1981 Atlanta mayoral election

Summary

The 1981 Atlanta Mayoral Election took place on October 6, 1981, with the runoff held on October 27. Mayor Maynard Jackson was ineligible to run due to term limits. The runoff featured two prominent Atlanta politicians: former Congressman and UN Ambassador Andrew Young as well as State Representative Sidney Marcus. Young won in the October 27th runoff by double digits. It became the first time an African American mayor of a major city (Jackson) handed over the keys to another African American.[1]

1981 Atlanta mayoral election

← 1977 October 6, 1981 (general)
October 27, 1981 (runoff)
1985 →
Turnout61.26% (general)
64.04% (runoff)
 
Candidate Andrew Young Sidney Marcus A. Reginald Eaves
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
First-round vote 44,808 42,593 17,457
First-round percentage 40.92% 38.89% 15.94%
Second-round vote 65,798 53,549
Second-round percentage 55.13% 44.87%

Mayor before election

Maynard Jackson
Democratic

Elected Mayor

Andrew Young
Democratic

Election results edit

Candidate General Election Runoff
Votes % Votes %
Andrew Young 44,808 40.9 65,798 55.1
Sidney Marcus 42,593 38.8 53,549 44.9
A. Reginald Eaves 17,457 15.9
Warren Shulman 3,602 3.2
John E. Thompson 618 0.5
Mildred Glover 275 0.2
Andree Kahlmorgan 151 0.1
Total votes 109,504 100 119,347 100
Blank/Overvotes 7,607 3,080
Total ballots 117,111 100 122,427 100
Registered voters/turnout 191,166 61.26 191,166 64.04
Source: Fulton County Board of Elections

References edit

  1. ^ "Andrew Young (b. 1932) | New Georgia Encyclopedia". Georgiaencyclopedia.org. December 16, 2003. Retrieved July 19, 2019.