1861 New York City mayoral election
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An election for Mayor of New York City was held on December 3, 1861.
Incumbent mayor Fernando Wood ran for re-election to a second consecutive term in office. In a close three-way race, Wood finished third behind Republican George Opdyke and Democratic nominee C. Godfrey Gunther. Opdyke was the first Republican elected mayor of New York City.
Background
[edit]Following his defeat in the 1857 election by an alliance of Republicans, Know-Nothings, and former Tammany Hall supporters, Fernando Wood was declared politically dead.[1] However, he purchased the New York Daily News,[2][3] and, after an unsuccessful attempt to gain control of Tammany Hall, founded his own political society, known as Mozart Hall.[2] In 1859, he defeated William Frederick Havemeyer and Republican nominee George Opdyke to return to office for a third non-consecutive term.[4]
General election
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- C. Godfrey Gunther, fur merchant (Tammany Hall)
- George Opdyke, banker, former Assemblyman, and candidate for mayor in 1859 (Republican)
- Fernando Wood, incumbent mayor since 1860 (Mozart Hall)
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George Opdyke | 25,380 | 34.15% |  6.79
| |
| Democratic | C. Godfrey Gunther | 24,767 | 33.33% |  1.06
| |
| Independent Democratic | Fernando Wood (incumbent) | 24,167 | 32.52% | 5.73
| |
| Total votes | 74,314 | 100.00% | |||
References
[edit]- ^ Mushkat 1990, p. 81.
- ^ a b Mushkat 1990, p. 84–88.
- ^ Mushkat 1990, p. 93.
- ^ Mushkat 1990, pp. 95–96.
Bibliography
[edit]- Allen, Oliver E. (1993). The Tiger: The Rise and Fall of Tammany Hall. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. p. 52-53,63,67-76. ISBN 0-201-62463-X.
- Burrows, Edwin G.; Wallace, Mike (1999). Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-195-11634-8.
- Mushkat, Jerome (1990). Fernando Wood: A Political Biography. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press. ISBN 087338413X.
