1985 New York City mayoral election explained

Election Name:1985 New York City mayoral election
Country:New York City
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1981 New York City mayoral election
Previous Year:1981
Next Election:1989 New York City mayoral election
Next Year:1989
Election Date:November 5, 1985
Image3:3x4.svg
Candidate3:Diane McGrath
Party3:Republican Party (United States)
Alliance3:Conservative
Popular Vote3:101,668
Percentage3:9.1%
Candidate2:Carol Bellamy
Party2:Liberal Party of New York
Popular Vote2:113,471
Percentage2:10.2%
Image1:File:Edward Koch (1988).jpg
Candidate1:Ed Koch
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:868,260
Percentage1:78.0%
Map Size:250px
Mayor
Before Election:Ed Koch
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Ed Koch
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The New York City mayoral election of 1985 occurred on Tuesday, November 5, 1985, with Democratic incumbent Mayor Ed Koch being re-elected to a third term by a landslide margin.

Koch received an overwhelming 78.02% of the vote citywide. Koch also swept all five boroughs by landslide margins, breaking 70% of the vote in Manhattan and Queens and breaking 80% of the vote in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island.[1]

Koch's closest competitor was the Liberal Party nominee, New York City Council President Carol Bellamy, who received 10.20% of the vote. Finishing in a distant third was the Republican nominee, Diane McGrath, who received 9.14% of the vote.

Koch defeated his nearest competitor by a landslide 67.82% Democratic margin of victory and was sworn into his third and final term in January 1986.

Al Vann and Herman Badillo tried to unite the Black and Puerto Rican communities but were thwarted by the Gang of Four, "But in a move that shocked Vann, the so-called “Gang of Four” from Harlem—Charles Rangel, David Dinkins, Basil Paterson and Percy Sutton—broke ranks and put forth their own candidate for mayor, Harlem Assemblyman Herman “Denny” Farrell, a dark horse if ever there was one. They argued that a black group like the Coalition for a Just New York should support a black candidate, not a Puerto Rican. Badillo bitterly withdrew from consideration. Farrell lost badly in the primary."[2]

As of 2022, this is the last time a Democrat won Staten Island in a mayoral election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Withdrew

Results

General election

Candidates

Results

by borough

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New York City Mayoral Election 1985 . Our Campaigns. 4 April 2014.
  2. Web site: Al Vann and the Revolution. Unplugged.. November 1997.