2005 New York City mayoral election

Republican primary

Candidates

• Michael Bloomberg, incumbent mayor since 2002
• Walter Iwachiw
• Tom Ognibene, former City Councilman from Queens (1992–2002) and Council minority leader
• Steve Shaw

Campaign

Tom Ognibene ran on a platform supporting tax cuts, education reform and opposed Mayor Bloomberg's smoking ban. He was expected to win the endorsement of the Conservative Party. He received 8,100 signatures, 600 more than the necessary 7,500 signatures to appear on the primary ballot. But the Bloomberg campaign challenged many signatures, leaving Ognibene with 5,848 eligible signatures and forcing him off the ballot. On August 25, a federal judge refused to allow Ognibene on the Republican ballot.

The first television ads were launched in English and Spanish by the Bloomberg campaign on May 18.

Endorsements

Ognibene was endorsed by the leaders of the Queens County Republican Committee on February 10.

Polling

Aftermath

Ognibene challenged the Republican nomination in a hearing on August 25, but his challenge was unsuccessful.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Christopher X. Brodeur, artist and Green Party candidate in 2001
• Fernando Ferrer, former Bronx Borough President (1987–2001) and candidate for Mayor in 2001
• C. Virginia Fields, Manhattan Borough President
• Gifford Miller, Speaker of the New York City Council
• Arthur Piccolo
• Anthony Weiner, U.S. Representative from Brooklyn and Queens

Withdrew

• Charles Barron, member of the City Council from the 42nd district (endorsed Fields)Winnie Hu, "Councilman Expects to Quit Democratic Mayoral Race", The New York Times, February 9, 2005.

Michael Slackman and Jim Rutenberg, "Spitzer Leads Fund-Raising with $3 Million in 6 Months" The New York Times, January 19, 2005

Declined

• Mark Green, nominee for mayor in 2001 (ran for New York Attorney General in 2006)
• Bob Kerrey, former U.S. Senator from Nebraska and President of the New School
• Bill Thompson, New York City Comptroller

Campaign

On August 3, Ferrer began running campaign advertisements. On August 12, the Gifford Miller campaign launched its own television ads. The Democratic candidates held their first debate on August 16. The Anthony Weiner campaign launched television ads on August 19, the same day voter registration for the primary elections ended. The Democratic candidates held their second televised debate on August 21, sponsored by WCBS and The New York Times.

Endorsements

On September 1, Ferrer was endorsed by City Comptroller Bill Thompson and ACORN. On September 3, The New York Times endorsed Ferrer in the Democratic primary. The Democratic candidates held two final debates, on WNBC on September 7 and on WABC on September 8. On September 10, Reverend Al Sharpton endorsed Ferrer.

Before the primary, Ferrer was endorsed by New York state attorney general Eliot Spitzer, Carl McCall, Geraldine Ferraro, Sheldon Silver, the Transport Workers Union, Bronx borough president Adolfo Carrión Jr., and Ruth Messinger. He was also endorsed by Representatives Joseph Crowley, Gregory Meeks, Major Owens, José E. Serrano, Edolphus Towns and Nydia Velázquez.

Debate

Polling

Results

The Democratic primary was held on September 13, with initial returns showing Ferrer receiving 39.95% of the votes, just short of the 40% needed to avoid a runoff with Weiner. Despite at first seeming poised to continue, the next morning Weiner conceded the election to Ferrer. But the city election board insisted on proceeding with a $12 million election scheduled for September 27, with an additional debate even planned. This prompted a lawsuit supported by both candidates to prevent the runoff, which was avoided when the final count gave Ferrer just over 40% of the vote.

Other nominations

Conservative

Despite his removal from the Republican primary, Tom Ognibene ran as the Conservative Party nominee.

Independence

On May 28, the Independence Party endorsed Bloomberg for reelection.

Liberal

The Liberal Party of New York endorsed Bloomberg.

Green

Manhattan College history professor Anthony Gronowicz was the Green Party's mayoral nominee. Gronowicz sought to strengthen affordable housing, supported renewable sources of energy and sought to provide free tuition to City University of New York. He was featured in an article in The Villager.

