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James Craig (Michigan)
James Craig ran for election for Mayor of Detroit in Michigan. He lost in the primary on August 5, 2025.
Biography
Craig received a bachelor's degree in business management from West Coast University and graduate degrees in management and public administration from the University of Phoenix. Craig worked with the Los Angeles Police Department before becoming police chief in Portland, Maine, and, later, Cincinnati, Ohio. Craig was chief of police in Detroit from 2013 to 2021.[1]
2025 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the August 5 primary election as a battleground race. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, here
Solomon Kinloch and Mary Sheffield advanced in the nonpartisan primary for mayor of Detroit on August 5, 2025.
Bridge Detroit's Malachi Barrett wrote, "For the first time since he won the role 12 years ago, Mike Duggan will not be on the ballot for Detroit mayor. His term expires at the end of 2025, opening up a competitive contest to succeed him."[2] Though the position is nonpartisan, Duggan is an independent, formerly affiliated with the Democratic Party.[3] Detroit's last Republican mayor left office in 1962.[4]
James Craig was the former chief of Detroit's police department and ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Michigan in 2022 and U.S. Senate in 2024.[5] He campaigned on public safety, and said that residents "want police and they want more police, but that certainly doesn't mean that we need to exhaust the budget just for public safety. There has to be a balance."[6] Craig also said he wanted a third party to audit the city's finances, and said that if elected, he would "[b]ring in a firm that will not only report out on the health, but come back with recommendations."[7]
Fred Durhal, at the time of the primary, was a member of the Detroit City Council, a former Democratic state representative, and a community liaison to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.[8] He campaigned on his experience and said he was the only candidate in the race who had a "vast experience of being able to foster relationships and deliver here for the city of Detroit."[9] Durhal also said that he wanted to reform property taxes, and said he would "modernize [property] assessments by transitioning toward income-based assessments for commercial and residential rental properties, ensuring taxes are aligned with actual earning potential."[10]
Saunteel Jenkins was a nonprofit executive and was president of the Detroit City Council from 2013 to 2014.[11][12] She campaigned on affordability, and her website said she would "make lowering property taxes and housing affordability a top priority. We’ll work with our partners to create more affordable housing options for renters and owners."[13] Jenkins also campaigned to expand public transit, and said, "We should have a combination of traditional buses and shuttles that go shorter routes. You need transportation hubs around the city, not just Rosa Parks Transit Center, that can fulfill the needs of people throughout the city."[14] Jenkins was affiliated with the Democratic Party.[15]
Solomon Kinloch, at the time of the primary, was the pastor of the Triumph Church.[16] He campaigned on his lack of political experience, and focused on his experience as a pastor. He said, "It doesn’t matter how experienced you are if your experiences don’t change the experiences of the people in this city." He added, "When government didn’t show up and do their part, Solomon Kinloch and Triumph Church stood up."[17] Kinloch also campaigned on building new grocery stores in the city. He said, "I plan on building 10 strategically locator[sic] grocery stores and ending the food desert in Detroit forever."[18] Kinloch was affiliated with the Democratic Party.[15]
Mary Sheffield, at the time of the primary, was the president of the Detroit City Council.[19] She campaigned on developing less well-off neighborhoods, and her website said that further development had "to occur in neighborhoods, and resources must be made available to residents where they live, work, play and pray. Detroit cannot continue to be a tale of two cities."[20] Sheffield also campaigned on using community policing, and said she was "very big on community violence intervention programs, and possibly creating an office of gun violence prevention in Detroit. Creating more ways to address the underlying social issues that breed crime in our community."[21] Sheffield was affiliated with the Democratic Party.[15]
Deadline Detroit's Allan Lengel wrote, "It's always tough to say just how influential political endorsements are. That being said, they're still coveted and considered a prize worth working for." Most of the leading candidates received endorsements from organizations with local and national reach:
- Four mayors of other Michigan cities, including those from Grand Rapids and Lansing, endorsed Durhal.[22]
- The Detroit News' editorial board endorsed Jenkins, and the Michigan Chronicle's editorial board co-endorsed Jenkins and Sheffield.[23][24]
- The United Auto Workers, the Black Slate, and the 13th Congressional District Democrats endorsed Kinloch.[25][26][27]
- The Service Employees International Union Michigan and the Detroit Free Press's editorial board endorsed Sheffield. The Michigan Chronicle's editorial board co-endorsed Sheffield and Jenkins.[22][28][24]
Ballotpedia did not identify any public formal endorsements for Craig.
Jonathan Barlow, Joel Haashiim, Todd Perkins, and Danetta Simpson also ran.
