2005 Detroit mayoral election

The Detroit mayoral election of 2005 took place on November 8, 2005.^[1] It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to a second term.

Background[]

In 2001, Kwame Kilpatrick, at the age of 31, became the youngest mayor ever elected in Detroit.^[2]

In 2005, Kilpatrick, now seeking reelection to a second term as mayor, found himself the subject numerous scandals, had faced budget deficits as mayor, and had faced a poor city economy.^[2]

Among the scandals Kilpatrick faced were allegations that he had used city funds to enrich himself and his family.^[3]

Candidates[]

Clifford Brookins II
Angelo Scott Brown
Stanley Michael Christmas
Hansen Clarke, Michigan State Senator since 2003, former member of the Michigan House of Representatives (1991–1992 and 1999–2002)
Roy Godwin
Freman Hendrix, former Deputy Mayor of Detroit (1997–2001)
Clayton C. Johnson
Sarella S. Johnson
Kwame Kilpatrick, incumbent mayor
Sharon McPhail, Detroit City Council member since 2002, candidate for mayor in 1993
Tiana K. Walton

Campaigning[]

In the general election, polls and media coverage showed Freman Hendrix to be the frontrunner, leading over the embattled Kilpatrick.^[2] Hendrix promised to both restore dignity to the office of mayor, which he faulted Kilpatrick with having eroded, and prosperity back to the city at large.^[2]

Many political pundits saw Kilpatrick as a weakened incumbent. He had become the first incumbent to place second in a mayoral primary in Detroit.^[4]^[5]

Amid his reelection campaign, Kilpatrick made an appearance delivering an eulogy at the highly-covered funeral of Rosa Parks, held shortly before the general election. This was seen as helpful to his reelection.^[2] Kilpatrick was also able to garner strong support from younger voters.^[2]

Polling[]

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size^[a]	Margin of error	Freeman Hendrix (D)	Kwame Kilpatrick (D)	Undecided
SurveyUSA	November 4–6, 2005	528 (LV)	± 4.4%	51%	44%	4%
SurveyUSA	October 25–27, 2005	511 (LV)	± 4.4%	49%	46%	6%
SurveyUSA	October 18–19, 2005	407 (LV)	± 5.0%	50%	46%	4%
SurveyUSA	October 15–17, 2005	461 (LV)	± 4.6%	56%	39%	6%
SurveyUSA	October 1–3, 2005	488 (LV)	± 4.5%	53%	42%	6%

Results[]

Primary[]

The primary was held on August 2, 2005.^[6]

Freman Hendrix and incumbent mayor Kwame Kilpatrick won the top-two spots, thereby advancing to the general election.

2005 Detroit mayoral primary^[6]
*Nonpartisan election*
Candidate	Votes	%
Freman Hendrix	60,117	44.27
Kwame Kilpatrick (incumbent)	45,783	33.72
Sharon McPhail	15,963	11.76
Hansen Clarke	12,152	8.95
Sarella S. Johnson	306	0.23
Clayton C. Johnson	296	0.22
Angelo Scott Brown	272	0.20
Tiana K. Walton	181	0.13
Stanley Michael Christmas	151	0.11
Roy Godwin	133	0.10
Clifford Brookins II	133	0.10
Write-ins	76	0.6
Voter turnout	21.29%

General election[]

2005 Detroit mayoral general election^[1]
*Nonpartisan election*
Candidate	Votes	%
Kwame Kilpatrick (incumbent)	123,140	52.77
Freman Hendrix	108,600	46.54
Write-ins	1,630	0.70
Total votes	233,370	100

Notes[]

^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

References[]

^ ^a ^b "OFFICIAL SUMMARY REPORT" (PDF). www.detroitmi.gov. Detroit Department of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Peters, Jeremy W. (10 November 2005). "Turnaround Leads Mayor to a Surprising Victory (Published 2005)". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
^ Klinefelter, Quinn (9 November 2005). "Detroit's Kilpatrick Wins Second Mayoral Term". NPR.org.
^ Heming, Julia F.; Drew Philp (November 9, 2005). "Four More Years: Kilpatrick pulls ahead". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved February 19, 2008.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Clemens, Paul (November 13, 2005). "A Comeback Kid for a Dead-End Town". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
^ ^a ^b "OFFICIAL SUMMARY REPORT". www.detroitmi.gov. Detroit Department of Elections. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010.

[key-6] Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

[general-1] "OFFICIAL SUMMARY REPORT" (PDF). www.detroitmi.gov. Detroit Department of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2010.

[surpisingvictory-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Peters, Jeremy W. (10 November 2005). "Turnaround Leads Mayor to a Surprising Victory (Published 2005)". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

[NPR1-3] Klinefelter, Quinn (9 November 2005). "Detroit's Kilpatrick Wins Second Mayoral Term". NPR.org.

[4] Heming, Julia F.; Drew Philp (November 9, 2005). "Four More Years: Kilpatrick pulls ahead". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved February 19, 2008.^{[permanent dead link]}

[5] Clemens, Paul (November 13, 2005). "A Comeback Kid for a Dead-End Town". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2008.

[primary-7] "OFFICIAL SUMMARY REPORT". www.detroitmi.gov. Detroit Department of Elections. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010.

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