2005 Detroit mayoral election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2005 Detroit mayoral election
| flag_image = Flag of Detroit.svg
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| election_date = {{Start date|2005|8|5}} (first round)
{{Start date|2005|11|8}} (Runoff)
| image_size = 150x150px
| 1blank = First round
| 2blank = Runoff
| image1 = Kwame-2006 (1).jpg
| candidate1 = Kwame Kilpatrick
| colour1 = c0c0c0
| 1data1 = 45,783
33.72%
| 2data1 = 123,140
52.77%
| image2 = File:3x4.svg
| candidate2 = Freman Hendrix
| colour2 = c0c0c0
| 1data2 = 60,117
44.27%
| 2data2 = 108,600
46.54%
| image4 = File:3x4.svg
| candidate4 = Sharon McPhail
| colour4 = c0c0c0
| 1data4 = 15,963
11.76%
| 2data4 = Eliminated
| image5 = Hansen Clarke.jpg
| candidate5 = Hansen Clarke
| colour5 = c0c0c0
| 1data5 = 12,152
8.95%
| 2data5 = Eliminated
| previous_election = 2001 Detroit mayoral election
| previous_year = 2001
| next_election = 2009 Detroit mayoral special election
| next_year = 2009 (special)
| title = Mayor
| before_election = Kwame Kilpatrick
| before_party = Nonpartisan
| after_election = Kwame Kilpatrick
| after_party = Nonpartisan
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
}}
{{ElectionsMI}}
The 2005 Detroit mayoral election took place on November 8, 2005, following a primary election on August 2, 2005. Incumbent Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was first elected in 2001, ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged by a large field of candidates, including former Deputy Mayor Freman Hendrix, City Councilwoman Sharon McPhail, and State Senator Hansen Clarke. As Kilpatrick ran for a second term, he faced opposition over the city's budget deficits and poor economy, as well as allegations that he used city resources to enrich himself and his family.{{cite news|last=Peters|first=Jeremy W.|title=Turnaround Leads Mayor to a Surprising Victory|newspaper=New York Times|date=November 10, 2005|location=New York City|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/10/us/turnaround-leads-mayor-to-a-surprising-victory.html|access-date=July 2, 2025}} Kilpatrick placed second in the primary election, winning 34 percent of the vote to Hendrix's 44 percent. In the general election, Kilpatrick narrowly defeated Hendrix, 53–47 percent, to win a second term. However, in 2008, Kilpatrick was indicted for obstruction of justice, and resigned later that year, triggering a special election in 2009.
Primary election
=Candidates=
- Freman Hendrix,
- Kwame Kilpatrick, former Deputy Mayor, former Chairman of the Detroit Board of Education{{cite news|last=Potts|first=Laura|title=Hendrix pledges city will resume its big comeback|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=January 10, 2005|location=Detroit, Michigan|page=5B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press/175744501/|access-date=July 2, 2025}}
- Sharon McPhail, City Councilwoman, 1993 candidate for Mayor{{cite news|last=Bello|first=Marisol|title=McPhail to announce bid for mayor|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=December 11, 2004|location=Detroit, Michigan|page=5A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press/175744576/|access-date=July 2, 2025}}
- Hansen Clarke, State Senator{{cite news|last=Bello|first=Marisol|title=Top candidates file, say city credit card is a distraction|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=May 10, 2005|location=Detroit, Michigan|page=5B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press/175744628/|access-date=July 2, 2025}}
- Sarella Johnson
- Clayton V. Johnson
- Angelo Scott Brown
- Veronica Brown
- Tania K. Walton
- Stanley Michael Christmas
- Roy Godwin
- Clifford Brookins II
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2005 Detroit mayoral primary election{{cite web |title=City of Detroit - Primary Election - August 2, 2005|date=August 18, 2005|url=http://www.detroitmi.gov/Portals/0/docs/elections/Aug_05/08-02-2005%20Summary%20Report.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718231443/http://www.detroitmi.gov/Portals/0/docs/elections/Aug_05/08-02-2005%20Summary%20Report.htm|archive-date=July 18, 2010|access-date=July 2, 2025}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Freman Hendrix
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 60,117
| percentage = 44.27%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kwame Kilpatrick (inc.)
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 45,783
| percentage = 33.72%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sharon McPhail
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 15,963
| percentage = 11.76%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Hansen Clarke
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 12,152
| percentage = 8.95%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sarella Johnson
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 306
| percentage = 0.23%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Clayton V. Johnson
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 296
| percentage = 0.22%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Angelo Scott Brown
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 272
| percentage = 0.22%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Veronica Brown
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 217
| percentage = 0.16%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tania K. Walton
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 181
| percentage = 0.13%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Stanley Michael Christmas
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 151
| percentage = 0.11%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Roy Godwin
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 139
| percentage = 0.10%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Clifford Brookins II
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 133
| percentage = 0.10%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change |
|party =
|candidate = write-ins
| votes = 76
| percentage = 0.06%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 135,786
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
=Campaign=
In the general election, Hendrix attacked Kilpatrick over his alleged mismanagement of the city and his own personal scandals, and polling consistently showed him ahead. However, toward the end of October, polls showed the race tightening.{{cite news|last=Heath|first=Brad|title=Mayoral campaigning is beautiful, for a day|newspaper=The Detroit News|date=October 30, 2005|location=Detroit, Michigan|page=1B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press/175745444/|access-date=July 2, 2025}} Following the death of civil rights activist Rosa Parks on October 24, 2005, Kilpatrick gave a eulogy at her funeral, which attracted significant media attention and "gave him free exposure" in the final days of the race.
=Polling=
Key
- A – all adults
- RV – registered voters
- LV – likely voters
- V – unclear
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2005 Detroit mayoral general election results{{cite web |title=Gen. Election of 11/8/05 - City of Det. Muni Offices|date=November 21, 2005|url=http://www.detroitmi.gov/Portals/0/docs/elections/results/NOV_05_Official_Results/nov2105%20general%20eleciton%20summary%20official.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708060016/http://www.detroitmi.gov/Portals/0/docs/elections/results/NOV_05_Official_Results/nov2105%20general%20eleciton%20summary%20official.PDF|archive-date=July 8, 2010|access-date=July 2, 2025}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kwame Kilpatrick (inc.)
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 123,140
| percentage = 52.77%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Freman Hendrix
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 108,600
| percentage = 46.54%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change |
|party =
|candidate = write-ins
| votes = 1,630
| percentage = 0.70%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 233,370
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{2005 United States elections}}