| Election Name: | 2005 Detroit mayoral election |
| Flag Image: | Flag of Detroit.svg |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2001 Detroit mayoral election |
| Previous Year: | 2001 |
| Next Election: | 2009 Detroit mayoral special election |
| Next Year: | 2009 (special) |
| Image1: | Kwame-2006 (1).jpg |
| Candidate1: | Kwame Kilpatrick |
| Party1: | Nonpartisan candidate |
| Popular Vote1: | 123,140 |
| Percentage1: | 52.77% |
| Candidate2: | Freman Hendrix |
| Party2: | Nonpartisan candidate |
| Popular Vote2: | 108,600 |
| Percentage2: | 46.54% |
| Mayor | |
| Before Election: | Kwame Kilpatrick |
| After Election: | Kwame Kilpatrick |
The Detroit mayoral election of 2005 took place on November 8, 2005. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to a second term.
In 2001, Kwame Kilpatrick, at the age of 31, became the youngest mayor ever elected in Detroit.
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.[1]
Among the scandals Kilpatrick faced were allegations that he had used city funds to enrich himself and his family.[2]
In the general election, polls and media coverage showed Freman Hendrix to be the frontrunner, leading over the embattled Kilpatrick.[1] 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.[1]
Many political pundits saw Kilpatrick as a weakened incumbent. He had become the first incumbent to place second in a mayoral primary in Detroit.[3] [4]
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.[1] Kilpatrick was also able to garner strong support from younger voters.[1]
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin | Freeman Hendrix (D) | Kwame Kilpatrick (D) | Undecided | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[5] | November 4–6, 2005 | 528 (LV) | ± 4.4% | align=center | 51% | 44% | 4% | |
| SurveyUSA[6] | October 25–27, 2005 | 511 (LV) | ± 4.4% | align=center | 49% | 46% | 6% | |
| SurveyUSA[7] | October 18–19, 2005 | 407 (LV) | ± 5.0% | align=center | 50% | 46% | 4% | |
| SurveyUSA[8] | October 15–17, 2005 | 461 (LV) | ± 4.6% | align=center | 56% | 39% | 6% | |
| SurveyUSA[9] | October 1–3, 2005 | 488 (LV) | ± 4.5% | align=center | 53% | 42% | 6% |
The primary was held on August 2, 2005.[10]
Freman Hendrix and incumbent mayor Kwame Kilpatrick won the top-two spots, thereby advancing to the general election.