kids encyclopedia robot

List of mayors of Los Angeles facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Three Mayors (9347721718)
Then-Mayor Eric Garcetti (center) with his predecessors Antonio Villaraigosa (right) and James Hahn (left) in 2013.

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.

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). 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. 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. 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. The first woman to serve as Mayor is Karen Bass, who was elected in 2022.

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. With the incomplete nature of records from the Spanish colonial period of Los Angeles, only the first year of 1781 is certain.

Comisionado
Name Term in office
José Vicente Féliz 1781–1786
Guillermo Soto 1812–1816
Alcalde
Name Term in office
José Vanegas 1786–1788
José Sinova 1789–1790
Francisco Reyes 1790
Mariano Verdugo 1790–1793
José Vanegas 1792–1793
Francisco Reyes 1793–1795
José Vanegas 1796–1797
Manuel Arellanes 1797–1798
Guillermo Soto 1798–1799
Francisco Serrano 1799–1800
Joaquin Higuera 1800–1802
Mariano Verdugo 1802–1809
Francisco Avila 1810–1811
Manuel Gutierrez 1811–1812
Antonio Maria Lugo 1816–1819
Anastasio Avila 1819–1821

Mexican era (1821–1848)

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

Name Term in office
Abel Stearns 1821–1822
Manuel Gutierrez 1822–1824
Guillermo Cota 1824
Encarnacion Urquides 1824–1825
José Maria Avila 1825–1826
José Antonio Carrillo 1826
Claudio López 1826–1827
Guillermo Cota 1827–1828
José Antonio Carrillo 1828–1829
Guillermo Soto 1829–1830
Tiburcio Tapia 1830–1831
Manuel Dominguez 1832–1833
José Antonio Carrillo 1833–1834
José Perez 1834–1835
Francisco Javier Alvarado 1835–1836
Manuel Requena 1836–1837
José Sepúlveda 1837–1838
Luis Arenas 1838–1839
First & Second Alcalde

In 1839, instead of one alcalde, two officials served as First and Second Alcalde.

1st Alcalde 2nd Alcalde Term in office
Tiburcio Tapia José Sepúlveda 1839–1840
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).

1st Juez de Paz 2nd Juez de Paz Term in office
Ygnacio Palomares Ygnacio Alvarado 1841–1842
Manuel Dominguez José Sepúlveda 1842–1843
Antonio F. Coronel 1843–1844
First & Second Alcalde

In 1844, the office of alcalde was restored, reverting to its 1839 posts.

1st Alcalde 2nd Alcalde Term in office
Manuel Requena Tiburcio Tapia 1844–1845
Vicente Sanchez Juan Sepúlveda 1845–1846
Juan Gallardo José Sepúlveda 1846–1847
José Salazar Enrique Avila 1847–1848
Ygnacio Palomares José Sepúlveda 1848

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.

Portrait Name Term in office
Stephen Clark Foster.jpg Stephen C. Foster January 1, 1848

May 21, 1849
Ygnacio del Valle.gif Ygnacio del Valle January 1, 1850

July 1, 1850

Post-incorporation (1850–present)

No. Portrait Name Term in office Length of service Party affiliation Election Previous office
1 Alpheus P. Hodges (cropped).jpg Alpheus P. Hodges
(1821–1858; aged 37)
July 1, 1850

May 7, 1851
340 days Democratic 1850 None
2 Benjamin (Don Benito) Wilson, a portrait.jpg Benjamin D. Wilson
(1811–1878; aged 66)
May 7, 1851

May 4, 1852
363 days Democratic 1851 Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1850–1851)
3 John Gregg Nichols, a portrait.jpg John G. Nichols
(1812-1898; aged 85)
May 4, 1852

May 3, 1853
364 days Democratic 1852 Los Angeles City Recorder
(1850–1851)
4 Portret Antonio Coronela.jpg Antonio F. Coronel
(1817–1894; aged 76)
May 3, 1853

May 4, 1854
1 year, 1 day Democratic 1853 1st Los Angeles County Assessor
(1850–1853)
5 Stephen Clark Foster.jpg Stephen C. Foster
(1820–1898; aged 77)
May 4, 1854

January 13, 1855
254 days Democratic 1854 Member of the Los Angeles Board of Education
(1853–1854)
Portrait of Judge Manuel Requena, ca.1830-1880 (CHS-870) (cropped).jpg Manuel Requena
(1802–1876; aged 74)
January 13, 1855

