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]
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.
