[1] Incumbent first term Democratic mayor Linda D. Thompson was extremely unpopular.

In large part due to her calling City Controller Dan Miller, the first openly gay official in Harrisburg, a “homosexual, evil little man” along with other inflammatory rhetoric.

[2][3] Thompson sought re-election but would face challenges in the Democratic Primary in the form of Dan Miller, the aforementioned City Controller, and Eric Papenfuse, a local bookstore owner.

[4] Papenfuse would win the nomination but Miller would run for mayor under the Republican ticket as the party failed to field a candidate.

[5][2][6] Papenfuse would go on to defeat Miller a second time during the general election and become Harrisburg's new mayor.