Detroit Voters 50+ are Certain to Vote in Mayoral Primary

In Detroit, older voters will be showing up in substantial numbers to vote in the 2025 mayoral primary election, with 93 percent of registered voters 50-plus saying they are very certain to vote in this recent survey of registered voters. Given the powerful influence of these older voters, AARP Michigan commissioned EPIC-MRA to conduct a telephone survey with Detroit voters to better understand the needs and wants of voters 50 and older. The survey was designed to assess issues that are critical to Detroit voters as they cast their ballots and identify the areas voters want addressed by the city’s next leader.

Public safety and affordable housing top the list of issues that Detroit voters age 50-plus want the next mayor to address. Ninety percent of voters 50-plus own (77 percent) or rent (13 percent) their homes but most (70 percent) say their housing costs, including taxes, insurance and fees, are not very affordable. When asked to identify the biggest challenge facing older residents in Detroit, voters most often say it is affordable housing.

Detroit voters age 50-plus also want community supports that enable residents to age in place.  Over half of Detroit voters (53 percent) say that more home care services and programs to help people remain in their homes as they age would be the factor most likely to improve the quality of life for older adults in the city.

Methodology

In May 2025, AARP engaged EPIC-MRA to conduct a quantitative research study among Detroit, MI registered voters. The telephone survey was conducted using both landline and cell phone sampling. Interviews were conducted from May 29, 2025 to June 1, 2025. All data are weighted by age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

For more information, please contact Kate Bridges at kbridges@aarp.org. For media inquiries, contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.