1989 NYC Mayoral Election

After beating the incumbent Mayor in a primary, the 1989 NYC Mayoral election pitted the person who would become the first African American Mayor of NYC, David Dinkins agaisnt the District Attorney for the Southern District of New York Rudy Giuliani

Three term Incumbent Mayor Ed Koch's final term did not go well as several people in his administration and inner circle were convicted of corruption, some by Giuliani himself. Despite this, the mayor chose to go for an Unprecedented fourth Term.

The aforementioned corruption scandals forced him into a bitter primary against Manhattan Borough President David Dinkins, eventually culminating in an 8.48% loss for the incumbent.

The primary, however, would leave Dinkins scarred, as evidenced by the fact that Koch's Coalition in the primary would be very similar to Giuliani's coalition in the general.

Battered himself in his own primary, before Dinkins lost, Giuliani believed he would be facing him, his law enforcement record contrasting well to the record of corruption. Instead he faced Mr. Dinkins, whom was embraced by most major democratic leaders.

In changing tactics, Giuliani Attacked Dinkins on the negative state of his personal financial affairs, something that swayed 40% of voters against Dinkins.

Further, Race was thought to play a key role in the General election, with New York Times citing over 66% of whites voting for Mr. Giuliani and over 90% of African Americans voting for Mr.Dinkins.

Some polls, in fact, put White Catholics at 80-20% R and Jewish voters at 60/40% R

In the end, this did not matter, as African Americans turned out at a high enough rate to put David Dinkins in Gracey Mansion fore four years, before Giuliani would go on to capture it for 8 in 1993 & 1997.

Sources: