1937 New York City Council election explained

Election Name:1937 New York City Council election
Country:New York City
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1935 New York City aldermanic election
Previous Year:1935
Next Election:1939 New York City Council election
Next Year:1939
Seats For Election:All 26 seats to the New York City Council
Majority Seats:14
Election Date:November 2, 1937
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Seats1:13
Percentage1:47.0%
Party2:American Labor Party
Seats2:5
Percentage2:21.0%
Party3:Republican Party (United States)
Seats3:3
Percentage3:8.5%
Color4:c0c0c0
Party4:Fusion
Seats4:3
Percentage4:11.5%
Color5:3333ff
Party5:Insurgent Democrats
Seats5:2
Percentage5:8.0%
Vice Chairman
After Election:John Cashmore
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

Elections were held on November 2, 1937 to fill the New York City Council, which had just been formed to replace the New York City Board of Aldermen. The new Council comprised 26 members elected via proportional representation by borough, in contrast to the 65-member Board of Aldermen elected by district. This was done in response to the large majorities the Democrats often received in the Board of Aldermen. Each borough was entitled to one member of the council for each 75,000 votes cast, and an additional member for each remainder greater than 50,000.[1] Due to voter turnout, Brooklyn was entitled to nine members of the Council, Manhattan six, Queens and The Bronx five each, and Richmond one.[2]

Owing to the novelty and complexity of proportional representation the results of the election were expected to be significantly slowed down,[1] and were not available until later in the month.[2]

Manhattan elected three Democrats, one Republican, one member of the City Fusion party, and one member of the American Labor Party.[2]

Brooklyn elected nine councillors: five Democrats, two American Laborites, one City Fusionist and one Communist.[3]

John Cashmore of Brooklyn, who had served seven terms in the Board of Aldermen, was elected the Vice Chairman and consequently leader of the majority.[4] The Board of Aldermen held its last meeting on December 21,[5] and the new City Council met for the first time on January 3, 1938.[6] Proportional representation was abolished in 1947 as it allowed Communists to be elected to the Council.[7]

The electoral reform nonprofit organization FairVote says, of the New York council election results during that period: "The City’s first black candidates were elected (including Adam Clayton Powell Jr.) [in 1945], seats were won in close proportion to votes and far more small party candidates and independent Democrats were elected."[8]

New York City Council elections of 1937[9]
Party Seats % seats % votes
% votes
13 50.0% 47.0% 31%
3 11.5% 8.5% 9%
Insurgent Democrats 28.0% 7.0% 5%
5 19.0% 21.0% 12%
3 11.5% 10.5% 11%
4%
Others 0 28%
Total 26 100.0% 94.0% 100.0%

Notes and References

  1. News: N.Y. City Council Results Slowed . subscription . May 5, 2019 . Rochester Democrat and Chronicle . Associated Press . November 3, 1937 . Newspapers.com.
  2. News: P.R. in Operation . subscription . May 5, 2019 . Brooklyn Daily Eagle . 97 . 326 . 6 . November 24, 1937 . Newspapers.com.
  3. Mccaffrey, George. “New York’s 1937 Election and Its Results.” National Municipal Review 27, no. 1 (January 1938)
  4. News: Morse . Edward . Election of Cashmore To Head Council Bloc Shows Kelly Strength . subscription . May 5, 2019 . The Brooklyn Citizen . 101 . 152 . 1 . December 29, 1937 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: The Board of Aldermen sang its Swan song . subscription . May 5, 2019 . The Brooklyn Citizen . December 22, 1937 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Donohue . James . Council Elects John Cashmore Vice-Chairman . subscription . May 5, 2019 . The Brooklyn Citizen . 102 . 1 . 1 . January 3, 1938 . Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Lee . Dick . PR Called Costly to City; Voters to Decide Its Fate . subscription . May 5, 2019 . New York Daily News . October 27, 1947 . Newspapers.com.
  8. Web site: Choice Voting in New York City Council Elections: 1937 - 1947. FairVote. 1 March 2021.
  9. Zeller . Belle . Bone . Hugh A. . The Repeal of P.R. in New York City—Ten Years in Retrospect . American Political Science Review . December 1948 . 42 . 6 . 1132, 1135 . 10.2307/1950618 . 1950618 . 147652948 . 1 March 2021 .