2003 Lansing mayoral special election

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2003 Lansing mayoral special election
 2001August 5, 2003 (first round)
November 4, 2003 (runoff)
2005  
  3x4.svg Virg-2.jpg
CandidateTony Benavides Virgil Bernero
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
First round6,668
56.31%
4,506
38.05%
Runoff 11,789
50.55%
11,531
49.45%

Mayor before election

Tony Benavides
Nonpartisan

Elected mayor

Tony Benavides
Nonpartisan

The 2003 Lansing special mayoral election was held on November 4, 2003, with a primary election that was held on August 5, 2003. Lansing Mayor David Hollister resigned on January 28, 2003, to serve as Director of the newly created Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth under Governor Jennifer Granholm, which elevated City Council President Tony Benavides as Mayor. [1]

Contents

The special election was held to fill the remaining two years of Hollister's term. Benavides ran in the special election, and was initially challenged by State Representative Michael Murphy. [2] However, prior to the filing deadline, Murphy withdrew from the race, initially leaving Benavides without a serious opponent. [3] State Senator Virgil Bernero announced that he would run, and he emerged as Benavides's leading challenger. [4] In the August 5 primary, Benavides placed first over Bernero by a wide margin, winning 56 percent of the vote to Bernero's 38 percent. In the November 4 general election, however, Benavides only narrowly defeated Bernero, 51–49 percent.

Primary election

Candidates

Results

2003 Lansing mayoral primary election results [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Tony Benavides (inc.) 6,668 56.31%
Nonpartisan Virgil Bernero 4,506 38.05%
Nonpartisan Melissa Sue Robinson2532.14%
Nonpartisan Leon J. Black1701.44%
Nonpartisan Mary Ann Prince1561.32%
Nonpartisan Gerald J. Rowley890.75%
Total votes11,842 100.00%

General election

Results

2003 Lansing mayoral general election results [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Tony Benavides (inc.) 11,789 50.55%
Nonpartisan Virgil Bernero11,53149.45%
Total votes23,320 100.00%

References

  1. MacDonald, Christine (January 28, 2003). "Mayors say city is on right path". Lansing State Journal . Lansing, Michigan. p. 1B. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  2. MacDonald, Christine (February 25, 2003). "Murphy bids for Lansing's top job". Lansing State Journal . Lansing, Michigan. p. 1A. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  3. MacDonald, Christine (May 6, 2003). "Murphy drops out of Lansing mayor race". Lansing State Journal . Lansing, Michigan. p. 1A. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 MacDonald, Christine (May 12, 2003). "Bernero to join race for Lansing mayor". Lansing State Journal . Lansing, Michigan. p. 1A. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  5. Gumbrecht, Jamie (June 12, 2003). "Mayoral candidate has her true voice". Detroit Free Press . Detroit, Michigan. p. 6B. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  6. Burton, Tracy (June 21, 2003). "Timmon will run Robinson campaign". Lansing State Journal . Lansing, Michigan. p. 1B. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  7. MacDonald, Christine (June 5, 2003). "Mayor's campaign loses 2nd worker". Lansing State Journal . Lansing, Michigan. p. 1B. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  8. McCurtis Jr., James (August 1, 2003). "Rowley abandons mayoral campaign". Lansing State Journal . Lansing, Michigan. p. 1B. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  9. "Odd Year City Primary and Special Elections, Ingham County, Michigan, Tuesday, August 05, 2003". Ingham County Clerk. June 6, 2005. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  10. "Odd Year General 03, Ingham County, Michigan, Tuesday, November 04, 2003". Ingham County Clerk. 2003. Retrieved June 24, 2025.