List of mayors of Los Angeles explained

The mayor of Los Angeles is the chief executive of the Government of Los Angeles as set in the city charter. The current officeholder, the 43rd in the sequence of regular mayors, is Karen Bass, a member of the Democratic Party, though the office has been nonpartisan since 1909.

When Los Angeles was founded as a small town, a comisionado (Military Commissioner) was appointed before the title was changed to alcalde (Mayor) in 1786. Between 1841 and 1844, there were two mayors called the Jueces de Paz (Justices of Peace). When the United States took control, the office was renamed to Mayor.[1]

The longest serving mayors have been Tom Bradley (1973–1993; 20 years), Fletcher Bowron (1938–1953; 14 years), Sam Yorty (1961–1973; 12 years), and Eric Garcetti (2013–2022; 9 years).[2] The shortest tenures, not counting Acting Mayors, were John Bryson (77 days), Bernard Cohn (14 days), and William Stephens (11 days).

Although the President of the Los Angeles City Council serves as acting mayor when the Mayor is out of the city, only five have served due to a vacancy: Manuel Requena (1855 and 1856), Wallace Woodworth (1860–1861), Bernard Cohn (1878), Niles Pease (1909), and Martin F. Betkouski (1916); only one, Cohn, ascended from Acting Mayor to Mayor.[3] Two Mayors have died during their terms: Henry Mellus and Frederick A. MacDougall.

Los Angeles has had five Latino mayors post-incorporation: Antonio F. Coronel, Manuel Requena, Cristobal Aguilar, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Eric Garcetti.[4] The city has also had two African-American mayors, Tom Bradley and Karen Bass. Two French-Canadian politicians, Damien Marchesseault and Prudent Beaudry, have served as Mayors.[5] The first woman to serve as Mayor is Karen Bass, who was elected in 2022.[6]

Spanish era (1781–1821)

The office of Alcalde, the Mayor of El Pueblo de la Reina de los Ángeles, was elected annually, without the right to reelection for two years.[7] With the incomplete nature of records from the Spanish colonial period of Los Angeles, only the first year of 1781 is certain.[8] [9]

Comisionado
NameTerm in office
José Vicente Féliz1781–1786
Guillermo Soto1812–1816
Alcalde
NameTerm in office
José Vanegas1786–1788
José Sinova1789–1790
Francisco Reyes1790
Mariano Verdugo1790–1793
José Vanegas1792–1793
Francisco Reyes1793–1795
José Vanegas1796–1797
Manuel Arellanes1797–1798
Guillermo Soto1798–1799
Francisco Serrano1799–1800
Joaquin Higuera1800–1802
Mariano Verdugo1802–1809
Francisco Avila1810–1811
Manuel Gutierrez1811–1812
Antonio Maria Lugo1816–1819
Anastasio Avila1819–1821
Notes

Mexican era (1821–1848)

In 1821, Los Angeles became under Mexican rule, and the city continued having an alcalde.[10] The inaugural holder was Abel Stearns, an American trader who came to California in 1829 from Massachusetts.[11] [12]

NameTerm in office
Abel Stearns1821–1822
Manuel Gutierrez1822–1824
Guillermo Cota1824
Encarnacion Urquides1824–1825
José Maria Avila1825–1826
José Antonio Carrillo1826
Claudio López1826–1827
Guillermo Cota1827–1828
José Antonio Carrillo1828–1829
Guillermo Soto1829–1830
Tiburcio Tapia1830–1831
Manuel Dominguez1832–1833
José Antonio Carrillo1833–1834
José Perez1834–1835
Francisco Javier Alvarado1835–1836
Manuel Requena1836–1837
José Sepúlveda1837–1838
Luis Arenas1838–1839
First & Second AlcaldeIn 1839, instead of one alcalde, two officials served as First and Second Alcalde.
Jueces de Paz (Justices of Peace)In 1841, the office of alcalde was abolished, instead being replaced by two Jueces de Paz (Justice of the peace).[13]
1st Juez de Paz2nd Juez de PazTerm in office
Ygnacio PalomaresYgnacio Alvarado1841–1842
Manuel DominguezJosé Sepúlveda1842–1843
Antonio F. Coronel1843–1844
First & Second AlcaldeIn 1844, the office of alcalde was restored, reverting to its 1839 posts.[13]
1st Alcalde2nd AlcaldeTerm in office
Manuel RequenaTiburcio Tapia1844–1845
Vicente SanchezJuan Sepúlveda1845–1846
Juan GallardoJosé Sepúlveda1846–1847
José SalazarEnrique Avila1847–1848
Ygnacio PalomaresJosé Sepúlveda1848

American Territorial era (1848–1850)

Between the Interim government of California and California's statehood, the Mayor was appointed by the Governor of California in 1848 and was elected in 1850.

