1971 Philadelphia mayoral election
November 2, 1971
Turnout77%[1] Increase 4 pp
 
Nominee Frank Rizzo Thacher Longstreth
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 394,067 345,912
Percentage 52.87% 46.41%
Mayor before election

James Tate
Democratic

 Elected Mayor

Frank Rizzo
Democratic

The 1971 Philadelphia mayoral election took place on November 2, 1971, to fill the 182nd mayoral term in Philadelphia, with Democratic nominee Frank Rizzo defeating Republican Thacher Longstreth.[2][3] While Longstreth received many split ticket votes from Democrats, Rizzo found support among unions and the white working-class electorate.[3]

Rizzo was the first Italian-American mayor of Philadelphia,[3] and would be reelected in 1975 before a failed attempt to change the city charter to allow him to run for a third term.[4]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Campaign

Rizzo had a reputation for his harsh policing style, and as called "the toughest cop in America".[6] He began his candidacy as the frontrunner for the nomination, with the endorsement of the city's Democratic organization.[6]

Rizzo refused to debate or attend the same events as his opponents.[6] Green refused to discuss most issues, and avoided interviews or written questions by the media or civic groups.[6] He also refused to join his opponents in testifying on the city's financial problems before the Philadelphia City Council.[6] Rizzo also did not make many campaign appearances, making only a single appearance a day and only appearing in white ethnic neighborhoods considered to be friendly towards him.[6]

Rizzo repeatedly insisted that he was "not a politician".[6] Rizzo took a position against additional taxes.[6]

Rizzo had earned goodwill with many voters, who perceived his command of the police department as having staved off the sort of violent rioting other cities had experienced years earlier.[6]

Green warned voters that it would be a "disaster" if America's then-fourth largest city were to be led by Rizzo.[6]

Liberal politicians primarily supported Green.[6] Shortly before the primary, governor Milton Shapp endorsed Green (after which Rizzo attacked Shapp's record).[6]

Green's camp had attempted to get Williams to withdraw, in order to unite liberal voters around Green and against Rizzo. Williams refused.[6]

Williams was the first well-known African American to run for mayor of Philadelphia.[7]

After Shapp accused Rizzo of police brutality and Pennsylvania Attorney General J . Shane Creamer found Rizzo guilty of having beaten a black demonstrator in 1965, Rizzo dismissed this as a political "cheap shot".[6]

The Philadelphia Bulletin argued that the real race was not between Rizzo and Green, but between incumbent mayor Tate and governor Shapp for control of the Philadelphia Democratic Party.[6] This newspaper declined to endorse a candidate.[6]

Results

Philadelphia mayoral Democratic primary, 1971
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank Rizzo 176,621 48.86%
Democratic William J. Green III 127,902 35.38%
Democratic Hardy Williams 45,026 12.46%
Democratic David A. Cohen 4,176 1.16%
Democratic James E. Poole 2,774 0.77%
Democratic Frank Lomento 2,454 0.68%
Democratic Albert Sprague 1,534 0.42%
Democratic Ira Einhorn 1,022 0.28%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Longstreth faced only nominal opposition for the nomination.[6]

Independents and third parties

Conservative

  • Joseph J. Frieri, candidate for Mayor in 1971

Constitution

  • Clarissa Cain, candidate for City Controller in 1969 and Governor in 1970

Socialist Labor

  • George S. Taylor, perennial candidate

Socialist Workers

  • Jean Savage

General election

Campaign

Rizzo's campaign slogan "Rizzo means business".[8] Rizzo benefited from white racial backlash.[8] He campaigned primarily in white, working class areas of the city.[8]

Results

1971 Philadelphia mayoral election (general election)[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank Rizzo 394,067 52.87%
Republican Thacher Longstreth 345,912 46.41%
Constitution Party (United States) Joseph J. Frieri 2,456 0.33%
Conservative Clarissa Cain 1,054 0.14%
Socialist Labor George S. Taylor 948 0.13%
Socialist Workers Jean Savage 919 0.12%
Turnout 745,356

References

  1. ↑ Denvir, Daniel (May 22, 2015). "Voter Turnout in U.S. Mayoral Elections Is Pathetic, But It Wasn't Always This Way". City Lab. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Mayors of Philadelphia". www.phila.gov. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Janson, Donald (November 3, 1971). "RIZZO WINS RACE IN PHILADELPHIA". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  4. ↑ Gambacorta, David; Laker, Barbara (June 4, 2020). "Frank Rizzo leaves a legacy of unchecked police brutality and division in Philadelphia". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  5. ↑ "5th Philadelphia Candidate". The New York Times. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Janson, Donald (May 19, 1971). "Rizzo Wins Race in Philadelphia". The New York Times. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  7. ↑ Warner, Bob (March 20, 2015). "Is Every Philly Mayor's Race About Race?". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 Lamis, Renée M. (2009). The Realignment of Pennsylvania Politics Since 1960: Two-Party Competition in a Battleground State. Penn State Press. pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-0-271-08577-7.
  9. ↑ "Mayors of the City of Philadelphia 1691-2000". City of Philadelphia. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
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