Incumbent
Sheldon Neeley
Flint Mayoral Election
$5.00
AUG 5, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Overview
Current roleMayor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age57 years old (Sep 20, 1968)
GenderMale
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LocationMichigan
BackgroundPolitician
EducationDelta College (Associate degree)
Notable personal detailsSheldon Andre Neeley is an American politician serving as Mayor of Flint, Michigan, first elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2022. He previously represented Michigan’s 34th House district (2015–2019) and served on the Flint City Council (2005–2014). Neeley worked for decades as a broadcast technician/engineer at WJRT-TV12 and has also worked with Flint Community Schools.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
As mayor, Sheldon Neeley has prioritized balanced budgets and fiscal stability while keeping property tax rates and many fees unchanged; he has also supported improving tax administration (including a state partnership to administer the city income tax) to increase collections rather than proposing broad tax-rate increases or major cuts. His budget messaging emphasizes meeting pension obligations and sustaining city services.
Healthcare
As Flint mayor, Sheldon Neeley has supported local public-health measures and initiatives such as citywide mask distribution and COVID testing outreach, and has prioritized water-safety and in-home plumbing programs to protect residents’ health. There is no clear public record in these sources of his position on broader health‑insurance policies (for example, the Affordable Care Act, Medicare expansion, or a public option).
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Immigration & Border
Sheldon Neeley has supported measures to improve recognition and services for immigrant communities in Flint, including backing the “Count MENA In” campaign to improve federal data collection and identify needs for immigrant and language services. Available public materials emphasize facilitating access to services and outreach for immigrant populations rather than advocating enforcement-first policies.
Climate & Energy
Sheldon Neeley’s public statements and city actions emphasize water infrastructure repair, lead pipe replacement, and declaring access to safe water as a human right; he has engaged with federal EPA officials and urged congressional attention to replacing lead pipes. There is public record of infrastructure and environmental-justice focus in Flint but no clear, detailed public policy positions on broader climate policy or energy (e.g., emissions targets, fossil fuel phase-out, carbon pricing).
Public Safety & Guns
Supports proactive measures to reduce gun violence including declaring a local gun-violence state of emergency, organizing gun buyback programs with higher bounties for assault-style weapons, and directing confiscated/illegal firearms to be destroyed rather than auctioned. Focuses on removal of illegal firearms and prevention/intervention strategies while continuing to work with law enforcement.
News
Sheldon Neeley is in the news mainly for his role in Flint as the city’s population continues to decline, with new census estimates showing another drop and revised data turning a prior increase into a decline. He has made reversing population loss a priority. He also recently appeared at a Flint community event where he presented Trey McKenney with a key to the city.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262024
2026
LatestCycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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