NYC’s Bloomberg has spent $102M on re-election campaign, a US record for self-financed bid

NYC mayor has spent record $102M to win a 3rd term

NEW YORK — A finance report shows New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has spent $102 million to narrowly win election to a third term.

The finance report filed Friday indicates it was the most expensive self-financed campaign in U.S. history.

Bloomberg spent $18.6 million in the final weeks of the campaign through Thursday. He beat challenger William Thompson by a tighter-than-expected margin of 5 points.

The mayor has a fortune estimated by Forbes magazine to be $17.5 billion. He did not take donations and was allowed by law to spend whatever he wants as long as he files expense reports.

Bloomberg broke his own records of $85.1 million in 2005 and $74 million in 2001.