Elections
2025
See also: Mayoral election in Detroit, Michigan (2025)
General election
General election for Mayor of Detroit
The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Detroit on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mary Sheffield (Nonpartisan) | 77.0 | 88,285 |
 | Solomon Kinloch (Nonpartisan) | 22.5 | 25,748 | |
| Rogelio Landin (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 5 | ||
| Delores Scott (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 2 | ||
| Angelo Brown (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 1 | ||
| Langston Burke (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Jamelle Sims (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Jeremy Conn (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 601 | ||
| Total votes: 114,642 | |||
 = 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
Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Detroit
The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of Detroit on August 5, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mary Sheffield (Nonpartisan) | 50.7 | 43,597 |
| ✔ | | Solomon Kinloch (Nonpartisan) | 17.3 | 14,900 |
 | Saunteel Jenkins (Nonpartisan) | 16.0 | 13,738 | |
| Todd Perkins (Nonpartisan) | 5.4 | 4,603 | ||
 | James Craig (Nonpartisan) | 5.2 | 4,458 | |
 | Fred Durhal III (Nonpartisan) | 3.4 | 2,902 | |
 | Jonathan Barlow (Nonpartisan) | 0.8 | 707 | |
| Danetta Simpson (Nonpartisan) | 0.6 | 538 | ||
 | Joel Haashiim (Nonpartisan) | 0.4 | 349 | |
| Arnold Boyd (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 42 | ||
| Rogelio Landin (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 10 | ||
| Kristopher Carter (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 2 | ||
| Joyce Jennings-Fells (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 2 | ||
| Oneita Jackson (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 1 | ||
| Angelo Brown (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 1 | ||
| Winnie Imbuchi (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 1 | ||
| Jeremy Conn (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Lucinda Darrah (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Jonny Myles (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Lakeita Norwood-Brown (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Doris Anderson (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 169 | ||
| Total votes: 86,020 | |||
| = 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
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Craig in this election.
2024
See also: United States Senate election in Michigan, 2024
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Michigan
The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Michigan on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Elissa Slotkin (D) | 48.6 | 2,712,686 |
 | Mike Rogers (R) | 48.3 | 2,693,680 | |
 | Joseph Solis-Mullen (L) | 1.0 | 56,697 | |
 | Douglas P. Marsh (G) | 1.0 | 53,978 | |
 | Dave Stein (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 0.7 | 41,363 | |
 | Doug Dern (Natural Law Party) | 0.3 | 18,779 | |
 | Valerie Willis (U.S. Taxpayers Party) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 2 | |
| James Chapman (R) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 1 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 4 | ||
| Total votes: 5,577,190 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- James Frizzell (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Michigan
Elissa Slotkin defeated Hill Harper in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Michigan on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Elissa Slotkin | 76.3 | 712,791 |
 | Hill Harper | 23.7 | 221,053 | |
| Total votes: 933,844 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Pamela Pugh (D)
- Nasser Beydoun (D)
- Leslie Love (D)
- Zack Burns (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Michigan
Mike Rogers defeated Justin Amash, Sherry O'Donnell, and Sandy Pensler in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Michigan on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Rogers | 63.2 | 555,766 |
 | Justin Amash | 15.6 | 137,565 | |
 | Sherry O'Donnell | 12.1 | 106,466 | |
 | Sandy Pensler | 9.1 | 79,772 | |
| Total votes: 879,569 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- J.D. Wilson (R)
- Sharon Savage (R)
- Michael Hoover (R)
- Bensson Samuel (R)
- Alexandria Taylor (R)
- Peter Meijer (R)
- James Craig (R)
- Nikki Snyder (R)
- Rebekah Curran (R)
- Glenn Wilson (R)
Green convention
Green convention for U.S. Senate Michigan
Douglas P. Marsh advanced from the Green convention for U.S. Senate Michigan on June 15, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Douglas P. Marsh (G) |
| ||||
| = 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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Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Michigan
Joseph Solis-Mullen advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Michigan on July 20, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Solis-Mullen (L) |
| ||||
| = 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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Natural Law Party convention
Natural Law Party convention for U.S. Senate Michigan
Doug Dern advanced from the Natural Law Party convention for U.S. Senate Michigan on April 17, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Doug Dern (Natural Law Party) |
| ||||
| = 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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U.S. Taxpayers Party convention
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for U.S. Senate Michigan
Dave Stein advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for U.S. Senate Michigan on July 27, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Dave Stein (U.S. Taxpayers Party) |
| ||||
| = 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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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Craig in this election.
