2005 New York City mayoral election
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Borough results Bloomberg: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Ferrer: 50–60% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in New York State |
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The 2005 New York City mayoral election occurred on Tuesday, November 8, 2005, with incumbent Republican mayor Michael Bloomberg soundly defeating former Bronx borough president Fernando Ferrer, the Democratic nominee. Several third-party candidates also ran for mayor. Bloomberg won four of the five boroughs, the exception being the Bronx.
As of 2022[update], the 2005 election is the last time a Republican was elected mayor of New York City and the last time a Republican line carried Brooklyn. (Bloomberg left the Republican Party in 2007 to register as an independent, though he was nominated for re-election by the Republican Party in 2009.)
Background
In July, mayoral candidates filed nominating petitions with the City Board of Elections.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Michael Bloomberg, incumbent Mayor since 2002
- Walter Iwachiw
- Tom Ognibene, former City Councilman from Queens (1992–2002) and Council minority leader
- Steve Shaw
Campaign
Tom Ognibene ran on a platform supporting tax cuts, education reform and opposed Mayor Bloomberg's
The first television ads were launched in English and Spanish by the Bloomberg campaign on May 18.
Endorsements
Ognibene was endorsed by the leaders of the Queens County Republican Committee on February 10.
Aftermath
Ognibene challenged the Republican nomination in a hearing on Thursday, August 25, but his challenge was unsuccessful.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Christopher X. Brodeur, artist and Green Party candidate in 2001
- Fernando Ferrer, former Bronx Borough President (1987–2001) and candidate for Mayor in 2001
- C. Virginia Fields, Manhattan Borough President
- Gifford Miller, Speaker of the New York City Council
- Arthur Piccolo
- Anthony Weiner, U.S. Representative from Brooklyn and Queens
Declined
- New York Attorney Generalin 2006)
- New School(declined April 20)
Campaign
On August 3, Fernando Ferrer began running campaign advertisements. On August 12, the Gifford Miller campaign launched their own television ads. The Democratic candidates held their first debate on August 16. The Anthony Weiner campaign launched television ads on August 19, the same day voter registration for the primary elections ended. The Democratic candidates held their second televised debate on August 21; the live debate was sponsored by WCBS and The New York Times.
Endorsements
On September 1, Fernando Ferrer was endorsed by City Comptroller
Prior to the primary, Ferrer was endorsed by New York state attorney general
.Results
Democratic primary election results[2]
Total votes: 478,818
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Borough | Fernando Ferrer |
Anthony Weiner |
C. Virginia Fields |
Gifford Miller |
Christopher X. Brodeur |
Arthur Piccolo |
Michael Bloomberg (write-in) |
Other write-in |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manhattan | 56,579 |
46,668 |
24,856 |
22,075 |
5,667 |
1,388 |
95 |
|
The Bronx | 50,088 |
11,422 |
10,381 |
3,491 |
4,942 |
938 |
13 |
|
Brooklyn | 50,068 |
41,358 |
25,612 |
14,324 |
3,724 |
1,963 |
9 |
|
Queens | 32,506 |
34,028 |
13,918 |
7,956 |
2,054 |
1,175 |
1 |
|
Staten Island | 3,021 |
5,441 |
1,059 |
1,669 |
174 |
120 |
3 |
|
Total |
192,262 |
138,917 |
75,826 |
49,515 |
16,561 |
5,584 |
121 |
32
|
The Democratic primary was held on Tuesday, September 13, with initial returns showing Fernando Ferrer receiving 39.95% of the votes, just short of the 40% needed to avoid a run-off with second-place Anthony Weiner. Despite at first seeming poised to continue, the next morning Weiner conceded the election to Ferrer. However, the city election board insisted on proceeding with a $12 million election scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, with an additional debate even planned. This prompted a lawsuit supported by both candidates to prevent the election, the circumstance of which was avoided by a final count giving Ferrer just slightly over 40% of the vote.
Other nominations
Conservative
Despite his removal from the Republican primary, Tom Ognibene ran as the Conservative Party nominee.
Independence
On May 28, the Independence Party endorsed Michael Bloomberg for re-election.
