[1] Koch's closest competitor was the Liberal Party nominee, New York City Council President Carol Bellamy, who received 10.20% of the vote.

Finishing in a distant third was the Republican nominee, Diane McGrath, who received 9.14% of the vote.

Koch defeated his nearest competitor by a landslide 67.82% Democratic margin of victory and was sworn into his third and final term in January 1986.

Al Vann and Herman Badillo tried to unite the Black and Puerto Rican communities but were thwarted by the Harlem Gang of Four.

In a move that shocked Vann, the so-called “Gang of Four” from Harlem—Charles Rangel, David Dinkins, Basil Paterson and Percy Sutton—broke ranks and put forth their own candidate for mayor, Harlem Assemblyman Herman “Denny” Farrell, a dark horse if ever there was one.