PortraitNameTerm in office
Stephen C. FosterJanuary 1, 1848
–
May 21, 1849
Ygnacio del ValleJanuary 1, 1850
–
July 1, 1850
Notes

Post-incorporation (1850–present)

No.PortraitNameTerm in officeLength of serviceParty affiliationElectionPrevious office
1Alpheus P. Hodges
July 1, 1850
–
May 7, 1851		Democraticclass=nowrap1850None
2Benjamin D. Wilson
May 7, 1851
–
May 4, 1852		Democraticclass=nowrap1851Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
3John G. Nichols
May 4, 1852
–
May 3, 1853		Democraticclass=nowrap1852Los Angeles City Recorder
4Antonio F. Coronel
May 3, 1853
–
May 4, 1854		Democraticclass=nowrap18531st Los Angeles County Assessor
5Stephen C. Foster
May 4, 1854
–
January 13, 1855		Democratic1854Member of the Los Angeles Board of Education
–Manuel Requena
January 13, 1855
–
January 25, 1855		RepublicanMember of the Los Angeles Common Council
(5)Stephen C. Foster
January 25, 1855
–
May 9, 1855		Democraticclass=nowrap1855 (J)Mayor of Los Angeles
6Thomas Foster
May 9, 1855
–
May 7, 1856		Democraticclass=nowrap1855 (M)Member of the Board of Education School Commission
(5)Stephen C. Foster
May 7, 1856
–
September 22, 1856		Democraticclass=nowrap rowspan=21856 (M)Mayor of Los Angeles
–Manuel Requena
September 22, 1856
–
October 4, 1856		RepublicanMember of the Los Angeles Common Council
(3)John G. Nichols
October 4, 1856
–
May 9, 1859		Democraticclass=nowrap1856 (O)----1857----1858Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
7Damien Marchesseault
May 9, 1859
–
May 9, 1860		1 yearDemocraticclass=nowrap1859None
8Henry Mellus †
May 9, 1860
–
December 26, 1860		Democratic1860None
–Wallace Woodworth
December 26, 1860
–
January 7, 1861		DemocraticMember of the Los Angeles Common Council
(7)Damien Marchesseault
January 7, 1861
–
May 5, 1865		Democraticclass=nowrap1861----1862----1863----1864Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
9Jose Mascarel
May 5, 1865
–
May 10, 1866		Republicanclass=nowrap 1865Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
10Cristobal Aguilar
May 10, 1866
–
May 8, 1867		Democraticclass=nowrap1866Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(7)Damien Marchesseault
May 8, 1867
–
August 8, 1867		Democratic1867Zanjero of Los Angeles
(10)Cristobal Aguilar
August 8, 1867
–
December 7, 1868		DemocraticMayor of Los Angeles
11Joel Turner
December 9, 1868
–
December 9, 1870		2 yearsDemocraticclass=nowrap 1868----1869Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(10)Cristobal Aguilar
December 9, 1870
–
December 5, 1872		Democraticclass=nowrap 1870----1871Mayor of Los Angeles
12James R. Toberman
December 5, 1872
–
December 18, 1874		Democraticclass=nowrap 1872----1873Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
13Prudent Beaudry
December 18, 1874
–
December 8, 1876		Democraticclass=nowrap 1874----1875Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
14Frederick A. MacDougall †
December 8, 1876
–
November 16, 1878		Democratic1876----1877None
–Bernard Cohn
November 16, 1878
–
November 21, 1878		DemocraticMember of the Los Angeles Common Council
15November 21, 1878
–
December 5, 1878
(12)James R. Toberman
December 5, 1878
–
December 9, 1882		Democraticclass=nowrap 1878----1879----1880----1881Mayor of Los Angeles
16Cameron E. Thom
December 9, 1882
–
December 9, 1884		2 yearsDemocraticclass=nowrap 1882----188315th Los Angeles County District Attorney
17Edward F. Spence
December 9, 1884
–
December 14, 1886		Republicanclass=nowrap 1884----1885Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
18William H. Workman
December 14, 1886
–
December 10, 1888		Democraticclass=nowrap 1886----1887Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
19John Bryson
December 10, 1888
–
February 25, 1889		Democraticclass=nowrap 1888Member of the Board of Police Commissioners