Liberal
The Liberal Party of New York endorsed Bloomberg.
Green
Manhattan College history professor Anthony Gronowicz was the Green Party's mayoral nominee. Gronowicz sought to strengthen affordable housing, supported renewable sources of energy and sought to provide free tuition to City University of New York. He was featured in an article in The Villager.[3]
Libertarian
Audrey Silk, a former NYPD officer, community activist and founder of NYC Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment, was nominated by the party on April 16, 2005.[4]
General election
Candidates
- Michael Bloomberg, incumbent mayor since 2002 (Republican, Independence, Liberal)
- Fernando Ferrer, former Bronx Borough President (Democrat)
- Tom Ognibene (Conservative)
- Anthony Gronowicz (Green)
- Jimmy McMillan (Rent Is Too Damn High)
- Audrey Silk (Libertarian)
- Martin Koppel (Socialist Workers)
- Seth Blum (Education)
Campaign
Issues in the 2005 mayoral race included education, taxes, crime, transportation, public housing, homeland security funding and the city budget. One prominent issue throughout 2005 was
On October 23, Ferrer proposed Home Owner Property Exemption, or HOPE, a tax break for homeowners with a home property value of less than $100,000.[5]
On October 6, a mayoral debate was held at the
The general election was held on Tuesday, November 8. Members of the
Endorsements
Bloomberg was endorsed by former mayors
On October 23, Bloomberg was endorsed by both Newsday and The New York Times for the general election. The Times wrote Bloomberg could be "one of the greatest mayors in New York history"; however, The Times editorial board criticized "his 'obscene' unlimited spending on his political campaigns" creating an "uneven playing field".[6]
After winning the Democratic nomination, Ferrer was endorsed by Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton on September 16. On September 19, Ferrer received the endorsement of SEIU Local 1199. He was endorsed by former mayor David Dinkins on September 23. Ferrer was endorsed by the Working Families Party on September 27, but did not appear on the Working Families Party line on Election Day. Andrew Cuomo endorsed Ferrer on September 29. On October 20, Ferrer campaigned with Bill Clinton on Charlotte Street in the South Bronx.
Polling
Source | Date | Sample size | Margin of error | Ferrer (D) | Bloomberg (R) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quinnipiac University | November 10, 2004 | 45% | 40% | ||
Quinnipiac University | January 19, 2005 | 43% | 43% | ||
Quinnipiac University | March 2, 2005 | 47% | 39% | ||
Marist College | March 23, 2005 | 49% | 42% | ||
Quinnipiac University | March 30, 2005 | 46% | 40% | ||
Marist College | April 27, 2005 | 38% | 51% | ||
Marist College | April 27, 2005 | 38% | 51% | ||
Quinnipiac University | May 11, 2005 | 38% | 47% | ||
Marist College | June 10, 2005 | 46% | 45% | ||
Quinnipiac University | June 22, 2005 | 37% | 50% | ||
Quinnipiac University | July 19, 2005 | 36% | 52% | ||
Marist College | July 22, 2005 | 36% | 52% | ||
Marist College | August 9, 2005 | 36% | 52% | ||
August 22–28, 2005 | 718 RV | ± 5.0% | 32% | 54% | |
Quinnipiac University | September 20, 2005 | 38% | 52% | ||
Marist College | September 27, 2005 | 38% | 53% | ||
Marist College | October 12, 2005 | 32% | 59% | ||
Quinnipiac University | October 12, 2005 | 32% | 60% | ||
Quinnipiac University | October 25, 2005 | 30% | 61% | ||
