January 1, 2026, marked significant milestones in municipal leadership as three Black women were sworn in as mayors in major U.S. cities, establishing historic firsts for representation.
Mary Sheffield, aged 38, was sworn in as mayor of Detroit in a private ceremony at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. She becomes the first woman and first Black woman to hold the office in Detroit’s 324-year history. Sheffield, a fourth-generation Detroiter and daughter of civil rights activist and pastor Horace Sheffield III, previously served on the Detroit City Council since 2014, becoming its youngest member at age 26 and youngest president in 2022. She won the 2025 mayoral election decisively, succeeding Mike Duggan.
Sharon Owens, aged 62, was sworn in as mayor of Syracuse in a private ceremony on December 31, 2025, effective January 1. She becomes the first Black woman and second woman overall to serve as mayor in the city’s 177-year history. Owens, a Geneva native who arrived in Syracuse in 1981 to study economics at Syracuse University, built a 40-year career in public service, starting with an internship at a neighborhood community center. She served as deputy mayor under Ben Walsh for eight years, overseeing police, fire, and neighborhood development.
Dorcey Applyrs (also referred to as Dorcey Lanier Applyrs), aged 44, was sworn in as mayor of Albany shortly after midnight. She becomes the first Black woman and first person of color to hold the position in the city’s history. Applyrs, originally from Washington, D.C., moved to the Capital Region around 2003 to pursue a master’s in public health and later earned a Doctor of Public Health from the University at Albany, SUNY. She served on the Albany Common Council representing the 1st Ward (elected 2013 and 2017) and as city auditor from 2020, winning the 2025 mayoral election.
These simultaneous swearings-in represent significant advancements in diversity for local government in Michigan and New York.
