1973 Los Angeles mayoral election

Election

Although Yorty was re-elected in 1969, he started to show boredom in his position as Mayor as he had travelled out of the city for most of his tenure. He ran for governor in 1970 and lost to Speaker of the California State Assembly Jesse M. Unruh, later running for the Democratic nomination for President in 1972 before ending his bid before the California primary. Yorty then announced that he was running for Mayor, seeking an unprecedented fourth term in office.

He was again challenged by Councilman Tom Bradley, making his second run for the office, as well as Unruh, LAPD Chief Thomas Reddin, councilmember Joel Wachs, and actor Bob Dornan. Polls frequently had Bradley having a substantial lead over Yorty and the other candidates, although some speculated that Unruh or Reddin could advance to the primary with Bradley instead of Yorty. In the primary, Bradley and Yorty advanced to the runoff election again, setting the stage for a rematch of the 1969 mayoral election.

In the ensuing campaign, Bradley criticized Yorty for visiting convicted income tax evader Josn Alessio alongside Phil Regan, who would later be convicted of bribery; Yorty attacked Bradley for allegedly "accepting loans tied to gambling interests." Polls showed Bradley leading Yorty in the race, although Yorty discounted the polls as he had won the previous election with polls showing the same thing. This time, however, Bradley defeated Yorty to become Mayor, ending Yorty's tenure of 12 years.{{cite web|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCS19730530.1.8&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------|title=A Profile Of Tom Bradley, Los Angeles' New Mayor

Results

Primary election

General election

In popular culture

The failed mayoral campaign of Joel Wachs is a central plot element of the 2022 film Licorice Pizza, in which Wachs is portrayed by Benny Safdie.

References and footnotes

References

1. (July 5, 1973). "L.A. HAS NEW MAYOR".
2. (July 2, 1973). "Bradley Takes Office As New L.A. Mayor".
3. "LOS ANGELES: STRUCTURE OF A CITY GOVERNMENT".
4. Pinkley, Virgil. (March 18, 1973). "For Your Information".
5. (January 26, 1973). "Poll Declares Bradley Top Mayor Choice".
6. Hanna, Paul. (May 10, 1973). "Mayor’s Race Just A Repeat".
7. (April 3, 1973). "Runoff Set For Bradley, Yorty".
8. (May 8, 1973). "Mayor Rivals Battle".
9. (May 29, 1973). "Sam Yorty Discounts LA. Poll".
10. (September 10, 1973). "Yorty Signs As Republican".
11. "Los Angeles Mayor - Primary". Our Campaigns.
12. "Yorty, Bradley Press Drive for Election Today", ''Los Angeles Times'', May 29, 1973, p. I-1
13. Rochlin, Margy. (February 7, 2022). "Why Joel Wachs let his life as a closeted gay politician be fictionalized in ‘Licorice Pizza’". [[The Los Angeles Times]].