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1979 Philadelphia mayoral election

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1979 Philadelphia mayoral election

← 1975 November 8, 1979 1983 →
Turnout60%[1] Decrease 5 pp
 
Nominee William J. Green III David W. Marston Lucien Blackwell
Party Democratic Republican Consumer
Popular vote 313,345 174,083 108,447
Percentage 52.59% 29.22% 18.20%

Mayor before election

Frank Rizzo
Democratic

Elected mayor

William J. Green III
Democratic

The 1979 Philadelphia mayoral election saw the election of William J. Green III.

Ahead of the election there had been an unsuccessful effort to amend the city charter to allow incumbent mayor Frank Rizzo to run for a third consecutive term.[2]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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  • Charles W. Bowser, independent candidate for mayor in 1975[2]
  • George G. Britt, Jr., management consultant and perennial candidate
  • C. Douglas Clark
  • William J. Green III, former U.S. Representative and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1976
  • Frank Lomento, pretzel vendor and perennial candidate
  • Ralph C. Morrone
  • Ronald David Tinney
  • Gil W. Veasey
  • Inez Walker

Withdrew

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  • Albert V. Gaudiosi, former City Commerce Director
  • William G. Klenk, City Controller

Results

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Philadelphia mayoral Democratic primary, 1979
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William J. Green III 215,742 51.69%
Democratic Charles Bowser 178,376 42.74%
Democratic William Klenk 10,628 2.55%
Democratic Inez Walker 2,816 0.68%
Democratic Gil Veasey 2,524 0.61%
Democratic George G. Britt, Jr. 2,482 0.60%
Democratic Frank Lomento 1,616 0.39%
Democratic Albert Gaudiosi 1,502 0.36%
Democratic C. Douglas Clark 725 0.17%
Democratic Ralph C. Morrone 489 0.12%
Democratic Ronald David Tinney 460 0.11%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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  • David W. Marston, former U.S. Attorney and candidate for governor in 1978

Results

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Marston was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Independents and third parties

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Consumers

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General election

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Results

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1979 Philadelphia mayoral election (general election)[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William J. Green III 313,345 52.59%
Republican David W. Marston 174,083 29.22%
Consumer Lucien Blackwell 108,447 18.20%
Turnout 595,875

References

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  1. ^ Denvir, Daniel (May 22, 2015). "Voter Turnout in U.S. Mayoral Elections Is Pathetic, But It Wasn't Always This Way". City Lab. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Coard, Michael (February 10, 2018). "Charles Bowser: The Ultimate Power Player". Philly Magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  3. ^ "Mayors of the City of Philadelphia 1691-2000". City of Philadelphia. Retrieved April 28, 2019.