Todd Perkins is from Detroit, Michigan. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from Dartmouth College and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He lives with his wife, Michelle, and their two children.

Detroit mayor's race sit-down: Todd Perkins - Axios Detroit

Todd is the founder and managing partner of Perkins Law Group, a Detroit-based law firm he launched in 1996. He serves as the city attorney for Inkster and previously held the same position for Highland Park while also providing legal consultation to the Detroit City Council. Before embarking on law, he taught French at Peace Lutheran School in Detroit. Perkins has also provided legal services to political campaigns, including serving as counsel for Detroit Forward and helping lead the successful 2021 ballot effort to establish a reparations task force.

Todd's campaign for Detroit mayor is his first run for public office.

2025 Michigan General Election

2025 Michigan Primary Election

Supports tax abatements that benefit neighborhood developments and organizations, but criticizes the overuse of tax breaks to attract development.

Supports tax subsidies that benefit neighborhood developments and organizations, but criticizes the overuse of tax breaks to attract development.

Supports lowering taxes for businesses and residents.

Plans to create small business empowerment zones in neighborhoods.

- Supports tax subsidies that benefit neighborhood developments and organizations, but criticizes the overuse of tax breaks to attract development.
- Supports lowering taxes for businesses and residents.
- Plans to create small business empowerment zones in neighborhoods.

Economy

Plans to direct public and private resources to revitalize neighborhoods and create policies to prevent displacement and ensure affordable housing for all Detroiters.

Plans to renovate 2,000 properties and build 8,000 residential units using public-private partnerships.

Wants to work with developers to create housing that is affordable and accessible to residents.

- Plans to direct public and private resources to revitalize neighborhoods and create policies to prevent displacement and ensure affordable housing for all Detroiters.
- Plans to renovate 2,000 properties and build 8,000 residential units using public-private partnerships.
- Wants to work with developers to create housing that is affordable and accessible to residents.

Housing & Urban Development

Plans to install CCTV cameras in high-crime areas to assist police in crime prevention.

Supports incentivizing police officers and firefighters to live and work in Detroit.

Wants to invest more in community policing.

Plans to address public safety by studying crime data and trends.

- Plans to install CCTV cameras in high-crime areas to assist police in crime prevention.
- Supports incentivizing police officers and firefighters to live and work in Detroit.
- Wants to invest more in community policing.
- Plans to address public safety by studying crime data and trends.

Public Safety

As of June 2, 2025, Todd Perkins’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

Public Services

Supports using advanced AI technology to enhance safety, health, and environmental care.

Supports using advanced AI technology to improve safety, health, and environmental care.

- Supports using advanced AI technology to improve safety, health, and environmental care.

Energy & the Environment

Plans to enhance the transportation system by increasing the use of advanced technology and improving infrastructure.

Plans to upgrade the transportation system by increasing the use of advanced technology and improving infrastructure.

Plans to implement an infrastructure renewal and maintenance plan to prevent flooding and lower water prices.

- Plans to upgrade the transportation system by increasing the use of advanced technology and improving infrastructure.
- Plans to implement an infrastructure renewal and maintenance plan to prevent flooding and lower water prices.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports ensuring schools are properly funded and supported while maintaining high quality education standards.

Wants to make sure schools are properly funded and supported.

Plans to increase collaboration with the public school system, including increasing summer jobs.

- Wants to make sure schools are properly funded and supported.
- Plans to increase collaboration with the public school system, including increasing summer jobs.

Education

Ethics & Conduct

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Todd Perkins

Plans to reduce high taxes on residents and create a favorable environment for businesses.

Wants to work closely with neighborhood leaders and local organizations to address safety issues.

Wants to reduce taxes for businesses and residents.

Plans to build 8,000 new homes and townhomes, and rehabilitate 2,000 vacant properties instead of demolishing them.

Supports demolishing vacant buildings to make room for new homes and multifamily housing.

As of June 3, 2025, Todd Perkins’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Plans to build 8,000 new homes and rehabilitate 2,000 vacant properties.

Plans to collaborate with private and public entities to install CCTV cameras in crime-ridden areas to assist police in crime prevention.

As of June 3, 2025, Todd Perkins 1’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Todd Perkins 1

Todd Perkins is from Detroit, Michigan. He attended the University of Detroit Jesuit High School. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from Dartmouth College and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He lives with his wife, Michelle, and their two children, Todd Jr., a college sophomore, and Kennedy, a high school junior, in his family home, which was purchased by his great-grandparents nearly a century ago.

Todd Perkins is the founder and managing partner of Perkins Law Group, a Detroit-based law firm he launched in 1996. Over a three-decade legal career, his firm has handled civil and criminal litigation, real estate transactions and corporate governance, growing at one point to 14 attorneys and currently employing six. Perkins serves as the city attorney for Inkster, and previously held the same position for Highland Park while also providing legal consultation to the Detroit City Council. Early in his career, after receiving his law license in November 1996, he partnered with former Detroit mayor Coleman A. Young on the Paradise Valley Casino project. Before embarking on law, he taught French at Peace Lutheran School in Detroit. Perkins has also provided legal services to political campaigns, including serving as counsel for Detroit Forward, a political action committee that backed Benny Napoleon’s 2013 mayoral bid, and helped lead the successful 2021 ballot effort to establish a reparations task force.

Attorney Todd Perkins launches mayoral campaign as ...

Todd Perkins 1’s campaign for Detroit Mayor is his first entry into elective politics. A political newcomer, he has not held elected office but has served as the appointed city attorney for Inkster and previously served the same role for Highland Park, during which he also provided legal consultation to the Detroit City Council. He joins the race to replace longtime Mayor Mike Duggan in a crowded field.

As of June 2, 2025, Todd Perkins 1’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Buket Urgen

Danetta Simpson

Fred Durhal

James Craig

Joel Haashiim

John Barlow

Mary Sheffield

Saunteel Jenkins

Solomon Kinloch

- A mayor’s job can be different in each city, but they usually make sure city laws are followed, help create and manage the city’s budget, appoint people to boards and committees, and oversee city services like police, fire departments, parks, and public transportation.
- The mayor works with the city council and sometimes helps make decisions by voting.
- They may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. 
- They are elected to a two- or four-year term, depending on the city.

The highest elected official at the city level.