2017 Atlantic City mayoral election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2017 Atlantic City mayoral election
| flag_image = Flag of Atlantic City, New Jersey.gif
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2013 Atlantic City mayoral election
| previous_year = 2013
| election_date = November 7, 2017
| next_election = 2021 Atlantic City mayoral election
| next_year = 2021
| nominee1 = Frank Gilliam
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 4,220
| percentage1 = 57.68%
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = Mayor
| before_election = Don Guardian
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Frank Gilliam
| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| nominee2 = Don Guardian
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 2,824
| percentage2 = 38.60%
}}
{{ElectionsNJ}}
The 2017 Atlantic City mayoral election was held on November 7, 2017, to elect the mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Primary elections were held on June 6. Incumbent Republican Don Guardian lost re-election to a second term to Democratic city councilman Frank Gilliam.
Republican primary
=Candidates=
On March 18, the Atlantic City Republican County Committee endorsed Don Guardian for mayor, with him receiving five votes, Joseph Polillo two votes, and three members not voting.{{cite web|last1=Hetrick|first1=Christian|title=Atlantic City Republicans endorse Guardian for mayor|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/atlantic-city-republicans-endorse-guardian-for-mayor/article_abdf0c6e-d689-580a-8b34-1b17c5e2b38b.html|website=The Press of Atlantic City|access-date=April 16, 2017|date=March 20, 2017}} Subsequently, Polillo dropped out of the primary and decided to continue running for mayor as an independent.
==Declared==
- Don Guardian, incumbent mayor{{cite web|last1=Hetrick|first1=Christian|title=Atlantic City Mayor Guardian launches re-election campaign|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/atlantic-city-mayor-guardian-launches-re-election-campaign/article_6b70dbb6-28e3-5800-b9ad-730e82a84c6b.html|website=The Press of Atlantic City|access-date=April 16, 2017|date=March 16, 2017}}
==Withdrawn==
- Joseph Polillo, retired license inspector and perennial candidate (running as an independent){{cite web|last1=Hetrick|first1=Christian|title=Polillo jumps into Atlantic City mayor's race|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic_city/polillo-jumps-into-atlantic-city-mayor-s-race/article_ffa96a92-f2a0-5753-bdb2-eeb70cc5eb18.html|website=The Press of Atlantic City|access-date=April 16, 2017|date=March 9, 2017}}
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results{{cite web|title=Primary Election Results - June 6, 2017|url=http://atlanticcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/June-Primary-Election-Results-2017.pdf|publisher=Office of the Atlantic County Clerk|access-date=June 16, 2017}}{{cite web|title=June 2017 Primary Election Results (unofficial totals)|url=http://atlanticcountyclerk.org/Election%20Result.htm|website=Office of the Atlantic County Clerk|access-date=June 16, 2017}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Donald A. Guardian
| votes = 359
| percentage = 99.17
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Write-In
| votes = 3
| percentage = 0.83
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 362
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
Democratic primary
=Candidates=
On April 3, the Atlantic City Democratic Committee endorsed Frank Gilliam for mayor, with him receiving 27 votes, Marty Small three votes, and Fareed Abdullah one vote.{{cite web|last1=Hetrick|first1=Christian|title=A.C. Democrats back Gilliam for mayor|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic_city/a-c-democrats-back-gilliam-for-mayor/article_7761fa38-63f2-52a3-bdc9-52830211b6eb.html|website=The Press of Atlantic City|access-date=April 16, 2017|date=April 3, 2017}}
==Declared==
- Fareed Abdullah, substitute teacher and candidate for city council in 2009 and 2013{{cite web|last1=Hetrick|first1=Christian|title=Fareed Abdullah enters Atlantic City mayor race|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/fareed-abdullah-enters-atlantic-city-mayor-race/article_3fe6d0f5-1d79-50c3-ba42-8bba68356eb3.html|website=The Press of Atlantic City|access-date=April 16, 2017|date=January 13, 2017}}
- Frank Gilliam, city councilman{{cite web|last1=Hetrick|first1=Christian|title=Gilliam announces candidacy for Atlantic City mayor|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/gilliam-announces-candidacy-for-atlantic-city-mayor/article_4f0c6927-8540-5cc9-8626-a65b8a3f6c21.html|website=The Press of Atlantic City|access-date=April 16, 2017|date=February 21, 2017}}
- Marty Small, city council president{{cite web|last1=Hetrick|first1=Christian|title=Small announces candidacy for Atlantic City mayor|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/small-announces-candidacy-for-atlantic-city-mayor/article_65e531d4-b155-5ba2-83d7-bd367f027d99.html|website=The Press of Atlantic City|access-date=April 16, 2017|date=January 12, 2017}}
