The 2005 Lansing mayoral election took place on November 8, 2005, with a primary election taking place on August 2, 2005. Incumbent Mayor Tony Benavides ran for re-election to a second term and a first full term. In a rematch of the 2003 special election, State Senator Virgil Bernero ran against Benavides. While Benavides narrowly defeated Bernero in 2003, Bernero defeated Benavides in a landslide this time, taking first place in the primary over Benavides, 46–27 percent, and winning the general election with 62 percent of the vote.
