The closest races for New York governor in the last 100 years

In the first half of the twentieth century, New York gubernatorial races have been usually extra aggressive affairs, with tight races cropping up commonly as the Democratic and Republican political machines handpicked their candidates and mobilized their voters, in keeping with Gerald Benjamin, a dean and professor of political science at SUNY New Paltz. Later, elections have been extra influenced by particular person candidates’ campaigns and outreach.

Explore the high 5 closest races for New York governor in the last 100 years.

1954 election received by W. Averell Harriman

Margin: 11,125 votes or 0.22 p.c

In the closest election in the last 100 years, Democrat W. Averell Harriman received the race for governor over Republican Irving Ives. Before he was governor, Harriman was a financier, U.S. ambassador, Secretary of Commerce and made an unsuccessful bid for president.

The 1954 election was a battle to succeed former Gov. Thomas Dewey, who served three phrases earlier than leaving political workplace. Voters solid over 5.1 million ballots. Third social gathering candidates, John McManus of the American Labor Party, David Weiss of the Socialist Workers and Nathan Karp of the Industrial Government Party, received a collective 51,223 votes, contributing to the slim margin.

1928 election received by Franklin D. Roosevelt

Margin: 25,564 votes or 0.59 p.c

Before he was president, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected governor of New York in 1928 and 1930. Roosevelt was the cousin of former New York governor and President Theodore Roosevelt.

In the nail-biter 1928 election, Roosevelt, a Democrat, defeated Republican Albert Ottinger, the two-term state Attorney General. Roosevelt beforehand served in the state Senate and was assistant Secretary to the Navy.

Only one different candidate was on the poll with Roosevelt and Ottinger, Louis Waldman, a Socialist. New Yorkers solid 4.3 million votes.

1938 election received by Herbert Lehman

Margin: 64,394 votes or 1.36 p.c

In 1938, Gov. Herbert Lehman, a Democrat, narrowly received re-election to serve his fourth two-year time period as governor. His challenger was Republican Thomas Dewey, who would go on to later serve three phrases as governor after Lehman left workplace to hitch the U.S. State Department.

Lehman served as governor all through a lot of the Great Depression and labored on points like the minimal wage and unemployment. In the 1938 common election, Socialist Norman Thomas and Aaron Orange of the Industrial Government Party, additionally ran in opposition to Lehman. 4.7 million ballots have been solid in the race.

1924 election received by Alfred Smith

Margin: 108,559 votes or 3.33 p.c

Gov. Alfred “Al” Smith received his third time period by a hair when Republican Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ran in opposition to him in 1924. Roosevelt Jr. was the son of the former President Theodore Roosevelt, served in the New York Assembly and was Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

About 3.3 million New Yorkers voted in the race that additionally featured Socialist Norman Thomas and Workers Party candidate James Cannon and Socialist Labor Candidate Frank Passanno.

Smith was no stranger to shut races: he first was elected to the governor’s mansion in 1918, successful simply 15,082 extra votes than his Republican opponent that 12 months. He misplaced in 1920 to Republican Gov. Nathan Miller, however Smith beat Miller in a rematch in 1922. Smith served a complete of 4 two-year phrases as governor.

1994 election received by George E. Pataki

Margin: 173,798 votes or 3.34 p.c

In 1994, Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, a Democrat, was angling for one other 4 years in workplace, when Republican George E. Pataki defeated him after what was collectively the most expensive gubernatorial campaign the state had seen.

Pataki campaigned in opposition to authorities spending and excessive taxes underneath Cuomo, who’d occupied the governor’s mansion since 1983. The discipline was crowded with Tom Golisano of the Independence Fusion, Robert Walsh of the Right to Life Party, Libertarian Robert Schulz and Lawrence Lane of the Socialist Workers, who collectively notched greater than 300,000 votes. 5.2 million New Yorkers voted in the race.

Pataki went on to serve three phrases as governor.