# 1979 Boston mayoral election

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The Boston mayoral election of 1979 occurred on Tuesday, November 6, 1979, between Mayor Kevin White and state senator Joseph F. Timilty. This was the second election in a row between White and Timilty. White once again defeated Timilty and was elected to a fourth term.
The nonpartisan municipal preliminary election was held on September 25, 1979.

## Candidates

* Joseph F. Timilty, member of the Massachusetts Senate since 1972. Member of the Boston City Council from 1967 to 1971.
* Kevin White, Mayor of Boston since 1968, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth from 1961 to 1967.

### Candidates eliminated in preliminary

* Luis F. Castro, member of the Socialist Workers Party.
* David Finnegan, member of the Boston School Committee since 1975.
* Mel King, Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 1973.
* Laurence R. Sherman, member of the U.S. Labor Party.

## Results

| Candidates | Preliminary Election | Preliminary Election | General Election | General Election |
| Candidates | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| Kevin White (incumbent) | 50,272 | 42.39 | 78,048 | 54.82 |
| Joseph F. Timilty | 33,026 | 27.85 | 64,269 | 45.14 |
| Mel King | 17,490 | 14.75 | | |
| David Finnegan | 17,306 | 14.59 | | |
| Laurence R. Sherman | 297 | 0.25 | | |
| Luis F. Castro | 199 | 0.17 | | |