1937 Boston mayoral election

1937 Boston mayoral election

← 1933 November 2, 1937 1941 →
 
Candidate Maurice J. Tobin James Michael Curley
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 105,212 80,376
Percentage 38.56% 29.46%

 
Candidate Malcolm Nichols William J. Foley
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 55,247 28,184
Percentage 20.25% 10.33%

Mayor before election

Frederick Mansfield

Elected mayor

Maurice J. Tobin

The Boston mayoral election of 1937 occurred on Tuesday, November 2, 1937. Boston School Committee member Maurice J. Tobin defeated five other candidates, including former mayors James Michael Curley and Malcolm Nichols.

In 1918, the Massachusetts state legislature had passed legislation making the Mayor of Boston ineligible to serve consecutive terms.[1] Thus, incumbent Frederick Mansfield was unable to run for re-election. The law would be changed in 1939, making this the last election where the incumbent mayor could not run for re-election.[2]

Tobin was inaugurated on Monday, January 3, 1938.[3]

  1. ^ "REPORT BILL TO STOP CONSECUTIVE TERMS". The Boston Globe. February 26, 1918. p. 6. Retrieved March 12, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
  2. ^ "SECOND TERM WINS IN BOSTON". The Boston Globe. November 8, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved March 14, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
  3. ^ "Tobin Becomes Mayor Today, Notables to Attend Ceremony". The Boston Globe. January 3, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved March 16, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.