# 1937 Los Angeles mayoral election

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vte :
The 1937 Los Angeles mayoral election took place on April 6, 1937, with a runoff election on May 4, 1937. Incumbent Frank L. Shaw was reelected over Supervisor John Anson Ford in the runoff election.
Municipal elections in California, including Mayor of Los Angeles, are officially nonpartisan; candidates' party affiliations do not appear on the ballot.

## Election

Shaw, who was elected in 1933, was seeking a second term for Mayor. He was challenged by Supervisors John Anson Ford and Gordon L. McDonough as well as President of the Board of Public Works Carl B. Wirsching, the son of Supervisor Robert E. Wirsching who was nominated to the post by Shaw. In the primary, Shaw and Ford advanced to the general election.
In the runoff, Shaw defeated Ford, with Ford conceding defeat and thanking his supporters the day after the election.

## Results
### Primary election

Los Angeles mayoral primary election, April 6, 1937 :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Frank L. Shaw (incumbent) | Frank L. Shaw (incumbent) | 104,481 | 42.57 |
| John Anson Ford | John Anson Ford | 77,703 | 31.66 |
| Gordon L. McDonough | Gordon L. McDonough | 40,526 | 16.51 |
| Carl B. Wirsching | Carl B. Wirsching | 15,764 | 6.42 |
| Andrae B. Nordskog | Andrae B. Nordskog | 4,833 | 1.97 |
| Frank C. Shoemaker | Frank C. Shoemaker | 2,142 | 0.87 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 245,449 | 100.00 |

### General election

Los Angeles mayoral general election, May 4, 1937 :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Frank L. Shaw (incumbent) | Frank L. Shaw (incumbent) | 171,415 | 54.26 |
| John Anson Ford | John Anson Ford | 144,522 | 45.74 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 315,937 | 100.00 |

## References and footnotes

* ↑ "LOS ANGELES: STRUCTURE OF A CITY GOVERNMENT" (PDF). League of Women Voters.
* ↑ "Politics". Los Angeles Daily News. April 23, 1937.
* ↑ "Wirsching Backs Shaw: Defeated Candidate Throws Support to Incumbent in Race". Los Angeles Times. May 2, 1937. ProQuest 164756260.
* ↑ "Mayor Shaw Opens Campaign For Re-Election". Eagle Rock Sentinel. April 18, 1937.
* ↑ "Mayor Shaw Re-elected; Ford Concedes Defeat". Los Angeles Daily News. May 5, 1937.
* ↑ "Los Angeles Mayor - Primary". Our Campaigns.
* ↑ "Los Angeles Mayor". Our Campaigns.