January 25, 1855
12 days Republican Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1850–1855)
(5) Stephen Clark Foster.jpg Stephen C. Foster
(1820-1898; aged 77)
January 25, 1855

May 9, 1855
138 days Democratic 1855 (J) Mayor of Los Angeles
(1854–1855)
6 Thomas Foster
(unknown birth or death)
May 9, 1855

May 7, 1856
364 days Democratic 1855 (M) Member of the Board of Education School Commission
(1860–1862)
(5) Stephen Clark Foster.jpg Stephen C. Foster
(1820-1898; aged 77)
May 7, 1856

September 22, 1856
138 days Democratic 1856 (M) Mayor of Los Angeles
(1855)
Portrait of Judge Manuel Requena, ca.1830-1880 (CHS-870) (cropped).jpg Manuel Requena
(1802–1876; aged 74)
September 22, 1856

October 4, 1856
12 days Republican Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1856–1867)
(3) John Gregg Nichols, a portrait.jpg John G. Nichols
(1812-1898; aged 85)
October 4, 1856

May 9, 1859
2 years, 217 days Democratic 1856 (O)

1857


1858

Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1855–1856)
7 Damien Marchesseault.jpg Damien Marchesseault
(1818–1868; aged 49)
May 9, 1859

May 9, 1860
1 year Democratic 1859 None
8 Major Henry Mellus, 1860.jpg Henry Mellus
(1816–1860; aged 44)
May 9, 1860

December 26, 1860
231 days Democratic 1860 None
Wallace Woodworth, 1860.jpg Wallace Woodworth
(1832–1882; aged 50)
December 26, 1860

January 7, 1861
12 days Democratic Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1860–1861)
(7) Damien Marchesseault.jpg Damien Marchesseault
(1818–1868; aged 49)
January 7, 1861

May 5, 1865
4 years, 119 days Democratic 1861

1862


1863


1864

Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1860)
9 Jose Mascarel, circa 1920.jpg Jose Mascarel
(1816–1899; aged 83)
May 5, 1865

May 10, 1866
1 year, 5 days Republican 1865 Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1864–1865)
10 José Cristóbal Aguilar (crop 2).jpg Cristobal Aguilar
(1816–1886; aged 70)
May 10, 1866

May 8, 1867
363 days Democratic 1866 Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1861–1862)
(7) Damien Marchesseault.jpg Damien Marchesseault
(1818–1868; aged 49)
May 8, 1867

August 8, 1867
92 days Democratic 1867 Zanjero of Los Angeles
(1866–1867)
(10) José Cristóbal Aguilar (crop 2).jpg Cristobal Aguilar
(1816–1886; aged 70)
August 8, 1867

December 7, 1868
1 year, 121 days Democratic Mayor of Los Angeles
(1866–1867)
11 Joel Turner
(1820–1888; aged 68)
December 9, 1868

December 9, 1870
2 years Democratic 1868

1869

Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1862–1864)
(10) José Cristóbal Aguilar (crop 2).jpg Cristobal Aguilar
(1816–1886; aged 70)
December 9, 1870

December 5, 1872
1 year, 362 days Democratic 1870

1871

Mayor of Los Angeles
(1867–1868)
12 Portret James R. Tobermana (cropped).jpg James R. Toberman
(1836–1911; aged 75)
December 5, 1872

December 18, 1874
2 years, 13 days Democratic 1872

1873

Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1870)
13 Portret Prudenta Beaudry'ego.jpg Prudent Beaudry
(1819–1893; aged 74)
December 18, 1874

December 8, 1876
1 year, 356 days Democratic 1874

1875

Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1871–1874)
14 Frederick Alexander MacDougall, 1863.jpg Frederick A. MacDougall
(1818–1878)
December 8, 1876

November 16, 1878
1 year, 348 days Democratic 1876

1877

None
Bernard Cohn
(1835–1889; aged 53)
November 16, 1878

November 21, 1878
5 days Democratic Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1876–1878)
15 November 21, 1878

December 5, 1878
14 days
(12) Portret James R. Tobermana (cropped).jpg James R. Toberman
(1836–1911; aged 75)
December 5, 1878

December 9, 1882
4 years, 4 days Democratic 1878

1879


1880


1881

Mayor of Los Angeles
(1872–1874)
16 Portret Camerona Erskina Thoma.jpg Cameron E. Thom
(1825–1915; aged 89)
December 9, 1882

December 9, 1884
2 years Democratic 1882

1883

15th Los Angeles County District Attorney
(1877–1879)
17 Portet Edwarda Spence'a (cropped).jpg Edward F. Spence
(1832–1892; aged 59)
December 9, 1884