Libertarian

Audrey Silk, a former NYPD officer, community activist and founder of NYC Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment, was nominated by the party on April 16, 2005.

General election

Candidates

• Michael Bloomberg, incumbent mayor since 2002 (Republican, Independence, Liberal)
• Fernando Ferrer, former Bronx Borough President (Democrat)
• Tom Ognibene (Conservative)
• Anthony Gronowicz (Green)
• Jimmy McMillan (Rent Is Too Damn High)
• Audrey Silk (Libertarian)
• Martin Koppel (Socialist Workers)
• Seth Blum (Education)
• Mitch Crumblehorn (Independent)

Campaign

Issues in the 2005 mayoral race included education, taxes, crime, transportation, public housing, homeland security funding, and the city budget. One prominent issue throughout 2005 was New York's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, as New York City was one of the finalists to serve as host city. On June 6, the planned West Side Stadium was defeated by the Public Authorities Control Board when Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno refused to vote for it. As a result, Bloomberg had supported the new Mets ballpark, later Citi Field, as the centerpiece of the revised bid. On July 6, the IOC awarded London the 2012 Summer Olympics.

On October 23, Ferrer proposed Home Owner Property Exemption, or HOPE, a tax break for homeowners with a home property value of less than $100,000.

On October 6, a mayoral debate was held at the Apollo Theater with Ferrer and Ognibene; Bloomberg was absent. The last day for voter registration for the general election was October 14. The first mayoral debate between Ferrer and Bloomberg was on October 30, and broadcast on WABC. They debated each other again on November 1, at a debate sponsored by WNBC and the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

The general election was held on November 8. Members of the New York City Council, as well as the offices of borough president, city comptroller, public advocate, and district attorney, were also up for election. At 10:30 p.m. on November 8, Ferrer conceded to Bloomberg in a speech at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. Bloomberg was sworn in for a second term on January 1, 2006.

Endorsements

Bloomberg was endorsed by former mayors Rudy Giuliani and Ed Koch, Jeanine Pirro, Herman Badillo, former congressman Floyd Flake, Reverend Calvin Butts, and many prominent local Democrats.

On October 23, Bloomberg was endorsed by both Newsday and The New York Times in the general election, with the New York Daily News following on the 31st. The Times wrote that Bloomberg could be "one of the greatest mayors in New York history" but criticized "his 'obscene' unlimited spending on his political campaigns", creating an "uneven playing field".

After winning the Democratic nomination, Ferrer was endorsed by Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton, as well as former President Bill Clinton, on September 16. On September 19, he was endorsed by SEIU Local 1199. He was endorsed by former mayor David Dinkins on September 23. Ferrer was endorsed by the Working Families Party on September 27, but failed to receive enough votes from the party's coordinating council to be nominated for the Working Families Party's ballot line. Andrew Cuomo endorsed Ferrer on September 29. On October 20, Ferrer campaigned with Bill Clinton on Charlotte Street in the South Bronx.

