2005 Detroit mayoral election
November 8, 2005 (2005-11-08)
 
Candidate Kwame Kilpatrick Freman Hendrix
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 123,140 108,600
Percentage 52.77% 46.54%
Mayor before election

Kwame Kilpatrick

 Elected Mayor

Kwame Kilpatrick

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

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[lower-alpha 1]		 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

  1. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. 1 2 "OFFICIAL SUMMARY REPORT" (PDF). www.detroitmi.gov. Detroit Department of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Peters, Jeremy W. (November 10, 2005). "Turnaround Leads Mayor to a Surprising Victory (Published 2005)". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  3. ↑ Klinefelter, Quinn (November 9, 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.
  5. ↑ Clemens, Paul (November 13, 2005). "A Comeback Kid for a Dead-End Town". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
  6. 1 2 "OFFICIAL SUMMARY REPORT". www.detroitmi.gov. Detroit Department of Elections. Archived from the original on July 18, 2010.
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