1991 San Francisco mayoral election explained

Election Name:1991 San Francisco mayoral election
Country:San Francisco
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1987 San Francisco mayoral election
Previous Year:1987
Next Election:1995 San Francisco mayoral election
Next Year:1995
Election Date:November 5, 1991
December 10, 1991
Image1:File:Frank JORDAN, October 1999 (1).jpg
Candidate1:Frank Jordan
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:98,491
Percentage1:52.01%
Candidate2:Art Agnos
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:90,875
Percentage2:47.99%
Mayor
Before Election:Art Agnos
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Frank Jordan
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 1991 San Francisco mayoral election was held on November 5, 1991, with a runoff election on December 10 that year. Incumbent mayor Art Agnos, after having won nearly 70% of the vote in 1987, scraped by with less than a third of the vote in the first round and was narrowly unseated by Chief of Police Frank Jordan in the runoff.

Agnos' strong support of demolishing the Embarcadero Freeway after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake caused San Francisco's Chinatown voters to turn against him, contributing to his narrow loss.

Results

First round

November 5, 1991[1] [2] !Candidate!Votes!%
Frank Jordan59,92831.88%
Art Agnos (incumbent)51,714 27.51%
Angela Alioto34,91018.57%
Tom Hsieh18,241 9.70%
Richard Hongisto17,6639.40%
Gloria La Riva2,552 1.36%
Joni Jacobs1,397 0.74%
Cesar Ascarrunz7240.39%
Ellis Keyes3370.18%
Dehnert C. Queen3100.17%
Peter Planteen2140.11%
Total votes: 187,990
Voter turnout:47.61%

Runoff

December 10, 1991[3] !Candidate!Votes!%
Frank Jordan98,49152.01%
Art Agnos (incumbent)90,875 47.99%
Total votes:189,366
Voter turnout:50.73%

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Our Campaigns - San Francisco Mayor Race - Nov 05, 1991. 2021-06-16. www.ourcampaigns.com.
  2. Web site: Historical Voter Turnout Department of Elections. 2021-06-16. sfelections.sfgov.org.
  3. Web site: Our Campaigns - San Francisco Mayor - Runoff Race - Dec 10, 1991. 2021-06-16. www.ourcampaigns.com.