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The New York City mayoral election of 1949 took place on November 8, 1949, in New York City. The candidates were incumbent Mayor William O'Dwyer, a Democrat, and former City Council President and 1945 mayoral candidate Newbold Morris, a Republican, as well as other, third-party candidates. Morris was also the nominee of the Liberal Party, and additionally ran on the City Fusion ballot line.
O'Dwyer won the contest with 48.87% of the vote.[1]
Republican primary
Governor Thomas Dewey distrusted Newbold Morris, but the Republican Party nominated him. Morris supported Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1944 election and was a member of the Americans for Democratic Action. The Liberal Party of New York also nominated Morris.[2] U.S. Representative Jacob Javits managed Morris' campaign.[3]
General election
Candidates
- Vito Marcantonio, U.S. Representative from East Harlem (American Labor)
- Newbold Morris, former President of the New York City Council (Republican and Liberal)
- William O'Dwyer, incumbent mayor since 1946 (Democratic)
Endorsements
Federal officials
- Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 20th congressional district (1949–1955)[4]
- Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States (1945–1953)[4]
Notable individuals
- Luigi Antonini, vice president of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union[5]
- Joseph P. Lash, activist[4]
- Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States (1933–1945)[4]
- Max Zaritsky, labor leader[4]
Organizations
Notable individuals
- Mary McLeod Bethune, civil rights activist[6]
- Guy Brewer, civil rights activist[6]
- Rose Schneiderman, labor activist[6]
- Channing Heggie Tobias, civil rights activist[6]
Notable individuals
- Henry A. Wallace, 33rd Vice President of the United States[7]
- Paul Robeson, performer and activist[8]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William O'Dwyer (incumbent) | 1,254,600 | 48.68% |  8.09(  4.92)
| |
| Republican | Newbold Morris | '571,071 | 22.16% | 6.97
| |
| Liberal | Newbold Morris | 372,281 | 14.45% | 8.38
| |
| City Fusion | Newbold Morris | 12,818 | 0.50% | 0.09
| |
| Total | Newbold Morris | 956,170 | 37.10% | 16.50
| |
| American Labor | Vito Marcantonio | 356,423 | 13.83% | 0.72
| |
| Total votes | 2,577,193 | 100.00% | |||
Morris received 200,000 fewer votes than John Foster Dulles, the Republican nominee in the concurrent senatorial election. It is believed that those voters supported O'Dwyer due to how liberal Morris was.[10]
This was the first time that the Liberals received more votes than the ALP in a city-wide election.[10]
References
- ^ "Our Campaigns – New York City Mayor Race – Nov 08, 1949". OurCampaigns.org. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ Soyer 2012, p. 164-165.
- ^ Soyer 2012, p. 170-171.
- ^ a b c d e Soyer 2012, p. 166.
- ^ Soyer 2012, p. 167.
- ^ a b c d e f g Soyer 2012, p. 165.
- ^ "Paul Robeson Standing and Talking with Politicians at Labor Party Rally". March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ "Paul Robeson Standing and Talking with Politicians at Labor Party Rally". March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ "Results of Contests for Senator, Mayor, Controller, City Council and Local Judicial Offices". The New York Times. November 10, 1949.
- ^ a b Soyer 2012, p. 171.
Works cited
- Soyer, Daniel (2012). "'Support the Fair Deal in the Nation; Abolish the Raw Deal in the City': The Liberal Party in 1949". New York History. 93 (2). Cornell University Press: 147–81. JSTOR 23645398.
