| Field | Value |
|---|
| election_name | 2013 Detroit mayoral election |
| previous_election | 2009 Detroit mayoral election |
| previous_year | 2009 |
| next_election | 2017 Detroit mayoral election |
| next_year | 2017 |
| flag_image | Flag of Detroit.svg |
| type | presidential |
| ongoing | no |
| election_date | November 5, 2013 |
| image_size | 150x150px |
| image1 | File:Duggan5.22.13 0160 (8850126649) (1).jpg |
| candidate1 | **Mike Duggan** |
| colour1 | c0c0c0 |
| popular_vote1 | **74,248** |
| percentage1 | **54.94%** |
| image2 | File:Benny Napoleon (1).jpeg |
| candidate2 | Benny Napoleon |
| colour2 | c0c0c0 |
| popular_vote2 | 60,440 |
| percentage2 | 44.72% |
| title | Mayor |
| before_election | Dave Bing |
| before_party | Nonpartisan |
| after_election | Mike Duggan |
| after_party | Nonpartisan |
The 2013 Detroit mayoral election was held on November 5, 2013, following a primary election on August 6, 2013. Incumbent Mayor Dave Bing announced that he would not run for re-election, and instead opted to form an exploratory commission to run for Wayne County Executive in 2014. A crowded field of candidates emerged to succeed Bing, with Mike Duggan, the CEO of the Detroit Medical Center and the former Wayne County Prosecutor, emerging as the frontrunner. However, Duggan was disqualified from the race for failing to meet residency requirements, so he continued his campaign as a write-in candidate. He placed first in the primary election, receiving 52 percent of the vote to Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon's 30 percent. In the general election, Duggan defeated Napoleon by a wide margin, 55–45%, becoming the city's first White mayor since 1973, when Coleman Young was elected.
Primary election
Candidates
- Mike Duggan (write-in), CEO of the Detroit Medical Center, former Wayne County Prosecutor
- Benny Napoleon, Wayne County Sheriff
- Krystal A. Crittendon, former Detroit Corporation Counsel
- Lisa Howze, former State Representative
- Tom Barrow, accountant, 2009, 1989, and 1985 candidate for Mayor
- John Olumba, State Representative
- Fred Durhal, Jr., State Representative
- Willie G. Lipscomb, Jr., retired district court judge
- Angelo Scott Brown, community activist
- Herman Griffin, community activist
- Sigmunt John Szczepkowski, Jr., perennial candidate
- Mark Murphy, community advocate
- Jean Vortkamp, community volunteer
- John Telford, former interim Superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools
- D'Artagnan M. Collier, city employee
Campaign
Barrow challenged the Duggan's eligibility to run for Mayor, arguing that he had not met the city charter's residency requirements. After the city Election Commission voted to allow Duggan to be listed on the ballot, Barrow sued. On June 12, 2013, Wayne County Circuit Judge Lita Pope ordered that Duggan's name be removed from the ballot, and Duggan appealed. Shortly thereafter, on June 18, 2013, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed Duggan's disqualification, striking him from the ballot. Shortly thereafter, Duggan announced that he would continue his campaign as a write-in candidate. Though Barrow once again tried to block Duggan's candidacy, but his campaign continued. A barber with a similar name, Mike Dugeon, announced his own write-in campaign, causing speculation that his campaign was deliberately started to siphon votes from Duggan.
