1897 New York City mayoral election

1897 New York City mayoral election
November 1897
 
Nominee Robert A. Van Wyck Seth Low Benjamin F. Tracy
Party Democratic Citizens Union Republican
Popular vote 233,997 151,540 101,863
Percentage 44.7% 28.9% 19.5%

Mayor before election

William L. Strong (as mayor of Manhattan and the Bronx)
Republican

Elected mayor

Robert A. Van Wyck (as mayor of the City of Greater New York)
Democratic

An election for Mayor of New York City was held in November 1897. This election was held in connection with the consolidation of the City of Greater New York, which passed a public referendum on December 14, 1894, and was to be effective January 1, 1898. Thus, the winner of this election would serve as the first mayor of the consolidated city.

Incumbent mayor William L. Strong was not a candidate for re-election to a second term in office. The multipolar race featured chief justice of the City Court Robert A. Van Wyck, Columbia University president Seth Low, former U.S. secretary of the Navy Benjamin F. Tracy, and tax reformer Henry George. On October 29, just a few days before the election, George died. Van Wyck won the race with a plurality of the vote, followed by Low and Tracy.