Los Angeles mayoral elections

Los Angeles mayoral elections
Name	Los Angeles mayoral elections
Caption	Los Angeles City Hall
Type	Mayoral
Country	United States
City	Los Angeles
First	1850s
Term length	Four years
Website	City of Los Angeles Mayor

Los Angeles mayoral elections are the periodic contests to choose the chief executive of Los Angeles and the head of the Mayor's Office, shaping policy across the county and influencing national politics. These elections intersect with institutions such as the Los Angeles City Council, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Port of Los Angeles, and civic actors including the Los Angeles Times, the California Democratic Party, the California Republican Party, and major labor unions like the AFL–CIO. They have featured figures who later interacted with national offices such as the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and the White House.

History

Los Angeles mayoral contests trace back to municipal incorporation in the 19th century, amid interactions with entities like the Mexican–American War aftermath and the California Gold Rush. Early officeholders engaged with regional powers such as the Southern Pacific Railroad, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and civic boosters tied to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and the Los Angeles Aqueduct project led by William Mulholland. Twentieth-century contests intersected with figures from the Hollywood studio era—including Samuel M. Shortridge-era influences—and with progressive urbanists allied to the New Deal and the Works Progress Administration. Mid-century campaigns reflected dynamics with the United States Supreme Court decisions on civil rights, interactions with the Los Angeles Police Department during the Watts riots, and with leaders who negotiated projects like the Interstate Highway System and the LAX expansion. Late 20th- and early 21st-century elections have involved mayors linked to the Crenshaw Line, the Gold Line, and controversies implicating the FBI and the California Supreme Court.

Electoral System

Elections for mayor use a nonpartisan ballot format, conducted under rules administered by the Los Angeles City Clerk and subject to provisions of the California Elections Code. The process features a primary—often called the municipal primary—and a runoff system when no candidate receives a majority, following precedents set by cases involving the California Secretary of State and legal interpretations offered by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Campaign finance is regulated in part by ordinances from the Los Angeles Ethics Commission and disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission when federal actors intersect. Voter registration interacts with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and with statewide systems administered by the California Secretary of State.

Notable Elections and Outcomes

Several contests stand out for producing high-profile leaders and landmark policy shifts. Elections that installed Tom Bradley reshaped civil rights-era governance and altered relations with the United States Congress and the Civil Rights Movement. Races won by Richard J. Riordan and James Hahn engaged issues tied to the Los Angeles Police Department reforms, fiscal crises affecting the Municipal Bond market, and litigation reaching the California Court of Appeal. The election of leaders connected to scandals prompted investigations involving the Los Angeles County District Attorney and the FBI. More recent contests featured candidates associated with movements represented by organizations like Black Lives Matter, the Sierra Club, and labor coalitions including the SEIU. Outcomes have affected major projects such as the Metro B Line, the Expo Line, and redevelopment plans for areas like Skid Row and South Los Angeles.

Candidates and Campaigns

Candidates often include former members of the Los Angeles City Council, such as those from districts represented by politicians who later ran for mayor, as well as state legislators from the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. Prominent contenders have included business leaders with ties to firms on the NASDAQ and NYSE, celebrities from Hollywood and the music industry, and law enforcement officials connected to the Los Angeles Police Department hierarchy. Campaign strategies deploy endorsements from entities like the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, cultural institutions such as the Getty Center and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and media outlets like the Los Angeles Times and KTLA. Fundraising, candidate debates, and ballot measures interact with legal actors including the California Supreme Court and watchdog groups such as the League of Women Voters.

Voter Turnout and Demographics

Turnout patterns reflect the demographic breadth of Los Angeles County, which includes neighborhoods from Santa Monica to East Los Angeles, immigrant communities tied to origins including Mexico, Korea, and El Salvador, and age cohorts concentrated near universities such as the UCLA and the USC. Voting blocs include Latino, Asian American, Black, and non-Hispanic White constituencies, with data often analyzed by researchers at institutions like the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the USC Price School of Public Policy. Election results are affected by turnout drivers such as concurrent statewide contests for the Governor of California or federal races for the United States Senate, and by get-out-the-vote campaigns run by groups including the ACLU and the NAACP.

Impact and Governance Outcomes

Mayoral victors shape city policy on land use decisions involving the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, public safety policies implemented via the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department, and infrastructure projects funded through mechanisms like Measure R (2008) and Measure M (2016). Decisions by mayors affect litigation in the California Courts and partnerships with federal agencies such as the HUD and the Department of Transportation. Mayoral agendas influence cultural initiatives at institutions like the LACMA and economic development tied to the Port of Long Beach and the Los Angeles World Airports. The office also serves as a springboard to statewide and national roles, with connections to the United States Congress and occasional consideration for cabinet posts in United States presidential elections.

Category:Politics of Los Angeles