Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., pastor of Detroit's Triumph Church, has announced his candidacy for the 2025 Detroit mayoral race, focusing on addressing food deserts and affordable housing. Kinloch launched his campaign yesterday at The Fox Theatre, with strong support from the crowd, as per the BridgeDetroit. Known for leading a congregation across eight locations, from Detroit to Flint, this marks Kinloch's first venture into politics.
"So somebody might ask tonight, 'What does a pastor know about being mayor?'" Kinloch said at the event. He positioned himself as a unifier, stating, "For 27 years, I’ve been on the front line to build people up, build families up, to build neighborhoods up … When you ask the question: Why would a preacher and a pastor get involved in politics? The question I ask is, why did we ever stop?," according to BridgeDetroit.
His platform includes ending food deserts in Detroit by opening 10 grocery stores in strategic locations and creating 10,000 new affordable housing units. "I plan on building 10 strategically locator grocery stores and ending the food desert in Detroit forever," he said in a statement obtained by ClickonDetroit.
Although Kinloch has not run for political office before, he has been involved in politics through his pastoral role, hosting events for figures such as President Barack Obama and former U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence.
Kinloch addressed questions about his transition from spiritual leader to mayor, stating, the "pulpit is not a pedestal to promote one individual, but it’s a platform that’s designed to lift an entire community of people. We know how to bring business leaders and community groups together to solve tough problems, and we are not waiting on anybody to do it for us," according to a speech reported by the Detroit Free Press.
Kinloch's community service record is strong; under his leadership, Triumph Church became a central support hub during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing testing and aid to those affected. His platform also focuses on improving public safety by tackling issues like poverty and includes workforce training for jobs with livable wages.
Although Kinloch did not take questions from the press after his announcement, his campaign has gained endorsements, including from Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy, who called him an "honest, transparent and true" leader, according to BridgeDetroit. Kinloch joins a growing list of candidates in the crowded mayoral race.
