Detroit, MI — As the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference comes to a close and momentum builds around Detroit’s historic mayoral race, the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights (MRCC) has officially endorsed Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield in her campaign to become the city’s next mayor.
The MRCC’s endorsement is a reflection of Sheffield’s unwavering commitment to Detroit’s working families. From championing community benefits agreements and affordable housing to holding developers accountable and ensuring Detroiters have access to union careers, Sheffield’s record shows that she doesn’t just talk about equity—she builds it.
“Our members work every day to build the city of Detroit. Mary Sheffield is a proven leader who stands with working people and understands that Detroit’s future must be built on a strong foundation,” said Tom Lutz, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights. “She will continue the momentum that has made Detroit what it is today, and we trust her to fight for policies that ensure fair wages, safe job sites, and the dignity every worker deserves. She is the right choice for mayor.”
For over a century, the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights has been a force for good jobs, strong communities, and economic mobility, representing over 14,000 carpenters and millwrights across the state of Michigan. Its members are the skilled professionals behind Detroit’s critical infrastructure—constructing homes and hospitals, bridges and commercial buildings, and maintaining the machinery that powers Michigan’s economy. The union prioritizes workplace safety, fair wages, health care, and retirement security—principles that Mary Sheffield has championed throughout her public service.
“This endorsement is incredibly meaningful,” said Council President Mary Sheffield. “The carpenters and millwrights of Michigan are not only the hands that build our city—they are the part of the heart of Detroit’s working class. I’m honored that the skilled tradesmen and women of the MRCC are standing with me, and I’m ready to continue fighting for a Detroit where every family can thrive.”
The MRCC’s endorsement adds significant momentum to Mary Sheffield’s mayoral campaign, reinforcing her deep alignment with organized labor and Detroit’s working class. The announcement follows her standout performance in the first mayoral debate at the Mackinac Policy Conference, where she not only shared a bold vision for the city’s future but laid out detailed, actionable plans to deliver results for Detroit’s neighborhoods, small businesses, and working families.
Sheffield earned high marks for her clear commitment to job creation, community investment, and public safety, with many attendees praising her authenticity and clear grasp of the city’s challenges. This endorsement caps a week of rising enthusiasm and further solidifies her position as a leading contender in the race for mayor.
As the mayoral race intensifies, the MRCC will mobilize its members in support of Sheffield’s candidacy. The organization joins a growing coalition of local and national civic, labor, business, and community leaders rallying behind her bold and strategic vision for Detroit’s future.
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