2022
See also: Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of Michigan
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Michigan on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Gretchen Whitmer (D) | 54.5 | 2,430,505 |
 | Tudor Dixon (R) | 43.9 | 1,960,635 | |
 | Mary Buzuma (L) | 0.9 | 38,800 | |
 | Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 0.4 | 16,246 | |
 | Kevin Hogan (G) | 0.2 | 10,766 | |
 | Daryl Simpson (Natural Law Party) | 0.1 | 4,973 | |
 | Evan Space (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 26 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 21 | ||
| Total votes: 4,461,972 | |||
| = 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 Governor of Michigan
Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gretchen Whitmer | 100.0 | 938,382 |
| Total votes: 938,382 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Articia Bomer (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Michigan
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Michigan on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tudor Dixon | 39.7 | 436,350 |
 | Kevin Rinke | 21.5 | 236,306 | |
 | Garrett Soldano | 17.5 | 192,442 | |
 | Ryan Kelley | 15.1 | 165,587 | |
 | Ralph Rebandt | 4.1 | 45,046 | |
| James Craig (Write-in) | 2.1 | 23,521 | |
 | Elizabeth Adkisson (Write-in) | 0.0 | 11 | |
| Justin Blackburn (Write-in) | 0.0 | 10 | ||
| Total votes: 1,099,273 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Perry Johnson (R)
- Michael Markey Jr. (R)
- Bob Scott (R)
- Austin Chenge (R)
- Michael Brown (R)
- Donna Brandenburg (R)
Green convention
Green convention for Governor of Michigan
Kevin Hogan advanced from the Green convention for Governor of Michigan on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Hogan (G) |
| ||||
| = 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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Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Governor of Michigan
Mary Buzuma advanced from the Libertarian convention for Governor of Michigan on July 10, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Mary Buzuma (L) |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Governor of Michigan
Donna Brandenburg advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Governor of Michigan on July 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers Party) |
| ||||
| = 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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Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
James Craig did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
2024
James Craig did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
James Craig did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "James Craig," accessed July 3, 2022
- ↑ Bridge Detroit, "2025 Detroit Elections: Who is running for mayor," May 2, 2025
- ↑ Associated Press, "Detroit Mayor Duggan, a longtime Democrat, will run for Michigan governor in 2026 as independent," December 4, 2024
- ↑ Toledo Blade, "Detroit mayors all Democrats since 1962," July 28, 2013
- ↑ Bridge Detroit, "Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig launches 2025 mayoral bid," March 6, 2025
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "Ex-Detroit Police Chief James Craig announces 'Hollywood Craig is back' in mayoral bid," March 12, 2025
- ↑ Axios, "Detroit mayor's race sit-down: James Craig," April 14, 2025
- ↑ Detroit Regional Chamber, "Fred Durhal III," accessed July 9, 2025
- ↑ The Detroit News, "Q&A: Councilman Fred Durhal III says 'vast' experience makes him best choice for Detroit's next mayor," April 12, 2025
- ↑ Fred Durhal 2025 campaign website, "DETROIT’S GROWTH PLAYBOOK: BUILDING FAMILIES, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND BUSINESS," accessed July 9, 2025
- ↑ Axios, "Nonprofit CEO launches campaign for Detroit mayor," January 15, 2025
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Saunteel Jenkins," accessed July 9, 2025
- ↑ Saunteel Jenkins 2025 campaign website, "Saunteel's Six Policy Priorities," accessed July 9, 2025
- ↑ Bridge Detroit, "Detroit mayoral candidates share views on transit future," May 2, 2025
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Detroit One Million, "Democratic rift over corporate influence, Gaza on display at Michigan convention," February 24, 2025
- ↑ Bridge Detroit, "Pastor Solomon Kinloch announces 2025 bid for Detroit mayor," February 19, 2025
- ↑ Bridge Detroit, "Detroit mayoral hopefuls clash over vision, experience at Mackinac debate," May 29, 2025
- ↑ Click on Detroit, "Triumph Church Reverend Solomon Kinloch, Jr. announces campaign for Detroit mayor," February 20, 2025
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Mary Sheffield," accessed July 9, 2025
- ↑ Mary Sheffield 2025 campaign website, "Neighborhood Restoration," accessed July 9, 2025
- ↑ Axios, "Detroit mayor's race sit-down: Mary Sheffield," January 28, 2025
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Axios, "Trail Mix: Endorsements, tension and a debate," May 19, 2025
- ↑ The Detroit News, "Editorial: Our primary election choice for Detroit mayor," July 2, 2025
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 The Michigan Chronicle, "Michigan Chronicle Endorsement: Detroit Deserves a Real Race. Let It Be Between Saunteel Jenkins and Mary Sheffield," July 9, 2025
- ↑ United Auto Workers, "UAW Endorses Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. for Mayor of Detroit," May 16, 2025
- ↑ Michigan Chronicle, "Black Slate Endorsements: Kinloch, McCampbell, Miller earn nods," July 8, 2025
- ↑ Click on Detroit, "Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. secures endorsement from 13th Congressional Democrats in Detroit mayoral race," May 19, 2025
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "Here's the Free Press' pick for 2025 Detroit mayoral election | Endorsement," June 29, 202
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