20Henry T. Hazard
February 25, 1889
–
December 5, 1892		Republicanclass=nowrap rowspan=2 1889----1890Member of the Los Angeles Board of Freeholders
–William H. Bonsall
December 5, 1892
–
December 12, 1892		RepublicanMember of the Los Angeles City Council
21Thomas E. Rowan
December 12, 1892
–
December 12, 1894		2 yearsDemocraticclass=nowrap 18928th Los Angeles City Treasurer
22Frank Rader
December 12, 1894
–
December 16, 1896		Republicanclass=nowrap 1894Member of the Los Angeles Street Commission
23Meredith P. Snyder
December 16, 1896
–
December 15, 1898		Democraticclass=nowrap 1896Member of the Los Angeles City Council
24Frederick Eaton
December 15, 1898
–
December 12, 1900		Republicanclass=nowrap 1898Los Angeles City Engineer
(23)Meredith P. Snyder
December 12, 1900
–
December 8, 1904		Democraticclass=nowrap 1900----1902Mayor of Los Angeles
25Owen McAleer
December 8, 1904
–
December 13, 1906		Republicanclass=nowrap 1904Member of the Los Angeles City Council
26Arthur C. Harper
December 13, 1906
–
March 11, 1909		Democratic1906Member of the Los Angeles Charter Revision Committee
–Niles Pease
March 11, 1909
–
March 15, 1909		RepublicanMember of the Los Angeles City Council
27William Stephens
March 15, 1909
–
March 26, 1909		RepublicanMember of the Los Angeles Board of Education
28George Alexander
March 26, 1909
–
July 1, 1913		Republicanclass=nowrap 1909 (M)----1909 (N)----1911Member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
29Henry H. Rose
July 1, 1913
–
July 1, 1915		2 yearsIndependentclass=nowrap 1913Judge of the Los Angeles Police Judges
30Charles E. Sebastian
July 1, 1915
–
September 2, 1916		Democraticclass=nowrap rowspan=21915Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department
–Martin F. Betkouski
September 2, 1916
–
September 5, 1916		DemocraticMember of the Los Angeles City Council
31Frederic T. Woodman
September 5, 1916
–
July 1, 1919		Republicanclass=nowrap 1917Member of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission
(23)Meredith P. Snyder
July 1, 1919
–
July 1, 1921		2 yearsDemocraticclass=nowrap 1919Commissioner of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission
32George E. Cryer
July 1, 1921
–
July 1, 1929		8 yearsRepublicanclass=nowrap 1921----1923----1925Chief Los Angeles County District Attorney
33John C. Porter
July 1, 1929
–
July 1, 1933		4 yearsDemocraticclass=nowrap 1929None
34Frank L. Shaw
July 1, 1933
–
September 26, 1938		Republicanclass=nowrap 1933----1937Member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
35Fletcher Bowron
September 26, 1938
–
July 1, 1953		Republicanclass=nowrap 1938----1941----1945----1949Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court
36Norris Poulson
July 1, 1953
–
July 1, 1961		8 yearsRepublicanclass=nowrap 1953 ----1957U.S. Representative for California
(1947–1953)
37Sam Yorty
July 1, 1961
–
July 1, 1973		12 yearsDemocraticclass=nowrap 1961 ----1965----1969U.S. Representative for California
(1951–1955)
38Tom Bradley
July 1, 1973
–
July 1, 1993		20 yearsDemocraticclass=nowrap 1973 ----1977----1981----1985----1989Member of the Los Angeles City Council
(1963–1973)
39Richard Riordan
July 1, 1993
–
July 1, 2001		8 yearsRepublicanclass=nowrap 1993 ----1997Member of the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners
40James Hahn
July 1, 2001
–
July 1, 2005		4 yearsDemocraticclass=nowrap 200115th Los Angeles City Attorney
41Antonio Villaraigosa
July 1, 2005
–
July 1, 2013		8 yearsDemocraticclass=nowrap 2005 ----2009Member of the Los Angeles City Council
(2003–2005)
42Eric Garcetti
July 1, 2013
–
December 11, 2022		Democraticclass=nowrap 2013 ----2017Member of the Los Angeles City Council
(2001–2013)
43Karen Bass
December 12, 2022
–
Incumbent 		Democraticclass=nowrap 2022U.S. Representative for California
(2011–2022)
Notes

