A state judge on Friday rejected Al Sharpton’s petition for a runoff to decide the Democratic mayoral nomination. The decision likely means that Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger will face Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in the Nov. 4 general election.
Sharpton sought a runoff, claiming that problems in the Sept. 9 primary made it impossible to determine with certainty that Messinger had won 40 percent of the vote. Sharpton finished in second place with 32 percent.
Unofficial returns on primary night seemed to bolster Sharpton’s claims, but election officials later ruled that Messinger had 793 votes over 40 percent.
Sharpton last week took his case to federal court where a judge ruled his civil rights had not been violated. Then he petitioned the state court.