Pace University | October 27, 2005 | 27% | 58% | ||
October 21–26, 2005 | 758 RV | ± 4.0% | 30% | 57% | |
Marist College | November 1, 2005 | 31% | 62% | ||
Quinnipiac University | November 1, 2005 | 31% | 59% | ||
Marist College | November 4, 2005 | 30% | 64% | ||
Quinnipiac University | November 7, 2005 | 30% | 68% |
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican/Liberal | Michael Bloomberg | 678,444 | 52.6 | ||
Independence | Michael Bloomberg | 74,645 | 5.8 | ||
Total | Michael Bloomberg (incumbent) | 753,089 | 58.4 | +8.1 | |
Democratic
|
Fernando Ferrer | 503,219 | 39.0 | −8.9 | |
Conservative
|
Thomas Ognibene
|
14,630 | 1.1 | +0.9 | |
Green | Anthony Gronowicz | 8,297 | 0.6 | +0.1 | |
Rent Is Too Damn High | Jimmy McMillan | 4,111 | 0.3 | +0.3 | |
Libertarian
|
Audrey Silk | 2,888 | 0.2 | +0.1 | |
Socialist Workers | Martin Koppel | 2,256 | 0.2 | +0.2 | |
Education | Seth Blum | 1,176 | 0.1 | +0.1 | |
Write-Ins | 269 | 0.02 | +0.02 | ||
Majority | 249,870 | 19.4 | +17.0 | ||
Turnout | 1,289,935 | ||||
Republican hold
|
Swing | +8.5 |
Results by borough
Results by borough of the 2005 New York City mayoral election[7] | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manhattan | The Bronx | Brooklyn | Queens
|
Staten Island | Total | ||
Bloomberg–Green margin (2001) | −22,777 | −21,683 | −28,182 | +46,904 | +61,227 | +35,489 | |
Bloomberg–Ferrer margin | +76,197 | −41,317 | +69,441 | +95,030 | +50,523 | +249,871 | |
Republican–Liberal
|
Michael Bloomberg | 171,593 | 69,577 | 189,040 | 184,426 | 63,267 | 678,444 |
Independence | Michael Bloomberg | 25,416 | 6,840 | 20,141 | 17,689 | 4,559 | 74,645 |
Combined total | Michael Bloomberg | 197,010 | 76,417 | 209,723 | 202,116 | 67,827 | 753,090 |
60.4% | 38.8% | 58.2% | 63.5% | 76.7% | 58.4% | ||
Democratic
|
Fernando Ferrer | 120,813 | 117,734 | 140,282 | 107,086 | 17,304 | 503,219 |
37.0% | 59.8% | 39.0% | 33.6% | 19.6% | 39.0% | ||
Conservative
|
Thomas Ognibene
|
1,729 | 1,185 | 3,573 | 5,645 | 2,498 | 14,630 |
Green | Anthony Gronowicz | 3,195 | 466 | 3,112 | 1,285 | 239 | 8,297 |
Rent Is Too Damn High | Jimmy McMillan | 1,369 | 474 | 1,293 | 799 | 176 | 4,111 |
Libertarian
|
Audrey Silk | 991 | 234 | 841 | 617 | 205 | 2,888 |
Socialist Workers | Martin Koppel | 758 | 231 | 766 | 384 | 117 | 2,256 |
Education | Seth Blum | 322 | 131 | 382 | 264 | 77 | 1,176 |
write-ins | 109 | 1 | 90 | 57 | 12 | 269 | |
T O T A L | 326,295 | 196,873 | 360,061 | 318,252 | 88,454 | ||
1,289,935 |
Notes
- ^ Ferrer was endorsed by the Working Families Party, but this endorsement did not appear on the ballot.
References
- ^ "Ognibene Is Seen As the Favorite Of Conservatives". The New York Sun.
- ^ "Results of 2005 Democratic Primary Election for Mayor of New York City" (PDF). Retrieved February 19, 2022.
- ^ "It's not easy being Green: Gronowicz runs for mayor". December 26, 2005. Archived from the original on December 26, 2005.
- ^ "LIBERTARIANS NOMINATE AUDREY SILK AS MAYORAL CANDIDATE". April 30, 2005. Archived from the original on April 30, 2005.
- ^ McIntire, Mike; Rutenberg, Jim (October 24, 2005). "Ferrer Offers a Tax Break for Less Expensive Homes". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Healy, Patrick D. (October 23, 2005). "Times Endorses Mayor Bloomberg for Re-election". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ a b "Results of 2005 General Election for Mayor of New York City" (PDF). Retrieved February 19, 2022.