Detroit mayoral runoff set
NBA Hall of Famer Dave Bing and incumbent Ken Cockrel Jr. advanced to a May 5 runoff election, vying to serve out the remainder of disgraced ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s second term.
With 99% of precincts reporting, Bing received 26,104 votes, or about 29%, while 24,500 ballots, or 27%, were cast for Cockrel. The Democrats were among 15 mayoral candidates in the nonpartisan special primary.
“I promise to fight for improvements in public safety, education, and most important, employment,” Bing told supporters at a post-victory rally. “It looks like the people of Detroit agreed with us.”
Cockrel, the former City Council president who became mayor when Kilpatrick resigned in September, quickly portrayed himself as the candidate with the right experience to win in May.
Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to criminal charges of obstructing justice in a scandal involving his affair with a top aide.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