Polling

Debates

Results

Results by borough

Notes

References

References

1. Gardiner, Jill. (30 March 2005). "Ognibene Is Seen As the Favorite Of Conservatives".
2. (17 February 2005). "Queens County Republicans Endorse Ognibene For Mayor". [[Queens Chronicle]].
3. "Barron's Mayoral 'Race'; Running Because 'White Men Have Too Much Power'". ''New York Post''. December 4, 2003. p. 20
4. (20 April 2005). "After Brief Flirtation, Kerrey Decides Not to Run for Mayor". [[New York Times]].
5. (8 December 2004). "And They’re Off". [[New York (magazine).
6. (18 August 2005). "Ferrer Still Short Of 40% In NYC Dem Primary, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Three Others In Horse Race For Second Place". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
7. (7 September 2005). "Ferrer No Closer To 40% In NYC Dem Primary, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Weiner Edges Up As Likely Second Place Finisher". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
8. (12 September 2005). "Ferrer At 32% In NYC Dem Primary, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Weiner Moves Up As Miller, Fields Fade". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
9. "Results of 2005 Democratic Primary Election for Mayor of New York City".
10. Seligson, Hannah. (December 26, 2005). "It's not easy being Green: Gronowicz runs for mayor".
11. (April 30, 2005). "LIBERTARIANS NOMINATE AUDREY SILK AS MAYORAL CANDIDATE".
12. (October 24, 2005). "Ferrer Offers a Tax Break for Less Expensive Homes". The New York Times.
13. (23 October 2005). "An Endorsement for Mayor". [[The New York Times]].
14. (31 October 2005). "MIKE BLOOMBERG FOR MAYOR – AGAIN". [[New York Daily News]].
15. Healy, Patrick D.. (October 23, 2005). "Times Endorses Mayor Bloomberg for Re-election". The New York Times.
16. (17 September 2005). "Chuck & Hil back Ferrer Endorse him without word about Mike". [[New York Daily News]].
17. (September 28, 2005). "Ferrer Ally Accuses Bloomberg Supporter of Using Race as Tactic". [[The New York Times]].
18. (30 January 2005). "Ferrer Being Hurt by Self-Inflicted Wounds". [[The New York Times]].
19. (25 November 2003). "Ferrer Or Miller Beat Mayor Bloomberg, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; No Thanksgiving Invite For Mayor, Voters Say". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
20. (4 February 2004). "Bloomberg Bounces Back To Break-Even Approval, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Mayor's Vacations Are Nobody's Business, Voters Say". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
21. (31 March 2004). "Bloomberg Back On Top For First Time In Over A Year, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Outer Boroughs Want More Love From Mayor". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
22. (9 June 2004). "Bloomberg Approval Hits 50%, But Ferrer Is Ahead, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Kelly Approval At 67% As Voters Back Bravest, Finest". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
23. (20 July 2004). "Most New Yorkers Like Mike, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Let Protesters Have Central Park, Voters Say". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
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25. (19 January 2005). "Bloomberg Ties Ferrer, Tops Other Dems Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Mayor's Scores With Blacks, Hispanics Improve". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
26. (2 March 2005). "NYC Voters Say Ferrer Cares More Than Mayor, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Mayor Slips In Approval, Matchups". [[Quinnipiac University]].
27. "Marist College".
28. (30 March 2005). "Fields Is Up, Ferrer Is Down Among Dems In Diallo Flap; Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Miller, Weiner Trail In Dem Primary Race". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
29. "Marist College".
30. (11 May 2005). "Bloomberg On Top For First Time As Ferrer Drops; Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Fields Is Close Second In Dem Primary". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
31. (June 10, 2005). "Marist College".
32. (22 June 2005). "Stadium Switch Lifts Bloomberg To New Highs, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Hispanic Voters Approve Of Mayor, But Back Ferrer". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
33. (19 July 2005). "Bloomberg, With 60% Approval, Thumps All Dems, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Miller Up, Fields Down In Dem Primary Pack". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
34. "Marist College".
35. "Marist College".
36. [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/31/nyregion/metrocampaigns/31poll.html The New York Times]
37. (21 September 2005). "Bloomberg Has 14-Point Likely-Voter Lead Over Ferrer, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; But Democrat 'cares' More Than Mayor, Voters Say". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
38. (September 27, 2005). "Marist College".
39. "Marist College".
40. (12 October 2005). "Bloomberg Jumps To 28-Point Lead Over Ferrer, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Mayor's Numbers Spiked After Subway Terror Alert". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
41. (25 October 2005). "Bloomberg Keeps 31-Point Lead After Terror Alert, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Few Say Mayor Has Too Many Commercials". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
42. "Pace University".
43. [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/28/nyregion/metrocampaigns/28york.html The New York Times]
44. "Marist College".
45. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060901074847/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x11370.xml?ReleaseID=843 Quinnipiac University]
46. "Marist College".
47. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060901075716/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x11370.xml?ReleaseID=846 Quinnipiac University]
48. "Results of 2005 General Election for Mayor of New York City".