- Jimmy Whitehead, Navy veteran{{cite web|last1=Hetrick|first1=Christian|title=Whitehead begins campaign for Atlantic City mayor|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/whitehead-begins-campaign-for-atlantic-city-mayor/article_ebdfe6a0-ce0b-521f-9333-97684c30d0c0.html|website=The Press of Atlantic City|access-date=April 16, 2017|date=April 7, 2017}}
=Results=
Despite narrowly losing the primary day voting to Small by a count of 1,529–1,429, Gilliam was in the lead overall thanks to a substantial advantage on absentee ballots (694–209).{{cite web|last1=DeRosier|first1=John|title=Gilliam defeats Small, will take on Guardian in AC mayoral race|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/mail-in-ballots-the-difference-in-atlantic-city-mayor-s/article_542423cf-5048-5a61-b4db-59bb3509b1d0.html|website=The Press of Atlantic City|access-date=June 8, 2017|date=June 7, 2017}} Small sought a recount, which was granted by a state Superior Court judge.{{cite web|last1=Hetrick|first1=Christian|title=Small Seeks Recount in Atlantic City Mayoral Primary|url=http://observer.com/2017/06/small-seeks-recount-in-atlantic-city-mayoral-primary/|website=Observer|access-date=June 16, 2017|date=June 12, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Judge Orders Recount of Votes in Atlantic City Mayor’s Race|url=https://www.insidernj.com/judge-orders-recount-votes-atlantic-city-mayors-race/|website=Insider NJ|access-date=June 16, 2017|date=June 16, 2017}} However, little changed in the recount and the result was upheld.{{cite web|last1=Rosenberg|first1=Amy S.|title=Vote-by-mail recount changes little in A.C. mayoral primary|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/shore/a-c-vote-by-mail-recount-in-mayoral-primary-does-not-change-much-20170619.html|website=philly.com|access-date=September 26, 2017|date=June 19, 2017}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Frank M. Gilliam, Jr.
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 2,147
| percentage = 49.31
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Marty Small, Sr.
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 1,775
| percentage = 40.77
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jimmy Whitehead
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 262
| percentage = 6.02
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Fareed Abdullah
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 169
| percentage = 3.88
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Write-In
| votes = 1
| percentage = 0.02
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 4,354
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
Independents and third parties
=Candidates=
==Declared==
- Henry "Hank" Green (Green), radio show host and producer{{cite web|last1=Serpico|first1=Erin|title=Meet the other Atlantic City candidates for mayor|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic_city/meet-the-other-atlantic-city-candidates-for-mayor/article_37e84f9f-779c-5bb8-82f2-3a33400f370b.html|website=The Press of Atlantic City|access-date=October 14, 2017|date=October 5, 2017}}
- Joseph Polillo (Independent), retired license inspector and perennial candidate{{cite web|last1=Hetrick|first1=Christian|title=Polillo to run as Independent in Atlantic City mayor's race|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/polillo-to-run-as-independent-in-atlantic-city-mayor-s/article_0a45079a-2c35-5090-9ec7-71cd233ebe2b.html|website=The Press of Atlantic City|access-date=April 16, 2017|date=April 3, 2017}}
General election
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Atlantic City mayoral election, 2017{{cite web|title=General Election - November 7, 2017|url=http://atlanticcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/General-Election-Results-2017.pdf|publisher=Office of the Atlantic County Clerk|access-date=November 18, 2017}}{{cite web|title=November 2017 General Election Results (unofficial totals)|url=http://atlanticcountyclerk.org/2017/General/Election%20Result.htm|website=Office of the Atlantic County Clerk|access-date=November 18, 2017}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Frank M. Gilliam, Jr.
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 4,220
| percentage = 57.68
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Donald A. Guardian
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,824
| percentage = 38.60
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
| candidate = Joseph J. Polillo
| party = Polillo's Last Stand
| votes = 150
| percentage = 2.05
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Henry A. Green
| party = Green Party of the United States
| votes = 120
| percentage = 1.64
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Personal Choice
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 2
| percentage = 0.03
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 7,316
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{2017 United States elections|state=collapsed}}