1991 Philadelphia mayoral election explained

Election Name:	1991 Philadelphia mayoral election
Country:	Philadelphia
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	1987 Philadelphia mayoral election
Previous Year:	1987
Next Election:	1995 Philadelphia mayoral election
Next Year:	1995
Election Date:	November 5, 1991
Image1:	File:Mayor Ed Rendell.jpg
Nominee1:	Ed Rendell
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	288,467
Percentage1:	64.24%
Nominee2:	Joseph M. Egan, Jr.
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	132,811
Percentage2:	29.58%
Turnout:	61%^[1] 10 pp
Mayor
Before Election:	Wilson Goode
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Ed Rendell
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

The 1991 Philadelphia mayoral election saw the election of Democrat Ed Rendell.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Lucien Blackwell, City Councilman and Consumers Party nominee for Mayor in 1979
• George R. Burrell, Jr., City Councilman^[2]
• Peter Hearn, former Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association
• Ed Rendell, former District Attorney of Philadelphia and candidate for Mayor in 1987

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Ronald Castille, Philadelphia District Attorney
• Sam Katz, municipal finance expert
• Frank Rizzo, former Mayor

Withdrew

• Joan Specter, City Councilwoman^[3] (to run for re-election)
• Dennis Morrison-Wesley, tax consultant^[4] (to run as New Philadelphia candidate)

Declined

• Thacher Longstreth, nominee for Mayor in 1955 and 1971
• Brian J. O'Neill, City Councilman

Results

Following Rizzo's death, City Council candidate Joseph Egan was selected by the Philadelphia Republican Party to replace Rizzo as the nominee.^[5]

Independents and third parties

Consumer

• Pamela Lawler

New Alliance

• Willie Dennis-Scott

New Philadelphia

• Dennis Morrison-Wesley, tax consultant

Socialist Workers

• Kathleen Mickells, coal miner and nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1988

General election

Results

Notes and References

1. Web site: Voter Turnout in U.S. Mayoral Elections Is Pathetic, But It Wasn't Always This Way . Denvir . Daniel . City Lab. 28 April 2019 . 22 May 2015.
2. News: Decourcy Hinds . Michael . The Primary for Mayor Is Leaving Many in Philadelphia Befuddled . 10 August 2019 . The New York Times . 20 May 1991.
3. News: Lutton . Christine . Council veteran awaits the call . 10 August 2019 . The Daily Pennsylvanian . 6 February 1991.
4. News: Schwartz . Maralee . FORMER MAYOR RIZZO MAKING ANOTHER BID TO LEAD PHILADELPHIA . 10 August 2019 . The Washington Post . 27 January 1991.
5. News: Decourcy Hinds . Michael . Philadelphia Journal; Egan for Mayor. Ah, but Which One? . 10 August 2019 . The New York Times . 3 August 1991.