News Summary
In Detroit’s political landscape, city council candidates are significantly outspent by mayoral candidates, highlighting a disparity in funding. City council candidates have collectively raised $504,500 and spent $371,838, while mayoral candidates have spent close to $2 million. Many city council races are financed by a few major donors, with various contributions coming from political committees and wealthy individuals. The next round of campaign finance disclosures is expected on August 25, providing further clarity on the financing dynamics of the upcoming elections.
Detroit – In the highly contested political landscape of Detroit, candidates for city council are significantly outspent by those vying for the mayoral position. The sixteen candidates for the city council on the August 5 primary ballot collectively raised nearly $504,500 and spent a total of $371,838. In stark contrast, mayoral candidates are reported to have spent close to $2 million, highlighting a pronounced disparity in campaign financing across different positions.
A review of campaign disclosures indicates that several city council races were financed by a limited number of donors. Various sources of campaign financing for council candidates include personal loans, contributions from political committees, business groups, and donations from individuals outside their districts. Notably, several candidates received large financial contributions from well-known figures, including Matthew Moroun, the owner of the Ambassador Bridge, billionaire Dan Gilbert, and Gary Torgow, the chairman of Huntington National Bank and Sterling Group.
As of July 20, which marked the deadline for campaign finance reports, city council candidates spent an average of approximately $20,600 during this reporting period. This amount is drastically lower than the average spending by mayoral candidates, which was ten times greater.
Roy McCalister Jr., a candidate in District 2, emerged as the top spender for city council, largely funding his campaign with personal contributions amounting to $111,374. Despite McCalister receiving 2,440 votes fewer than the primary winner, Angela Whitfield-Calloway, he advanced to the November general election due to the city council’s unique electoral structure.
Denzel McCampbell, running in District 7, raised $92,032 and secured the top position in his primary race. His campaign was bolstered by endorsements from the Democratic Socialists of America and U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, as well as securing an average individual donation of $81. The SEIU of Michigan also played a significant role in McCampbell’s financing, contributing a total of $20,000. State Rep. Karen Whitsett, who finished second in the same district, received $11,000 from the Rock Holdings political fund, which is linked to billionaire Dan Gilbert.
The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters supported three council incumbents, contributing financial resources that included $20,000 to District 6 Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero, alongside $2,500 each to Council Members Angela Whitfield-Calloway and Latisha Johnson. Despite the backing from large contributors like Rock Holdings, not all candidates supported by substantial funding achieved success in their respective elections.
In the at-large City Council race, four candidates each sought to secure one of two available seats, spending a combined total of $123,034. Incumbents Mary Waters and Coleman Young II successfully advanced to the general election, with Waters emerging as the top spender at $39,128 and receiving maximum support from Moroun. Young reported available funds of $59,021 for the general election after spending $30,975 on his campaign.
The at-large race also saw Janeé Ayers and James Harris advancing, with Ayers raising $20,799 while Harris spent $31,877. In District 2, three candidates shared a collective expenditure of $141,756, resulting in Whitfield-Calloway winning the primary. Additionally, the District 5 race featured seven candidates, with Renata Miller capturing the primary with 23% of the votes after raising $13,660. District 7 reported a combined spending of $68,346 among three candidates, with McCampbell narrowly achieving victory by claiming 35% of the vote.
Looking ahead, the next round of campaign finance disclosures is expected on August 25, 2023, providing further insight into the financial landscape of Detroit’s city council races.
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Additional Resources
- Detroit Free Press: City Council Endorsements
- ClickOnDetroit: Sheffield Advances in Mayoral Race
- CBS News: 2025 Michigan Primary Election Results
- Detroit News: Sheffield’s Precinct Wins Analysis
- Bridge Detroit: 2025 Voter Guide
- Wikipedia: Detroit
- Google Search: Detroit City Council elections
- Google Scholar: Detroit city politics
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Detroit
- Google News: Detroit elections
Author: STAFF HERE DETROITMI WRITER
DETROIT STAFF WRITER The DETROIT STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDetroitMI.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Detroit, Wayne County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Movement Electronic Music Festival, Detroit Grand Prix, and America's Thanksgiving Parade. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Detroit Regional Chamber and Focus HOPE, plus leading businesses in automotive and healthcare that power the local economy such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Henry Ford Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
