Mayor Spent Millions on Failed Election Initiative

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg spent $7.5 million of his own money in an unsuccessful attempt to establish nonpartisan elections in New York City, according to documents.

Bloomberg spent about $53 per vote, according to disclosure forms released by his office. The measure received 140,317 votes in last month’s election but lost by a margin of about 70% to 30%.

The initiative would have replaced the Democratic and Republican party primaries with a September election including all candidates, which would be followed by a November general election runoff between the top two vote-getters.