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1989 New York City mayoral election

← 1985 November 7, 1989 1993 →

Candidate David Dinkins Rudy Giuliani Party Democratic Republican Alliance Liberal Popular vote 917,544 870,464 Percentage 50.42% 47.84%

Borough results Dinkins:      50–60%      60–70% Giuliani:      50–60%      70–80%

Mayor before election Ed Koch Democratic Elected Mayor David Dinkins Democratic

The 1989 New York City mayoral election was held on Tuesday, November 7.

Incumbent Mayor Ed Koch, who had served since 1978, ran for an unprecedented fourth term in office but was defeated in the Democratic Party primary by Manhattan Borough President David Dinkins. Dinkins went on to narrowly defeat U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Rudy Giuliani, the candidate of both the Republican Party and Liberal Party of New York. Dinkins won with 50.42% of the vote to Giuliani's 47.84%.

Whereas the two preceding mayoral elections of the 1980s had been landslide victories for Koch, who had not lost a single borough and had received the co-endorsement of the Republican Party in 1981, this election was a closely contested race. Dinkins won majorities in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn, while Giuliani carried Queens and won a landslide on Staten Island. Four years later, in the 1993 election, Dinkins and Giuliani would face each other again in a re-match and Dinkins would narrowly lose to Giuliani in his bid for re-election.

Democrats would not win a mayoral election in New York City again until 2013.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• David Dinkins, Manhattan Borough President
• Harrison J. Goldin, New York City Comptroller
• Ed Koch, incumbent Mayor since 1978
• Richard Ravitch, former chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Declined

• Andrew Stein, President of the New York City Council

Polling

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Ronald Lauder, son of Estée Lauder and former U.S. Ambassador to Austria

Elections in New York State
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v t e

Results

General election

Candidates

• Warren L. Baum (Libertarian)
• David Dinkins, Manhattan Borough President (Democratic)
• Lenora Fulani, psychologist, activist and candidate for President of the United States in 1988 (New Alliance)
• Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (Republican and Liberal)
• James E. Harris (Socialist Workers)
• Henry F. Hewes, consultant (Right to Life)
• Ronald S. Lauder, son of Estée Lauder and former U.S. Ambassador to Austria (Conservative)

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	David Dinkins	917,544	50.42%	27.6
	Republican	Rudy Giuliani	815,387	44.80%	35.7
	Liberal	Rudy Giuliani	55,077	3.02%	7.1
	Total	Rudy Giuliani	870,464	47.84%	N/A
	Right to Life	Henry F. Hewes	17,460	0.96%	0.3
	Conservative	Ronald S. Lauder	9,271	0.51%	2.5
	New Alliance	Lenora Fulani	1,732	0.10%	0.5
	Socialist Workers	James E. Harris	1,671	0.09%	0.06
	Libertarian	Warren L. Baum	1,118	0.06%	N/A
Total votes			1,125,258	100.0%
	Democratic hold

References

1. Roberts, Sam (November 9, 1989). "THE 1989 ELECTIONS: THE NEW YORK VOTE; Almost Lost at the Wire". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
2. "New York City Mayoral Election 1989". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
3. Anekwe, Simon (December 10, 1988). "Poll shows Dinkins can unseat Mayor Ed Koch". The New York Times. p. 1.
4. "NYC Mayor - D Primary - Our Campaigns".
5. "NYC Mayor - R Primary - Our Campaigns".
6. "New York City Mayor - Our Campaigns".

v t e Mayoral elections in New York City
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• 1989 in New York City
• Mayoral elections in New York City
• 1989 New York (state) elections
• 1989 United States mayoral elections
• Rudy Giuliani