Two weeks ago, Mayor Bloomberg narrowly secured his third term in office, no thanks to Bronx voters. 

Unofficial election results show the majority of Bronx electoral districts voted overwhelmingly in favor of Bloomberg’s Democratic challenger, Bill Thompson. Now, as Bloomberg begins his third term as mayor, he faces a divided city and a discontented Bronx.

“If any borough were going to go for Thompson, it would have been the Bronx. The ratio of Democrats to Republicans is greatest in the Bronx,” said Bruce Berg, a Fordham University Political Science professor who specializes in New York City politics. “There was generally an anti-incumbent view [in this year’s elections], and maybe that was why Bloomberg’s victory was not as projected.”

“African-Americans broke strongly for Thompson, and the Hispanic vote went slightly for Thompson,” Berg said.

The Norwood News interviewed dozens of Bronx voters to find out why they voted for one candidate or the other.

“We wanted someone new,” said one Norwood resident, whose electoral district defeated Bloomberg 122 to 61. “Thompson is more for the people’s needs. We are looking for someone who is for the working class.”

Others believe that Bloomberg angered a number of Bronx voters.

“Voters clearly were reacting to his handling of the term limits issue and the amount of money he is spending on his campaign,” said Dick Dadey, the executive director of Citizens Union, an organization that supported Bloomberg’s reelection campaign.

Many Bronx voters agreed with this analysis. “He has money and money can buy anything,” said Dorothy, a Norwood resident who supported Thompson.

As for why some residents chose to vote for Bloomberg, multiple voters said they did not have enough information about Thompson’s campaign. “People know Bloomberg. They don’t know Thompson,” said Deneice Allen, a Tremont resident.

Other Bronx Bloomberg supporters cited the mayor’s positive record. A Bedford Park resident said, “I think generally he has done a great job keeping crime low and developing abandoned properties.”

“We know what to expect from Bloomberg,” said Joanna Soto, a Fordham resident.

Bronx voters were split mostly along class lines. Thompson enjoyed exceptional support in low-income areas such as Wakefield, Morris Heights and University Heights. In several Wakefield and Morris Heights electoral districts, Thompson defeated Bloomberg with over 70 percent of the vote. On the other hand, Bloomberg won just as easily in traditionally wealthier areas of the Bronx, including Riverdale and Morris Park.

Supporters from both camps expect the mayor to change the borough for the better.

“Now, the challenge is to create jobs,” said one Bedford Park resident, pointing out the borough’s 13.3 percent unemployment rate, one of the state’s highest.

Other residents said they are looking for the mayor to improve education, affordable housing, reduce potholes and crime and monitoring the city’s police.

Kimley Jones, a Fordham resident, said, “If he’s going to be there another four years, he needs to do something.”