New Detroit mayor poll shows Kinloch gaining ground on Sheffield
The latest poll from Ed Sarpolus of Target Insyght shows Sheffield and Kinloch as the lead candidates in the Detroit mayor's race.
A new poll surveying voters on Detroit mayoral primary candidates shows Triumph Church leader Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. in second place behind the front runner, City Council president Mary Sheffield.
The poll released Wednesday from Lansing based Target Insyght has Sheffield at 32%, with Kinloch gaining ground, taking second place at 25%.
A poll earlier this year showed the pastor behind several candidates at 5%. That poll, conducted in February, was commissioned by the Michigan Black Legislative Caucus chair Keith Williams, who endorsed Sheffield.
The poll released Wednesday, surveyed 400 voters from May 4–7, with a margin of error of plus or minus 5%.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig is in third place with 19%, down from 20% in the February poll. Former City Council president and nonprofit leader Saunteel Jenkins with 7%, down from 12% in the poll from February.
Attorney Todd Perkins earned 5% of the votes and councilman and former state Rep. Fred Durhal III, received more support than in February, at 2%.
Ed Sarpolus, the executive director of Target Insyght, told me Thursday morning over the phone there are four candidates with a legitimate shot at advancing past the Aug. 5 primary. The primary election will cut the field to two candidates ahead of the Nov. 4 general election.
“The thing I’m hearing from business community is they’re not impressed with any of the candidates.” Sarpolus said. “This is the first time in 30 years that I don’t know who’s going to be the mayor by May 1. I get the impression from the business community that one of the reasons why Duggan was interested in leaving is because business says there’s no more money to give to Detroit right now. With Trump in office, there’s not going to be a lot of investment. There hasn’t been that heat to get involved like there has been in the past.”
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