In the early 1970s, African-American mayors were elected and then re-elected in Newark and East Orange thanks to a large black population in both cities. In cities such as Plainfield and New Brunswick, the predominantly white municipalities make race a more prominent issue when discussing the mayoral races. The majority of nominees differentiate themselves as the black and white candidates. However, Richard J. Mulligan was one of the first to throw race away and aim to court black voters as a white man.