1881 Philadelphia mayoral election

The Philadelphia mayoral election of 1881 saw Samuel G. King defeat three-term incumbent mayor William S. Stokley.[1]

Philadelphia mayoral election, 1881

Nominee Samuel G. King William S. Stokley Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 78,215 72,428 Percentage 51.87% 48.03%

Mayor before election William S. Stokley Republican Elected Mayor Samuel G. King Democratic

Elections in Pennsylvania
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Harrisburg Mayors 2017

This would be the last time until 1951 that a Democrat would win the mayoralty of Philadelphia.[1] It would also be the last time until 1911 that a Republican would fail to win the mayoralty.[1]

The Philadelphia Republican establishment had not accepted Stokley as one of their own and prominent reformist Republicans such as Rudolph Blankenburg opposed Stokley for corruption.[2]

After the influential Committee of One Hundred voted to endorse Stokley, Blankenburg and John Paul Verree resigned their memberships.[3] The Committee reversed itself and endorsed King in the election.[2]