1997 New York City mayoral election
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Borough results Giuliani: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Messinger: 50–60% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in New York State |
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The New York City mayoral election of 1997 occurred on Tuesday November 4, 1997, with incumbent Republican mayor Rudy Giuliani soundly defeating Democratic Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger and several third-party candidates. This was the first time Brooklyn voted for a Republican since 1941.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Manhattan Borough President
- Al Sharpton, Baptist minister, activist, and founder of National Action Network
- Sal Albanese, New York City councilman
Withdrew
- Fernando Ferrer, Bronx Borough President (1987–2001)
Declined
- Alan Hevesi, New York City Comptroller (1994–2001)
- Carl McCall, New York State Comptroller (1993-2002)
- Mark Green, New York City Public Advocate
- Peter Vallone Sr., New York City Council
- Bill Bratton, former New York City Police Commissioner (1994-96 and 2014-16)
General election
Candidates
- Rudy Giuliani, incumbent mayor of New York City (Republican, Liberal)
- Manhattan Borough President(Democratic)
In the general election, Giuliani had the Republican and
Campaign
Giuliani's opponent in 1997 was Democratic
Giuliani ran an aggressive campaign, parlaying his image as a tough leader who had cleaned up the city. Giuliani's popularity was at its highest point to date, with a late October 1997 Quinnipiac University Polling Institute poll showing him as having a 68% approval rating; 70% of New Yorkers were satisfied with life in the city and 64% said things were better in the city compared to four years previously.[6]
Throughout the campaign, Giuliani was well ahead in the polls and had a strong fundraising advantage over Messinger. On her part, Messinger lost the support of several usually Democratic constituencies, including gay organizations and large labor unions.[7] All four daily New York newspapers—The New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Post, and Newsday—endorsed Giuliani over Messinger.[8] Two televised debates were held, but Messinger was unable to get traction in highlighting that Giuliani was interested in higher office and might not serve out a full second term.[9] Messinger claimed that the real mayor was not in evidence during the debates: "Let me point out that we're certainly seeing the nice Rudy Giuliani tonight."[9]
Results
In the end, Giuliani won 58% of the vote to Messinger's 41%, becoming the first Republican to win a second term as Mayor of New York City since
In his acceptance speech, Giuliani acknowledged the image of divisiveness he had acquired during his first term and vowed to correct it: "Whether you voted for me or against me, whether you voted or didn't vote, I'm your Mayor, this is your administration. We have to do a better job of serving all of you. We have to reach out to all of you. And if we haven't, I apologize. I'm sorry and it is my personal commitment that we will try, endlessly and tirelessly, to bring all of you into the kind of success and optimism we have in this room."[10]
In her concession speech, Messinger said, "Tonight, we lost a battle but the war goes on ... Our schools still don't work ... and they are still worth fighting for. We gave it everything we had."[3]
Candidate | Party | Manhattan | The Bronx | Brooklyn | Queens | Staten Island | Total | % |
Rudolph Giuliani | Republican-Liberal |
138,718 | 81,897 | 173,343 | 176,751 | 45,120 | 615,829 | 55.2% |
50.9% | 43.6% | 53.3% | 64.6% | 78.6% | ||||
Ruth Messinger | Democratic |
128,478 | 102,979 | 145,349 | 92,194 | 10,288 | 479,288 | 42.9% |
47.1% | 54.8% | 44.7% | 33.7% | 17.9% | ||||
All others | 5,534 | 2,901 | 6,259 | 4,586 | 1,961 | 21,241 | 1.9% | |
2.0% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 3.4% | ||||
T O T A L |
272,730 | 187,777 | 324,951 | 273,531 | 57,369 | 1,116,358 | 100% |
Voter demographics
The 1997 NYC mayoral election by demographic subgroup[13] | |||||||
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Demographic subgroup | Messinger | Giuliani | % of total vote | ||||
Total vote | 43 | 57 | 100 | ||||
Ideology | |||||||
Liberals | 55 | 43 | 33 | ||||
Moderates
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38 | 61 | 42 | ||||
Conservatives | 23 | 72 | 23 | ||||
Party | |||||||
Democrats | 54 | 45 | 61 | ||||
Republicans | 6 | 92 | 19 | ||||
Independents /Other
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34 | 65 | 19 | ||||
Gender | |||||||
Men | 36 | 62 | 45 | ||||
Women | 45 | 54 | 55 | ||||
Race | |||||||
White
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21 | 76 | 53 | ||||
Black
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79 | 20 | 21 | ||||
Hispanic | 57 | 43 | 20 | ||||
Age | |||||||
18–29 years old | 40 | 59 | 15 | ||||
30–44 years old | 47 | 50 | 33 | ||||
45–59 years old | 42 | 56 | 26 | ||||
60 and older | 32 | 67 | 26 | ||||
Family income | |||||||
Under $15,000 | 56 | 42 | 16 | ||||
$15,000–30,000 | 47 | 50 | 21 | ||||
$30,000–50,000 | 42 | 57 | 24 | ||||
$50,000–75,000 | 31 | 67 | 20 | ||||
$75,000–100,000 | 33 | 61 | 9 | ||||
Over $100,000 | 28 | 71 | 10 | ||||
Union households | |||||||
Union | 45 | 52 | 42 | ||||
Non-union | 37 | 62 | 58 | ||||
Religion | |||||||
Protestant | 55 | 43 | 13 | ||||
Catholic | 32 | 66 | 41 | ||||
Other Christian | 60 | 37 | 10 | ||||
Jewish | 27 | 72 | 23 | ||||
Other | 64 | 34 | 7 | ||||
None | 56 | 42 | 6 |
References
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ Bai, Matt (September 9, 2007). "America's Mayor Goes to America". The New York Times. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c "AllPolitics - Giuliani Wins With Ease - Nov. 4, 1997". www.cnn.com. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ Nagourney, Adam (September 19, 1997). "RACE FOR CITY HALL: THE OVERVIEW; Messinger Aims for Giuliani, and Sharpton Heads for Court". The New York Times.
- ^ Nagourney, Adam (October 13, 1997). "Sharpton and Messinger Seal Awkward Political Alliance". The New York Times.
- Quinnipiac University Poll, October 29, 1997. Accessed June 24, 2007.
- ^ Beinart, Peter (November 10, 1997). "THE LAST OF THE LIBERALS". Time – via content.time.com.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - New York City Mayor Race - Nov 04, 1997". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- ^ "New York City Exit Poll Results -- Nov. 4, 1997 (Mayor's Race)". www.cnn.com. Retrieved September 11, 2018.