December 14, 1886
2 years, 5 days Republican 1884

1885

Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1879–1881)
18 William-Henry-Workman (cropped).jpg William H. Workman
(1839–1918; aged 79)
December 14, 1886

December 10, 1888
1 year, 362 days Democratic 1886

1887

Member of the Los Angeles Common Council
(1878–1880)
19 Portret Johna Brysona.jpg John Bryson
(1852–1915; aged 63)
December 10, 1888

February 25, 1889
77 days Democratic 1888 Member of the Board of Police Commissioners
(1890–1891)
20 Henry T. Hazard, a portrait (00034067).jpg Henry T. Hazard
(1844–1921; aged 77)
February 25, 1889

December 5, 1892
3 years, 291 days Republican 1889

1890

Member of the Los Angeles Board of Freeholders
(1887–1888)
William Hartshorn Bonsall, 1905 (cropped).jpg William H. Bonsall
(1846–1905; aged 59)
December 5, 1892

December 12, 1892
7 days Republican Member of the Los Angeles City Council
(1889–1892)
21 Thomas E. Rowan (00034071) (cropped).jpg Thomas E. Rowan
(1842–1901; aged 59)
December 12, 1892

December 12, 1894
2 years Democratic 1892 8th Los Angeles City Treasurer
(1868–1870)
22 Portret Franka Radera (cropped).jpg Frank Rader
(1848–1897; aged 48)
December 12, 1894

December 16, 1896
2 years, 4 days Republican 1894 Member of the Los Angeles Street Commission
(1890–1894)
23 Portret Mereditha P. Snydera.jpg Meredith P. Snyder
(1859–1937; aged 77)
December 16, 1896

December 15, 1898
1 year, 364 days Democratic 1896 Member of the Los Angeles City Council
(1894–1896)
24 Fred-Eaton-inoffice.jpg Frederick Eaton
(1856–1934; aged 78)
December 15, 1898

December 12, 1900
1 year, 362 days Republican 1898 Los Angeles City Engineer
(1889–1890)
(23) Meredith P. Snyder, 1904.png Meredith P. Snyder
(1859–1937; aged 77)
December 12, 1900

December 8, 1904
3 years, 362 days Democratic 1900

1902

Mayor of Los Angeles
(1896–1898)
25 Portret Owena McAleera.jpg Owen McAleer
(1858–1944; aged 86)
December 8, 1904

December 13, 1906
2 years, 5 days Republican 1904 Member of the Los Angeles City Council
(1902–1904)
26 ArthurCyprianHarper.jpg Arthur C. Harper
(1866–1948; aged 82)
December 13, 1906

March 11, 1909
2 years, 88 days Democratic 1906 Member of the Los Angeles Charter Revision Committee
(1906)
Niles Pease, 1910 (cropped).jpg Niles Pease
(1838–1921; aged 83)
March 11, 1909

March 15, 1909
4 days Republican Member of the Los Angeles City Council
(1906–1909)
27 William Stephens, 1909.jpg William Stephens
(1859–1944; aged 84)
March 15, 1909

March 26, 1909
11 days Republican Member of the Los Angeles Board of Education
(1906)
28 LAmayor-GeorgeAlexander.jpg George Alexander
(1839–1923; aged 83)
March 26, 1909

July 1, 1913
4 years, 97 days Republican 1909 (M)

1909 (N)


1911

Member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
(1901–1909)
29 Portrait of Henry H. Rose (cropped).jpg Henry H. Rose
(1856–1923; aged 67)
July 1, 1913

July 1, 1915
2 years Independent 1913 Judge of the Los Angeles Police Judges
(1905–1913)
30 Portet Charlesa Sebastiana.jpg Charles E. Sebastian
(1873–1929; aged 56)
July 1, 1915

September 2, 1916
1 year, 63 days Democratic 1915 Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department
(1911–1915)
Martin F. Betkouski, 1909.png Martin F. Betkouski
(1860–1942; aged 81)
September 2, 1916

September 5, 1916
3 days Democratic Member of the Los Angeles City Council
(1909–1917)
31 Frederick T. Woodman.jpg Frederic T. Woodman
(1871–1949; aged 77)
September 5, 1916

July 1, 1919
2 years, 299 days Republican 1917 Member of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission
(1902–1916)
(23) Meredith P. Snyder, 1919.jpg Meredith P. Snyder
(1859–1937; aged 77)
July 1, 1919

