# 1997 Des Moines mayoral special election

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The 1997 Des Moines mayoral special election was held on October 7, 1997, to elect the mayor of Des Moines, Iowa. It saw the election of Preston Daniels. Daniels became the city's first African American mayor.

## Results
### First round

First round results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Preston Daniels | 5,294 | 58.04 |
| | Nonpartisan | Jim Cownie | 3,618 | 39.66 |
| | Nonpartisan | Thomas Alter | 169 | 1.85 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 41 | 0.45 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,122 | |

### Runoff

Runoff results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Frank Cownie | 20,659 | 54.14 |
| | Nonpartisan | Jim Cownie | 17,394 | 45.58 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 107 | 0.28 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,350 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |