Voters will decide in November which of the two will succeed popular three-term Mayor Mike Duggan, who is running as an independent for Michigan’s open governor’s seat in 2026.

Kinloch closely defeated former THAW CEO Saunteel Jenkins in the city's Aug. 5 primary to advance in the race, according to unofficial vote results on the city's website. Sheffield collected approximately 51% of the vote,

Analysts cited former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's comeback win in 2005 as precedent for a double-digit turnaround from a second-place primary finish.