1961 Los Angeles mayoral election
April 4, 1961 (1961-04-04) and May 31, 1961 (1961-05-31)
 
Candidate Sam Yorty Norris Poulson Patrick D. McGee
First round 122,478
27.10%		 179,273
39.67%		 115,635
25.59%
Runoff 275,249
51.45%		 259,760
48.55%		 Eliminated
Mayor before election

Norris Poulson

 Elected Mayor

Sam Yorty

The 1961 election for Mayor of Los Angeles took place on April 4, 1961, with a runoff election on May 31, 1961. Incumbent Norris Poulson was defeated by Sam Yorty, a former U.S. Representative.[1]

Municipal elections in California, including Mayor of Los Angeles, are officially nonpartisan; candidates' party affiliations do not appear on the ballot.[2]

Election

Poulson ran for re-election for a third term after a movement to "draft" Poulson for a next term.[3][4] In January 1961, former U.S. Representative Sam Yorty entered the race, criticizing Poulson for his handling of smog and taxes in Los Angeles.[5] Patrick D. McGee, a member of the Los Angeles City Council, also announced his run for mayor.[6] Both Yorty and McGee had talked about rumors surrounding Poulson that said that he had throat cancer, which Poulson denied.[7] In the primary election, Poulson and Yorty advanced to the runoff election.[8] In the runoff, Yorty defeated Poulson in the election, which some newspapers said was because Poulson "could not make a good public appearance."[9][1]

Results

Primary election

Los Angeles mayoral primary election, April 4, 1961[10]
Candidate Votes  %
Norris Poulson (incumbent) 179,273 39.67
Sam Yorty 122,478 27.10
Patrick D. McGee 115,635 25.59
Robert C. Ronstadt 11,340 2.51
Howard M. Kessler 7,558 1.67
William Carpenter 7,267 1.61
M. Garet Miller 4,640 1.03
Oscar G. Coover 2,141 0.47
Wallace J. Lauria 1,598 0.35
Total votes 451,930 100.00

General election

Los Angeles mayoral general election, May 31, 1961[11]
Candidate Votes  %
Sam Yorty 275,249 51.45
Norris Poulson (incumbent) 259,760 48.55
Total votes 535,009 100.00

References and footnotes

  1. 1 2 "Yorty Beats Poulson For LA Mayor Job". Santa Cruz Sentinel. June 1, 1961.
  2. ↑ "LOS ANGELES: STRUCTURE OF A CITY GOVERNMENT" (PDF). League of Women Voters.
  3. ↑ "Mayor eyes 3rd term in City Hall". Eagle Rock Sentinel. September 4, 1960.
  4. ↑ "Group backs Poulson for re-election". Eagle Rock Sentinel. August 14, 1860.
  5. ↑ "Yorty Enters Mayor's Race". The San Bernardino Sun. January 10, 1961.
  6. ↑ "Three Announce For L. A. Mayor". The Desert Sun. January 9, 1961.
  7. ↑ "Poulson Political Checkup". San Bernardino Sun. May 2, 1961.
  8. ↑ "L.A. Mayor Poulson to Face Runoff". The San Bernardino Sun. April 5, 1961.
  9. ↑ Steelye, Howard (June 15, 1961). "Sand Script". Hollywood Riviera Tribune.
  10. ↑ "Los Angeles Mayor - Primary". Our Campaigns.
  11. ↑ "Los Angeles Mayor". Our Campaigns.
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