July 1, 1921
2 years Democratic 1919 Commissioner of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission
(1913–1917)
32 George Cryer, Mayor of Los Angeles, 1920s.jpg George E. Cryer
(1875–1961; aged 86)
July 1, 1921

July 1, 1929
8 years Republican 1921

1923


1925

Chief Los Angeles County District Attorney
(1915–1919)
33 John C. Porter, 1933.jpg John C. Porter
(1871–1959; aged 88)
July 1, 1929

July 1, 1933
4 years Democratic 1929 None
34 Frank L. Shaw, 1935.jpg Frank L. Shaw
(1877–1958; aged 80)
July 1, 1933

September 26, 1938
5 years, 87 days Republican 1933

1937

Member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
(1928–1933)
35 FletcherBowron (cropped).jpg Fletcher Bowron
(1887–1968; aged 81)
September 26, 1938

July 1, 1953
14 years, 278 days Republican 1938

1941


1945


1949

Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court
(1926–1938)
36 Norris Poulson, 1959.jpg Norris Poulson
(1895–1982; aged 82)
July 1, 1953

July 1, 1961
8 years Republican 1953

1957

U.S. Representative for California
(1947–1953)
37 Sam Yorty, 1964.jpg Sam Yorty
(1909–1998; aged 88)
July 1, 1961

July 1, 1973
12 years Democratic 1961

1965


1969

U.S. Representative for California
(1951–1955)
38 Tom Bradley, 1980.jpg Tom Bradley
(1917–1998; aged 80)
July 1, 1973

July 1, 1993
20 years Democratic 1973

1977


1981


1985


1989

Member of the Los Angeles City Council
(1963–1973)
39 Richard Riordan 1990s.jpg Richard Riordan
(1930–2023; aged 92)
July 1, 1993

July 1, 2001
8 years Republican 1993

1997

Member of the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners
(1987–1992)
40 James Hahn, 2002 (cropped).jpg James Hahn
(born 1950; age 74)
July 1, 2001

July 1, 2005
4 years Democratic 2001 15th Los Angeles City Attorney
(1985–2001)
41 AntonioVillaraigosaHWOFMay2013 (1).jpg Antonio Villaraigosa
(born 1953; age 71)
July 1, 2005

July 1, 2013
8 years Democratic 2005

2009

Member of the Los Angeles City Council
(2003–2005)
42 Eric Garcetti in Suit and Tie (1).jpg Eric Garcetti
(born 1971; age 53)
July 1, 2013

December 11, 2022
9 years, 163 days Democratic 2013

2017

Member of the Los Angeles City Council
(2001–2013)
43 Mayor Karen Bass official portrait (crop 2).jpg Karen Bass
(born 1953; age 71)
December 12, 2022

Incumbent
2 years, 11 days Democratic 2022 U.S. Representative for California
(2011–2022)

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.

Year Term Term
limit
Years Mayor(s) affected
1850 1 year Unlimited Unlimited Alpheus P. Hodges to John Bryson
1889 2 years Unlimited Unlimited Henry T. Hazard to William Stephens
1909 4 years Unlimited Unlimited George Alexander to Meredith P. Snyder
1925 4 years 2 terms 8 years George 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).

Interrupted terms of Los Angeles's elected mayors
Elected mayor Last elected End of service Interim successor Election Elected successor Reason
Stephen Clark Foster 1854 January 13, 1855 Manuel Requena 1855 Stephen Clark Foster Resigned from office.
Stephen Clark Foster 1856 September 22, 1856 Manuel Requena 1856 John G. Nichols Resigned from office.
Henry Mellus 1860 December 26, 1860 Wallace Woodworth 1861 Damien Marchesseault Died in office.
Cristobal Aguilar 1866 May 8, 1867 None 1867 Damien Marchesseault Unseated from office.
Frederick A. MacDougall 1877 November 16, 1878 Bernard Cohn None Bernard Cohn Died in office.
John Bryson 1888 February 25, 1889 None 1889 Henry T. Hazard Change in election dates.
Arthur C. Harper 1906 March 11, 1909 John D. Works
William Stephens
1909 George Alexander Resigned from office.
Charles E. Sebastian 1915 September 2, 1916 Martin F. Betkouski 1917 Frederic T. Woodman Resigned from office.
Frank L. Shaw 1917 September 26, 1938 None 1938 Fletcher Bowron Recalled from office.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Alcaldes de Los Ángeles para niños

kids search engine
List of mayors of Los Angeles Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.