30 on 30: Are Men Better at Fighting Crime Than Women?

Published November 6, 2026 at 2:30 PM EST | Updated 11.7.2026 at 12:09 PM EST

So far, so good for Detroit’s Mary Sheffield. Photo: Katy Kildee / The Detroit News.

DETROIT, MI— The 2026 midterm elections delivered historic victories for women in American politics, breaking barriers in governors’ races and expanding female representation in positions traditionally dominated by men.

Among the most consequential victories was that of Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, who became the first Black woman elected governor in American history. Her achievement is undeniably historic.

But for NEGRO DIGEST, it also raises an uncomfortable question: Does making history at the ballot box necessarily translate into effective leadership once in office?

In our assessment, Bottoms’ tenure as Atlanta mayor was a failure. Her return to executive office—this time with responsibility for the entire state of Georgia—prompted us to examine how other women have performed as mayors of major American cities. Meanwhile, newcomer Mary Sheffield is off to a promising start in Detroit, where sustaining the city’s progress on crime will test her leadership.

Have female mayors generally proven more effective than their male counterparts at combating crime and maintaining public safety? Or have they struggled with the same problems? More importantly, what might the historical record tell Georgians about what to expect from their new governor?

To investigate, NEGRO DIGEST assembled a comparative study of 60 mayors—30 women and 30 men—pairing each female mayor with a male predecessor or successor from the same city. “30 on 30” compares 30 male and 30 female mayors and plays on police code “30”—used in some departments for an officer in trouble or a rule violation—reflecting our review of public safety, police support and ethics.

We judged mayors as voters do: by crime trends, neighborhood safety, police support and ethical conduct. Our PASS/FAIL grades weigh verifiable statistics alongside leadership when public safety breaks down. This is an editorial assessment for everyday readers.

Our assessment: 22 of 30 women received FAIL (73.3%), compared with 12 of 30 men (40%)—a gap of 33.3 percentage points. Eight women and 18 men received PASS. Using 2025 city populations, women earned more PASS grades in million-plus cities (37.5% versus 25%); men’s overall advantage came from smaller cities (72.7% versus 22.7%). Men earned more PASS grades overall, but more male-led administrations appeared in the article’s misconduct and investigation cases—five versus four.