental justice solutions. The health of District 6 residents depends on it. As councilwoman, I would prioritize solutions that hold corporate polluters who poison our air, soil, and water accountable.

Housing. All Detroiters should be able to afford to stay in their homes. Residents should never be displaced as they so often are due to foreclosures and evictions caused by inequitable policies and confusing processes.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The role of a council member is to represent the interests of constituents by proposing and passing laws and ordinances, managing budgets, and overseeing city agencies. They also review and approve developers’ contracts. City council members are responsible for being informed and responsible decision-makers, who can provide and coordinate public services and facilities to serve the community.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want my campaign and time in office to invest in future leadership. I want our legacy to be the continuation of amazing leadership supporting district six.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as a waitress at 15 years old serving at a Mexican restaurant in Southwest Detroit. The restaurant was a 5 minute drive from my house, and allowed me to save enough money to buy my own car which I needed to get me to school in Farmington Hills. I got a full ride academic scholarship to attend Mercy High School, but there was no transportation that allowed me to get from Detroit to school. I had to work after school and on weekends. I worked there for about 3 years before starting college. During undergrad I always juggled multiple jobs while in school full time. I essentially worked and went to school full time. I was a waitress at Chili's, a caterer at local hotels, a photographer, I worked for the career center on campus and for local nonprofits. I was in the service industry for about 13 years before shifting my focus over to organizing full time. I'm incredibly proud of my work ethic, but disappointed with the need to work so much in order to meet my basic needs. I believe that we deserve to work and rest. My hope is to establish policies, and budget priorities that allow everyone the opportunity to live their life with dignity without the need for constant sacrifice.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Growing up in Southwest Detroit, I was exposed to poverty, violence, and many of the other systemic issues that plague many of our city’s residents. However, these struggles have made me who I am and ultimately motivate me to be an active participant in my community.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

In my conversations with folks across the district, I have found that many residents do not know that Detroit City Council reviews and approves developers’ contracts. As councilwoman, I hope to solicit feedback from local businesses, community organizations and leaders on development opportunities. We need to ensure that the development coming to our district truly benefits our residents — developments that prioritize environmental sustainability and the creation of accessible, good-paying jobs.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I am running for office to bring the voice of the people to Detroit City Council. Although I do believe my experience working in government with local electeds like Senator Chang has greatly benefited me, it is my community organizing experience that I believe has truly prepared me for this role. It is because of these experiences that I believe I will be able to most effectively serve as a bridge between the Detroit government and my district’s activists, small business owners, and families.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

My social work background instilled in me the importance of ‘care.’ Our government needs to support our residents in their times of need, rather than invest in punitive solutions. This core belief of mine translates into everything my campaign stands for — from criminal justice reform to housing justice.

Tell us your favorite joke.

How much does a polar bear weigh? Enough to break the ice.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

Gabriela Santiago-Romero completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Santiago-Romero's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Gabriela Santiago-Romero is the Policy and Research Director with We The People MI based in Detroit. She's an immigrant from Mexico and a Southwest Detroit native. She earned her master of social work studying Social Policy and Evaluation with a focus on Community and Social Systems from the University of Michigan. She received her bachelors from the University of Detroit Mercy focused on international business. She's a community activist and organizer who has extensive experience working for Detroit nonprofits and local government. She has worked for Urban Neighborhood Initiatives, The Alley Project, Alternatives for Girls and more. She has worked for Grand Circus, coding school in Detroit, as the Diversity and Inclusion coordinator. She ran State Senator Stephanie Chang's Girls Making Change summer program for two years. She is a Challenge Detroit alumni and worked for both the Detroit Lions and the Wayne County Executive office with Warren Evans. She is a Voyageur charter school board member, Detroit Economic Wealth Fund board member, among others.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

We deserve healthy and safe communities
We should be able to afford where we live in and stay in our homes
We need affordable and accessible transportation in Wayne County

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm personally excited about proper processes and procedures that are transparent and that lead to forward thinking policies that serve the community as whole.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

This office handles Wayne County's $1.6 billion budget. There is little to no transparency in this office and I want to change that. Currently, our taxpayer dollars are used mostly to fund prisons, court and juvenile detention. I believe budget reallocation is key to healthy and safe communities.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Trust, transparency and service.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Allocating our budget to directly serve residents.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked in the service industry as a waitress for over ten years.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Yes, people should know all the possible programs that are able to be funded by the county and deserve to see much more transparency when it comes to how they allocate our budget.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily, I have background as a community organizer and I find that experience important.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Transparency, community involvement and understanding policies/procedures with grant funds.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

External links

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Candidate

Detroit City Council District 6

Website

Officeholder

Detroit City Council District 6

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 4, 2020
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 20, 2021

Political offices
Preceded by Raquel Castaneda-Lopez	Detroit City Council, District 6 2014 - Present	Succeeded by NA

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 4, 2020

[bio2021-2] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 20, 2021

[1]

[2]

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Gabriela Santiago-Romero

Biography

Elections

2025

General election

General election for Detroit City Council District 6

Nonpartisan primary election

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

2021

General election

General election for Detroit City Council District 6

Nonpartisan primary election

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

2020

General election

General election for Wayne County Commission District 4

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wayne County Commission District 4

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

2021

2020

See also

External links

Footnotes

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