{"id":2885,"date":"2024-04-23T04:35:57","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T11:35:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/layes.info\/?p=2885"},"modified":"2024-04-23T04:36:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T11:36:06","slug":"history-of-los-angeles-mayoral-elections-in-the-20th-century","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/eternal\/history-of-los-angeles-mayoral-elections-in-the-20th-century","title":{"rendered":"History of Los Angeles mayoral elections in the 20th century"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The history of today&#8217;s mayoral elections is well within our grasp, but it is interesting to familiarize ourselves with how it used to be. The growing interest in past politics has also been fueled by the emergence of films centered on the subject. One such film is the Election Film, AKA 4182, a historical example of a silent film that offers a first-hand look at the April 6, 1965, mayoral election in Los Angeles. So, what was it like back then? To learn more, visit the pages of <a href=\"http:\/\/layes.info\/en\">layes.info<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0c0ce829abd\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0c0ce829abd\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/eternal\/history-of-los-angeles-mayoral-elections-in-the-20th-century\/#Organizational_process\" >Organizational process<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/eternal\/history-of-los-angeles-mayoral-elections-in-the-20th-century\/#The_distinctive_1960s\" >The distinctive 1960s<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/eternal\/history-of-los-angeles-mayoral-elections-in-the-20th-century\/#The_main_provisions_of_the_Voting_Rights_Act_of_1965\" >The main provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/eternal\/history-of-los-angeles-mayoral-elections-in-the-20th-century\/#Political_change\" >Political change<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/eternal\/history-of-los-angeles-mayoral-elections-in-the-20th-century\/#Subject_of_controversy\" >Subject of controversy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/eternal\/history-of-los-angeles-mayoral-elections-in-the-20th-century\/#The_1965_Los_Angeles_mayoral_election\" >The 1965&nbsp; Los Angeles mayoral election<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/eternal\/history-of-los-angeles-mayoral-elections-in-the-20th-century\/#1973_Los_Angeles_mayoral_election\" >1973 Los Angeles mayoral election<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/eternal\/history-of-los-angeles-mayoral-elections-in-the-20th-century\/#The_significance_of_the_1965_election\" >The significance of the 1965 election<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/eternal\/history-of-los-angeles-mayoral-elections-in-the-20th-century\/#What_has_changed\" >What has changed?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Organizational_process\"><\/span>Organizational process<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Election Film played a significant role in the study, showcasing a calm and well-organized process.&nbsp; For instance, in 1965, the ballots of Sam Yorty (the incumbent Democrat) and James Roosevelt (the challenger from Yorty&#8217;s own party) were processed with utmost care and attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This level of diligence is hard to compare to today&#8217;s election process speed. Representatives from the mayor&#8217;s office were responsible for the labor-intensive task of ensuring every vote was counted accurately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the film, viewers witness African Americans in Los Angeles proudly voting for their preferred candidate on camera. Interestingly, the complete 25-minute Election Film is carefully preserved in the archives of Los Angeles City. As you watch this film, you&#8217;ll be able to observe the electoral transformations that align with the changes in the city&#8217;s scenery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.layes.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2024\/04\/e5roajdwy_01pnkeftuwsc9qbhmlakeub4hzn36tkb9yvidptnviennagtaa3dal6dbrkecfqs-ms-w5gjuzl3ckfxivccehetpo8jsyfy3bky4jm2taszuvhbid7ptycgdjjrsetps08pq-odp31y.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_distinctive_1960s\"><\/span>The distinctive 1960s<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s delve deeper into what made that distinctiveness stand out. This period was notable for its technological advancements and the promotion of fair voting practices, not just in Los Angeles but also in other areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One notable accomplishment during this time was successfully implementing the punched-card voting system. It significantly simplified the vote-counting process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, in 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to note that the Voting Rights Act has also been called a &#8216;triumph for freedom&#8217;. It marked a major victory for the essential right to vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A comparison of the news coverage before and after the signing highlights the historical significance of this moment. Authorities were able to remove unfair barriers that prevented African Americans from voting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, change was inevitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed a bill proclaiming that he would be the one to strike away the &#8216;last shackles&#8217; from African Americans. He deliberately chose a symbolic date for the signing, for it was the 104th anniversary of the day President Lincoln signed the bill freeing slaves forced to fight for the Confederacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.layes.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2024\/04\/23kelf7m53ulztascj6h1n-kxyaruspnf46cgyu4piyhnaaq1jiya9jcinoymgv48pym5cbi3frnjwwwf68r_n1qlwuduloodobdcxmduumz6cqtw-v7ora5xqiit0cqgdw2kngblzx_y74xq09dysw.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_main_provisions_of_the_Voting_Rights_Act_of_1965\"><\/span>The main provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Act introduced significant changes in voting regulations. It prohibited any racial discrimination in the voting process. Additionally, states that had previously prohibited African Americans from voting were required to obtain federal approval for their voting procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, local self-government bodies in several states, including Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Arizona, and Maine, implemented aggressive policies such as literacy tests and selective taxes to suppress the civil rights of African Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to the misconduct of the above states, President Johnson directed the Attorney General to appeal the constitutionality of poll taxes, literacy tests, and other methods of voter qualification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, examiners were to be appointed to register voters in each county affected by these tests, provided the Attorney General received at least 20 legitimate complaints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several leaders of the African American community were present at the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. One of them was Martin Luther King, who noted that even after the act was signed, there was still a long way to go to remove all barriers to voting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Political_change\"><\/span>Political change<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s no secret that embracing change can be quite challenging. Take, for example, Jack Nelson, the Atlanta bureau chief for The Times. He described the new act as a means to &#8216;shake loose the white man\u2019s stranglehold.