Appendices

Mayoral terms and term limits

At the office's creation in 1850, mayors served one year terms. In 1889, the dates were change to be on even-numbered years, with the term extending to two years per term; the first election in an even-numbered year was in 1892. In 1909, the city charter changed the election years to odd-numbered years with the March 1909 election, originally slated to be a recall election against Arthur C. Harper. In 1993, voters amended the city charter to implement term limits to elected officials, including mayor. In 2015, voters passed a charter amendment that would change the election dates to align with gubernatorial and presidential elections on even-numbered years; the first mayoral election after this change was in 2022.[14]

YearTermTerm
limit		YearsMayor(s) affected
18501 yearUnlimitedUnlimitedAlpheus P. Hodges to John Bryson
18892 yearsUnlimitedUnlimitedHenry T. Hazard to William Stephens
19094 yearsUnlimitedUnlimitedGeorge Alexander to Meredith P. Snyder
19254 years2 terms8 yearsGeorge E. Cryer and his successors

Interrupted terms

Eight mayors have had interrupted terms: Stephen Clark Foster (1855 and 1856), Henry Mellus (1860), Cristobal Aguilar (1867), Frederick A. MacDougall (1878), John Bryson (1889), Arthur C. Harper (1909), Charles E. Sebastian (1916), and Frank L. Shaw (1938).

Elected mayorLast electedEnd of serviceInterim successorElectionElected successorReason
Stephen Clark Foster1854January 13, 1855Manuel Requena1855Stephen Clark FosterResigned from office.
Stephen Clark Foster1856September 22, 1856Manuel Requena1856John G. NicholsResigned from office.
Henry Mellus1860December 26, 1860Wallace Woodworth1861Damien MarchesseaultDied in office.
Cristobal Aguilar1866May 8, 1867None1867Damien MarchesseaultUnseated from office.
Frederick A. MacDougall1877November 16, 1878Bernard CohnNoneBernard CohnDied in office.
John Bryson1888February 25, 1889None1889Henry T. HazardChange in election dates.
Arthur C. Harper1906March 11, 1909John D. Works
William Stephens		1909George AlexanderResigned from office.
Charles E. Sebastian1915September 2, 1916Martin F. Betkouski1917Frederic T. WoodmanResigned from office.
Frank L. Shaw1917September 26, 1938None1938Fletcher BowronRecalled from office.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Mayors of Los Angeles. Schmal, John P.. April 17, 2004. LatinoLA. https://web.archive.org/web/20041222035955/http://www.latinola.com/story.php?story=1711. December 22, 2004.
  2. Web site: SCREENING, PANEL ILLUMINATE THE LIFE OF FORMER MAYOR, UCLA ALUMNUS TOM BRADLEY. August 17, 2015. Van Dyke, Jonathan. UCLA Government & Community Relations.
  3. Web site: The City of Angels Has Had Mayors With Demons. May 8, 2005. Los Angeles Times. Rasmussen, Cecilia.
  4. Web site: From the 19th Century, a Look at City’s Past Latino Mayors. Rasmussen, Cecilia. May 18, 2005. Los Angeles Times.
  5. Web site: The French Canadian Mayor of Los Angeles. Acres of Snow. Tindal, Chris.
  6. Web site: Karen Bass sworn in as Los Angeles mayor, the first woman to hold the office. Los Angeles Times. Wick, Julia. December 11, 2022.
  7. Web site: Los Angeles Under The Spanish Flag: Spain's New World. Mason, William M.. Southern California Genealogical Society. 2004.
  8. Caughey, John and LaRee Caughey. Los Angeles: Biography of a City. Berkeley, University of California Press, 1977. 74.
  9. "Alcalde" and "Ayuntamiento" in Pitt, Leonard and Dale PItt. Los Angeles A to Z: An Encyclopedia of the City and County. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997. 11 and 33.
  10. Web site: A Pueblo de Los Angeles Memoir ... CALIFORNIA versus HENRIQUE and YUNG: A Case from the Early Judicial Archives of Los Angeles County. June 1960. Waldron, Granville Arthur. 42. 2. University of California Press.
  11. Web site: Californio to American: A Study in Cultural Change. National Park Service.
  12. Web site: ABEL STEARNS. Barrows, H. D.. 1899. 4. 3. 197–199. University of California Press.
  13. Web site: Los Angeles City Mayors Past to Present. Los Angeles Almanac.
  14. News: Hoping to Boost Dismal Turnouts, L.A. Votes to Change Election Dates. March 14, 2015. City News Service. KCET. March 4, 2015.

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