An election for Mayor of New York City was held on December 3, 1861.

Incumbent mayor Fernando Wood ran for re-election to a second consecutive term in office. In a close three-way race, Wood finished third behind Republican George Opdyke and Democratic nominee C. Godfrey Gunther. Opdyke was the first Republican elected mayor of New York City.

Background Following his defeat in the 1857 election by an alliance of Republicans, Know-Nothings, and former Tammany Hall supporters, Fernando Wood was declared politically dead. However, he purchased the New York Daily News, and, after an unsuccessful attempt to gain control of Tammany Hall, founded his own political society, known as Mozart Hall. In 1859, he defeated William Frederick Havemeyer and Republican nominee George Opdyke to return to office for a third non-consecutive term.

General election Candidates C. Godfrey Gunther, fur merchant (Tammany Hall) George Opdyke, banker, former Assemblyman, and candidate for mayor in 1859 (Republican) Fernando Wood, incumbent mayor since 1860 (Mozart Hall)

Results

Results by ward

Results by wards Ward OpdykeRepublican GuntherDemocratic WoodIndependentDemocratic Total Votes % Votes % Votes % 1 409 27.30% 505 33.71% 584 38.99% 1,498 2 211 50.36% 96 22.91% 112 26.73% 419 3 165 32.74% 138 27.38% 201 39.88% 504 4 261 12.02% 871 40.12% 1,039 47.86% 2,171 5 799 38.54% 675 32.56% 599 28.90% 2,073 6 255 9.00% 1,717 60.63% 860 30.37% 2,832 7 1,018 27.39% 1,060 28.52% 1,639 44.09% 3,717 8 1,082 32.59% 1,227 36.96% 1,011 30.45% 3,320 9 2,407 49.49% 1,386 28.49% 1,071 22.02% 4,864 10 867 32.97% 1,107 42.09% 656 24.94% 2,630 11 1,349 24.89% 2,152 39.71% 1,918 35.40% 5,419 12 822 29.10% 1,456 51.54% 547 19.36% 2,825 13 984 32.01% 1,038 33.77% 1,052 34.22% 3,074 14 378 14.77% 832 32.50% 1,350 52.73% 2,560 15 1,525 56.02% 562 20.65% 635 23.33% 2,722 16 2,145 50.14% 851 19.89% 1,282 29.97% 4,278 17 2,035 30.95% 2,521 38.34% 2,019 30.71% 6,575 18 1,940 39.17% 1,253 25.30% 1,760 35.53% 4,953 19 1,161 29.56% 1,235 31.45% 1,531 38.99% 3,927 20 2,085 38.75% 1,689 31.39% 1,607 29.86% 5,381 21 2,031 46.22% 1,080 24.58% 1,283 29.20% 4,394 22 1,451 34.73% 1,316 31.50% 1,411 33.77% 4,178 Totals 25,380 34.15% 24,767 33.33% 24,167 32.52% 74,314

References

Bibliography