The Detroit City Council has elected James E. Tate Jr. as its next council president, entrusting the District 1 representative and current president pro tem with leading the nine-member body beginning in 2026.
Tate, who has served on the Detroit City Council since 2010, becomes the first council president of the new term. The council president is responsible for leading council sessions as chair, appointing committee assignments, preserving order during meetings, and serving as the public face of the legislative body. The president is selected by a majority vote of all council members and serves for the full four-year term.
“I am truly honored and deeply grateful to my city council colleagues for entrusting me to serve as the next president of the Detroit City Council,” Tate says. “I accept this role with humility and with a clear understanding that it is not a prize but a responsibility to protect the unity and dignity of this body while delivering steady leadership for our city.”
A lifelong District 1 resident, Tate brings extensive leadership experience to the role, including service as second deputy chief of the Detroit Police Department and as an assignment editor at WXYZ-TV. He has represented District 1 since districts were created in 2013 and previously served as president pro tem, where he presided over council sessions in the absence of the council president.
As chair of the Planning and Economic Development Committee, Tate has helped drive Detroit’s revitalization by securing economic opportunities, affordable housing, and approving development projects that have created well-paying jobs for residents.
He says he prioritizes transparency through monthly community meetings and launched “Di$cover D1,” Detroit’s first district-wide online business directory to support local entrepreneurs.
Tate has been an advocate for equity in Detroit, notably working to ensure Detroiters had ownership opportunities in the cannabis industry. He also is a champion for affordable housing and mental health awareness through his “Protect Your Crown” campaign. Dedicated to youth empowerment, he serves on the Task Force on Black Male Engagement, mentoring future leaders.
