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.
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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]
Campaigning
In the runoff, 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 election. This was seen as helpful to his reelection.[2] Kilpatrick was also able to garner strong support from younger voters.[2]
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
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.
| 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
| 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 | |
References
- "OFFICIAL SUMMARY REPORT" (PDF). www.detroitmi.gov. Detroit Department of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2010.
- 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.
- Clemens, Paul (November 13, 2005). "A Comeback Kid for a Dead-End Town". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
- "OFFICIAL SUMMARY REPORT". www.detroitmi.gov. Detroit Department of Elections. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010.