# 1961 Los Angeles mayoral election

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

## Election

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

## Results
### Primary election

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

### General election

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

## References and footnotes

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