1961 Los Angeles mayoral election

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 Los Angeles mayoral election 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. "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.

External links

• Office of the City Clerk, City of Los Angeles