Metro Detroit 2025 Election Preview: Key Dates, Races

On Nov. 4, voters across metro Detroit will determine several key races, including mayoral races in Detroit, Dearborn and Royal Oak.

Early in-person voting is underway and absentee ballots can be submitted at your city or township clerk’s office. Check with your clerk to find out where you can vote early in person. Early in-person voting is allowed through Nov. 2.

The last day to register to vote online or by mail to vote in November's election is Oct. 20. Starting October 21, you’ll need to register in person at your city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency.

Election officials recommend those voting by absentee to send mail their ballots by Oct. 21 to avoid any postal delays.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day. You can register and then vote at your city or township clerk’s office until 8 p.m. that day.

Here are a few key races to watch:

Detroit Mayor (4-Year Term)

City Council President Mary Sheffield and Pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. are vying to succeed Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who decided not to seek re-election after three terms, and is running for governor.

Sheffield was the top vote-getter in Augusts' primary, securing 53 percent of the vote. Kinloch was the runner-up with 17 percent of the vote.

Sheffield, a 12-year veteran of the City Council, said she will focus on education, gun violence prevention and infrastructure investments if picked to lead the city. If elected, she would be the first woman and the first Black woman to hold the role of Detroit mayor.

Kinloch, a senior pastor at Triumph Church in Detroit, said he will focus on poverty and public safety. He has largely targeted voters who have been frustrated with the city’s current leadership.

Dearborn Mayor (4-Year Term)

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud is running for re-election against Nagi Almudhegi, an IT manager. There was no primary since no other candidates entered the race.

Hammoud, a former Democratic state representative, was first elected mayor in 2021. He became the city's first ever Arab-American elected mayor.

Hammoud has a strong list of accomplishments, including establishing the Dearborn Department of Health, the "fugitive dust and bulk storage" to improve air quality across the city and overseeing a decrease in crime, according to police data.

His campaign has largely focused on public safety, flood prevention and fiscal stability. He recently detailed multiple projects to help tackle flooding in the city during heavy rainstorms.

Almudhegi, on the other hand, has positioned himself as a Republican-backed candidate and a supporter of President Trump. He said his campaign will focus on crime reduction, reckless driving, flooding and drug addiction.

Royal Oak Mayor (2-Year Term)

Royal Oak Mayor Michael Fournier is running for re-election against Trish Oliver, a longtime Royal Oak resident.

Fournier was first elected mayor in 2016 after serving as City Commissioner from 2011-2016. He has earned a career in Business Development.

His campaign priorities include public safety, infrastructure upgrades and support for Royal Oak's neighborhoods. He plans to increase resources for first responders and social and mental health professionals, replace lead lines and update water infrastructure and maintain investments in our parks and older adult initiatives.

Oliver, a senior communications consultant for corporations and non-profit organizations, said she will largely focus on fiscal responsibility and protecting single-family homes.