Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield Nominated for EMILYs List’s Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, announced that Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield is a nominee for the 2026 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award. Named in honor of the courageous Gabrielle Giffords, the Rising Star Award celebrates an extraordinary woman serving in state or local office.  

“EMILYs List is proud to name Mary Sheffield a 2026 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award nominee. Since becoming the first woman elected as Detroit mayor, Mayor Sheffield has delivered powerful results for Detroit’s working families, and she is dedicated to providing affordability and accessibility for her constituents. She fought hard to ensure city workers earn livable wages and introduced groundbreaking financial support for moms and infants. Mayor Sheffield is a bold leader who consistently puts her community first and works hard to improve the lives of Detroiters, and we are thrilled to recognize her with this nomination,” said EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler. 

Mary Sheffield is a native Detroiter with a track record of service, empowerment, and leadership. Mayor Sheffield made history as the first woman elected mayor of Detroit, winning more than 77% of the vote. Her victory marked a defining moment for the city and reflected broad support for her vision of progress, equity and people-centered leadership. Raised in a family deeply rooted in service and social justice, Mayor Sheffield was inspired by leaders committed to advancing opportunity like her grandfather, Horace Sheffield Jr., founder of the Detroit Trade Union Labor Council and Detroit Association of Black Organizations, her father, Rev. Horace Sheffield II, a longtime community organizer, and her mother, Yvonne Lovett, a nurse, who instilled in her the importance of compassionate service. Mayor Sheffield began her public service career in 2013 as the youngest person ever elected to the Detroit City Council, representing District 5 at 26 years old. During her tenure as council president, Mayor Sheffield had one of the most historic and impactful legislative careers in the history of the Detroit City Council — fighting tirelessly against discrimination in the workplace and providing affordable housing. As mayor, she leads with vision, collaboration and deep belief in the people. Guided by her faith and driven by justice, she is focused on expanding economic opportunity, and ensuring access to essential services while building an inclusive and prosperous future for all Detroiters. In 2024, she was named one of the Michigan Chronicle’s 2024 Power 50 Leaders and received the Black United Fund’s 2024 Black Excellence Award.

The Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award winner will be chosen with community input. Online voting will open on March 23, and can be found here. Mayor Mary Sheffield is nominated alongside: Georgia state Rep. Tanya Miller, Indiana state Rep. Carey Hamilton, Minnesota state Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, and New Mexico state Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta.

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