| 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 | November 4–6, 2005 | 528 (LV) | ± 4.4% | align=center | 51% | 44% | 4% | |
| SurveyUSA | October 25–27, 2005 | 511 (LV) | ± 4.4% | align=center | 49% | 46% | 6% | |
| SurveyUSA | October 18–19, 2005 | 407 (LV) | ± 5.0% | align=center | 50% | 46% | 4% | |
| SurveyUSA | October 15–17, 2005 | 461 (LV) | ± 4.6% | align=center | 56% | 39% | 6% | |
| SurveyUSA | October 1–3, 2005 | 488 (LV) | ± 4.5% | align=center | 53% | 42% | 6% |
The primary was held on August 2, 2005.[5]
Freman Hendrix and incumbent mayor Kwame Kilpatrick won the top-two spots, thereby advancing to the general election.