The Boston mayoral election of 1983 occurred on Tuesday, November 15, 1983, between City Councillor Raymond Flynn and former State Representative Mel King. Flynn was elected to his first term, and inaugurated on Monday, January 2, 1984. The nonpartisan municipal preliminary election was held on Tuesday, October 11, 1983. King's victory in the preliminary election made him the first African-American to be a finalist for mayor in city history.