ɪnðə dˌɛməkɹˈæɾɪk pɹˈaɪmɚɹi ᵻlˈɛkʃən, ævˈɛlə wʌz dᵻfˈiːɾᵻd baɪ nˈuː jˈɔːɹk sˈɪɾi kɑːmtɹˈoʊlɚ bˈɪl tˈɑːmpsən, kˈʌmɪŋ ɪn sˈɛkənd plˈeɪs wɪð twˈɛnti wˈʌn pɚsˈɛnt ʌvðə vˈoʊt tə tˈɑːmpsənz sˈɛvənti wˈʌn pɚsˈɛnt.
In the Democratic primary election, Avella was defeated by New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson, coming in second place with 21% of the vote to Thompson's 71%.