&#8217; According to him, if the law&#8217;s key provisions were put into action, African Americans would have a real chance to gain significant political power in the Deep South. On August 8, 1965, the Los Angeles Times published an article that dealt specifically with the political implications of the Voting Rights Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Subject_of_controversy\"><\/span>Subject of controversy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is still the subject of controversy in many states. For instance, the Texas voter ID law has been found to violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965, discriminating against African Americans and Hispanics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking at this issue in more detail, it is a hot topic for future presidential elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_1965_Los_Angeles_mayoral_election\"><\/span>The 1965&nbsp; Los Angeles mayoral election<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the mayoral election of 1965, Sam Yorty and James Roosevelt were the primary contenders vying for the position of mayor. It was Sam Yorty who received 57.93% of the vote, defeating his opponent, James Roosevelt, who received 36.48%. Back then, Yorty was a Democratic Party representative and served a total of 12 years in office. He was elected by voters in 1961, 1965 and 1969.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.layes.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2024\/04\/my1ta48o3ee-lzhoypndcxkflmfk1-jzl5iqsiq7kso3duijvqkiwxzxphpvmo-j4cv3dg1ogpejb4691h06nnx6fcoa1iytloaaggkooqppoz2x05bmy1g96mwy0ybt__jubtda71midtnp203l1we.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1973_Los_Angeles_mayoral_election\"><\/span>1973 Los Angeles mayoral election<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the 1973 mayoral race, Tom Bradley, a member of the Los Angeles City Council and a representative of the Democratic Party, won the election for mayor of Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remarkably, he held the position of mayor for a total of 20 years, starting from his initial election in 1973 and continuing through 1977, 1981, 1985 and 1989.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Notably, Bradley was the first African-American mayor of Los Angeles and the first liberal mayor to be in office for the longest time. The enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 also played a significant role in his achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tom Bradley&#8217;s leadership transformed Los Angeles from a conservative city to a diverse liberal hub. His hard work and dedication earned him respect and renown. For instance, the Bradley administration&#8217;s advocacy for public transportation resulted in the establishment of the Los Angeles Metro in 1990. As a tribute to his legacy, you can find a bust of Tom Bradley at the Los Angeles International Airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_significance_of_the_1965_election\"><\/span>The significance of the 1965 election<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 1965 election was a pivotal moment in the history of Los Angeles. It marked the start of a new era in the city&#8217;s political landscape, allowing African Americans to participate in elections and hold elected positions. Notably, the voter turnout during that period exceeded that of previous years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_has_changed\"><\/span>What has changed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>From the 20th century to the present day, many things have changed that affect the conduct of elections. It is important to go through each one in detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The size and diversity of the population have increased significantly. The African-American, Hispanic and Asian communities have grown. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of voters from these groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There has been a clear political shift in the city. While the Democratic Party used to dominate in the 20th century, Los Angeles is now politically divided, with Republicans also achieving victories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the past, the winner-take-all system was used, but nowadays, a two-round system is employed. A candidate must receive over 50% of the votes to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The methods of campaigning have undergone significant transformations. In the 20th century, television and radio played a crucial role. Nowadays, opportunities are surprisingly diverse, including phone calls, online advertising, and social media. By maintaining profiles on social media, candidates have become closer to voters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Los Angeles has seen an increase in voter turnout during mayoral elections, which can be partially attributed to changes in the voting system, like the Voting Rights Act of 1965.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite these changes, Los Angeles still faces voter turnout challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The changes in Los Angeles elections are evident, allowing us to trace the history of the city&#8217;s politics and its peculiarities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The history of today&#8217;s mayoral elections is well within our grasp, but it is interesting to familiarize ourselves with how it used to be. The growing interest in past politics has also been fueled by the emergence of films centered on the subject. One such film is the Election Film, AKA 4182, a historical example [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":307,"featured_media":2662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[497],"tags":[1486,1484,1475,1480,1473,1485,1481,1479,1488,1476,1487,1483,1478,1474,1482,1477],"motype":[491],"moformat":[93],"moimportance":[100,523,101,104],"class_list":{"0":"post-2885","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-about-the-mayor","8":"tag-alabama","9":"tag-arizona","10":"tag-but-it-is-interesting-to-familiarize-ourselves-with-how-it-used-to-be","11":"tag-congress-passed-the-voting-rights-act","12":"tag-history-of-los-angeles-mayoral-elections-in-the-20th-century","13":"tag-including-mississippi","14":"tag-it-is-important-to-note-that-the-voting-rights-act-has-also-been-called-a-triumph-for-freedom","15":"tag-lets-delve-deeper-into-what-made-that-distinctiveness-stand-out","16":"tag-local-self-government-bodies-in-several-states","17":"tag-organizational-process","18":"tag-tennessee","19":"tag-the-act-introduced-significant-changes-in-voting-regulations","20":"tag-the-distinctive-1960s","21":"tag-the-history-of-todays-mayoral-elections-is-well-within-our-grasp","22":"tag-the-main-provisions-of-the-voting-rights-act-of-1965","23":"tag-this-level-of-diligence-is-hard-to-compare-to-todays-election-process-speed","24":"motype-eternal","25":"moformat-longrid-korotka","26":"moimportance-aktualna-bilshe-roku","27":"moimportance-523","28":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","29":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/307"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2885"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2895,"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2885\/revisions\/2895"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2885"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2885"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2885"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/layes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}