2005 Detroit mayoral election
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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.[1] 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.
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November 8, 2005
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Primary election
Candidates
- Freman Hendrix, former Deputy Mayor, former Chairman of the Detroit Board of Education[2]
- Kwame Kilpatrick, Incumbent mayor
- Sharon McPhail, City Councilwoman, 1993 candidate for Mayor[3]
- Hansen Clarke, State Senator[4]
- Sarella Johnson
- Clayton V. Johnson
- Angelo Scott Brown
- Veronica Brown
- Tania K. Walton
- Stanley Michael Christmas
- Roy Godwin
- Clifford Brookins II
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Freman Hendrix | 60,117 | 44.27% | |
| Nonpartisan | Kwame Kilpatrick (inc.) | 45,783 | 33.72% | |
| Nonpartisan | Sharon McPhail | 15,963 | 11.76% | |
| Nonpartisan | Hansen Clarke | 12,152 | 8.95% | |
| Nonpartisan | Sarella Johnson | 306 | 0.23% | |
| Nonpartisan | Clayton V. Johnson | 296 | 0.22% | |
| Nonpartisan | Angelo Scott Brown | 272 | 0.22% | |
| Nonpartisan | Veronica Brown | 217 | 0.16% | |
| Nonpartisan | Tania K. Walton | 181 | 0.13% | |
| Nonpartisan | Stanley Michael Christmas | 151 | 0.11% | |
| Nonpartisan | Roy Godwin | 139 | 0.10% | |
| Nonpartisan | Clifford Brookins II | 133 | 0.10% | |
| Write-in | 76 | 0.06% | ||
| Total votes | 135,786 | 100.00% | ||
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.[1] However, toward the end of October, polls showed the race tightening.[6] 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 plentiful free media exposure in the final days of the race.[1]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Freeman Hendrix (D) |
Kwame Kilpatrick (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[7] | November 4–6, 2005 | 528 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 51% | 44% | 4% |
| SurveyUSA[8] | October 25–27, 2005 | 511 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 49% | 46% | 6% |
| SurveyUSA[9] | October 18–19, 2005 | 407 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 50% | 46% | 4% |
| SurveyUSA[10] | October 15–17, 2005 | 461 (LV) | ± 4.6% | 56% | 39% | 6% |
| SurveyUSA[11] | October 1–3, 2005 | 488 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 53% | 42% | 6% |
Key
- A – all adults
- RV – registered voters
- LV – likely voters
- V – unclear
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Kwame Kilpatrick (inc.) | 123,140 | 52.77% | |
| Nonpartisan | Freman Hendrix | 108,600 | 46.54% | |
| Write-in | 1,630 | 0.70% | ||
| Total votes | 233,370 | 100.00% | ||