The 2009 Detroit mayoral election took place on November 3, 2009, following a primary on August 12, 2009. Incumbent Mayor Dave Bing, who was elected Mayor in a May special election, ran for a full term. Bing placed first in the primary by a wide margin, winning 74 percent of the vote. Accountant Tom Barrow, a 1989 candidate for Mayor, narrowly beat out business consultant Jerroll Sanders for second place, 11–10 percent, and advanced to the general election against Bing. Despite Bing's landslide victory in the primary, he defeated Barrow in the general election by a considerably reduced margin, winning 56 percent of the vote to Barrow's 41 percent. Barrow subsequently filed a legal challenge to the results, but the claims were ultimately dismissed.