1969 Pittsburgh mayoral election

Summary

The Mayoral election of 1969 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was held on Tuesday, November 4, 1969. The incumbent mayor, Joe Barr of the Democratic Party chose not to run for his third term.

1969 Pittsburgh mayoral election

← 1965 November 4, 1969 1973 →
 
Nominee Pete Flaherty John Tabor
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 118,936 62,586
Percentage 65.5% 34.5%

Mayor before election

Joseph M. Barr
Democratic

Elected Mayor

Pete Flaherty
Democratic

Primary elections edit

Outspoken City Councilman Pete Flaherty won the Democratic Primary, despite strong opposition from the city's aging party machine. He ran an aggressive campaign and characterized himself to the public as a reform. Court of Common Pleas Judge Harry Kramer, the endorsed candidate, launched a series of sharp personal attacks on Flaherty, which undermined his own campaign and hastened his defeat.

General election edit

A total of 181,522 votes were cast. As is typical in the heavily Democratic city, Flaherty won by over 30 points. The Republican nominee was John Tabor, the state's last Secretary of Internal Affairs (under the 1968 Pennsylvania Constitution, this elected position, considered to be the state's third highest office, was eliminated).

Pittsburgh mayoral election, 1969
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Pete Flaherty 118,936 65.5
Republican John Tabor 62,586 34.5
Turnout 181,522
Democratic hold Swing

External links edit

  • Peter F. Flaherty Papers Finding Aid, 1964-1995, AIS.1999.19, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
  • John K. Tabor Papers Finding Aid, 1969, AIS.1984.26, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

References edit

  • "Republican mayoral candidates through the years". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 7, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
Preceded by
1965
Pittsburgh mayoral election
1969
Succeeded by
1973