Ruth Messinger

Ruth Messinger ( Wyler; born November 6, 1940) is a former American political leader in New York City and a member of the Democratic Party. She was the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City in 1997, losing to incumbent mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Early life and education Ruth Wyler was born on November 6, 1940, on the Upper West Side to Wilfred and Marjorie Wyler. Her maternal grandfather, I. Edwin Goldwasser was a notable educator and businessman. In 1953, she had the first Bat Mitzvah at Park Avenue Synagogue. Messinger attended the Brearley School. She was politically active at a young age, wearing buttons for social justice causes, volunteering at the settlement house, attending rallies in support of Adlai Stevenson II, and participating in anti-war and civil rights activities.

Wyler graduated from Radcliffe College of Harvard University in 1962 and enrolled in Columbia University in pursuit of her master's in social work. She married Eli Messinger, a physician, with whom she moved to Oklahoma in 1963, before completing her work. Messinger returned to her studies at the University of Oklahoma, earning her Master of Social Work in 1964. The couple later separated in the 1970s before divorcing in the 1980s.

A political liberal, Messinger was known for her advocacy on behalf of public schools, efforts to achieve compromise between developers and neighborhood activists, and her aggressive media work. She is pro-choice and opposes the death penalty. During her 1997 campaign, she was nearly forced into a Democratic primary runoff with Reverend Al Sharpton, but avoided it by receiving 40% of the vote during a recount. She ultimately lost to Giuliani but received more than 500,000 votes. CV Fields became the first female African American borough president in New York City political history after Messinger's last minute endorsement of Fields over Glick.

Post-political career

Messinger taught public policy at Hunter College.

Messinger is also a board member of Hazon and a trustee emerita of the Jewish Foundation for Education of Women.

In 2020, she served on incoming Queens Borough President Donovan Richards' transition team.

In August 2025, Messinger endorsed Zohran Mamdani in the 2025 New York City mayoral election.

Honors and awards

2005: The Forward Fifty 2005: Doctor of Humane Letters, Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion 2006: Albert D. Chernin Award, Jewish Council for Public Affairs 2015: The Forward Fifty Honorary Degree, The Jewish Theological Seminary Lives of Commitment Breakfast, Auburn Theological Seminary