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) |
|---|
| administered | Sample |
| size | Margin of |
| error | Tom |
| Barrow | D. M. |
| Collier | Krystal |
| Critt– |
| endon | Mike |
| Duggan | Fred |
| Durhal | Lisa |
| Howze | Willie |
| Lipscomb | Mark |
| Murphy | Benny |
| Napoleon | Velina |
| Patterson-Dockery | Delores |
| Scott | Sigmunt |
| Szcze– |
| pkowski | Fred |
| Telford | Unde– |
| cided |
| last1=Helms | first1=Matt | last2=Guillen | first2=Joe | title=Duggan v. Napoleon: Contest is a dead heat | newspaper=Detroit Free Press | date=May 30, 2013 | location=Detroit, Michigan | page=1A, 8A | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press/175775524/ | access-date=July 2, 2025}} | May 18–20, 2013 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 3% | 1% | 3% | **26%** | 1% | 1% | 1% | — | **30%** | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | **30%** |
| MIRS | April 24–25, 2013 | 500 (LV) | ± 5% | 4.7% | — | 7.3% | **34.8%** | 2.5% | 4.7% | — | 11% | **27.4%** | — | — | — | — | 7.6% |
Key
- A – all adults
- RV – registered voters
- LV – likely voters
- V – unclear
Results
General election
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) |
|---|
| administered | Sample |
| size | Margin of |
| error | Mike |
| Duggan | Benny |
| Napoleon | Undecided |
| EPIC-MRA | October 24–26, 2013 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | **50%** | 26% | 24% |
| EPIC-MRA | September 17–19, 2013 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | **49%** | 25% | 26% |
| EPIC-MRA | May 18–20, 2013 | 400 | ± 4.9% | **40%** | **40%** | 20% |
Key
- A – all adults
- RV – registered voters
- LV – likely voters
- V – unclear
Results
Aftermath
Barrow joined with the group Citizens United Against Corrupt Government (CUACG) to challenge the results of the election. Barrow appealed the ruling that allowed Duggan to pursue a write-in campaign and sought a recount of the primary election results. Prior to the election, CUACG sought to halt the mailing of absentee ballots, arguing that the city Election Commission did not comply with procedural requirements before approving the ballots. Barrow and CUACG appealed, contesting the validity of the election results. In 2014, the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected the claims.
References
- Helms, Matt. (February 27, 2013). "Duggan kicks off Detroit mayoral run". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- Helms, Matt. (March 26, 2013). "Sheriff to announce run for mayor". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- Helms, Matt. (January 15, 2013). "Crittendon said to be exploring run for mayor". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- Hackney, Suzette. (February 4, 2012). "Howze to run for Detroit mayor". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- (May 17, 2013). "2 more join mayoral contest". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- AlHajal, Khalil. (May 14, 2013). "State lawmaker who left Democratic Party running for Detroit mayor". [[MLive Media Group.
- Scott Dorsey, Melanie. (November 27, 2012). "Lawmaker Durhal announces his campaign for mayor of Detroit". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- Stables Battaglia, Tammy. (November 8, 2013). "Judge who was a mentor to decades of law students dies". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- (August 3, 2013). "16 Candidates Running for Mayor of Detroit". [[New York Times]].
- Helms, Matt. (July 11, 2013). "Forum draws many Detroit mayoral hopefuls, but not the front-runner". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- Zaniewski, Ann. (June 1, 2013). "Barrow tasks court to push Duggan off the mayoral ballot". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- Egan, Paul. (June 15, 2013). "Court to take up Duggan residency question on Monday". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- {{cite court. (2013). link
- Helms, Matt. (June 29, 2013). "Duggan launches write-in campaign for Detroit mayor". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- Helms, Matt. (July 2, 2013). "Barrow tries to block a write-in effort from Duggan". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- (July 26, 2013). "Dugeon v. Duggan: Candidate brings confusion to race". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- (May 30, 2013). "Duggan v. Napoleon: Contest is a dead heat". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- Helms, Matt. (May 2, 2013). "Duggan leads Detroit mayoral race in poll, but Napoleon's close behind". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- (September 3, 2013). "ELECTION CERTIFICATION - August 6, 2013 Primary - MAYOR, CITY OF DETROIT".
- Helms, Matt. (October 30, 2013). "Duggan maintains commanding lead over Napoleon". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- Helms, Matt. (September 23, 2013). "Duggan leads Napoleon in Detroit race for mayor". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- (2013). "City of Detroit, Michigan - Nov. 5, 2013 General Election".
- (September 27, 2013). "Wayne County canvassers certify primary recount". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- Stables Battaglia, Tammy. (October 3, 2013). "Judge allows mailing of Detroit absentee ballots". [[Detroit Free Press]].
- {{cite court. (2014). link