List of mayors of Los Angeles facts for kids

The mayor of Los Angeles is the main leader of the city of Los Angeles. Think of the mayor as the city's chief executive, like a principal for a big school, but for the whole city! The mayor makes important decisions and helps run the city government.

The current mayor, Karen Bass, is the 43rd person to hold this important job. She is a member of the Democratic Party, but the mayor's job in Los Angeles has been non-political since 1909. This means that even though mayors might belong to a political party, their job is to serve everyone in the city, no matter their party.

When Los Angeles was first started as a small town, the leader was called a comisionado (Military Commissioner). Later, in 1786, the title changed to alcalde (Mayor). For a short time between 1841 and 1844, there were two leaders called Jueces de Paz (Justices of Peace). When the United States took over, the title officially became "Mayor."

Some mayors have served for a long time. Tom Bradley was mayor for 20 years (1973–1993), which is the longest! Fletcher Bowron served for 14 years (1938–1953), Sam Yorty for 12 years (1961–1973), and Eric Garcetti for 9 years (2013–2022). On the other hand, some mayors had very short terms, like John Bryson (77 days), Bernard Cohn (14 days), and William Stephens (11 days).

If the mayor is out of the city, the President of the Los Angeles City Council steps in as acting mayor. Only five people have served as acting mayor because the main mayor's job became empty: Manuel Requena, Wallace Woodworth, Bernard Cohn, Niles Pease, and Martin F. Betkouski. Interestingly, only Bernard Cohn went from being an acting mayor to becoming the actual mayor. Sadly, two mayors, Henry Mellus and Frederick A. MacDougall, passed away while they were in office.

Los Angeles has had a diverse group of mayors. Five mayors have been Latino: 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, also served as mayors. Karen Bass, elected in 2022, is the first woman to be the Mayor of Los Angeles.

Then-Mayor Eric Garcetti (center) with his predecessors Antonio Villaraigosa (right) and James Hahn (left) in 2013.

Early Leaders: Spanish and Mexican Eras (1781–1848)

During the time when Los Angeles was under Spanish rule (1781–1821), the leader was called an Alcalde. This person was elected every year and couldn't be re-elected for two years after their term. Records from this early period are not complete, so we only know for sure about the first year, 1781.

The very first leader was a Comisionado named José Vicente Féliz, who served from 1781 to 1786. After that, the title changed to Alcalde. Some of the early Alcaldes included José Vanegas and Francisco Reyes.

When Los Angeles came under Mexican rule in 1821, the city continued to have an alcalde. The first alcalde during this period was Abel Stearns, an American trader.

In 1839, things changed a bit, and instead of one alcalde, there were two officials: a First Alcalde and a Second Alcalde. Then, in 1841, the alcalde job was replaced by two Jueces de Paz (Justices of Peace). However, in 1844, the alcalde position was brought back, again with a First and Second Alcalde.

American Territorial Era (1848–1850)

After the United States took control, but before California became a state, the mayor was chosen by the Governor of California in 1848. By 1850, the mayor was elected by the people.

The first mayor during this time was Stephen C. Foster, followed by Ygnacio del Valle.

Mayors of Los Angeles (1850–Present)

Since Los Angeles officially became a city in 1850, many people have served as mayor. Here is a list of the mayors and some details about their time in office. The "No." column shows the order of the mayors. The "Portrait" column shows a picture of the mayor. "Term in office" tells you when they served, and "Length of service" shows how long they were mayor. "Party affiliation" tells you which political party they belonged to, and "Previous office" lists other important jobs they held before becoming mayor.

No.	Portrait	Name	Term in office	Length of service	Party affiliation		Election	Previous office
1		Alpheus P. Hodges (1821–1858; aged 37)	July 1, 1850 – May 7, 1851	340 days		Democratic	1850	None
2		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 G. Nichols (1812-1898; aged 85)	May 4, 1852 – May 3, 1853	364 days		Democratic	1852	Los Angeles City Recorder (1850–1851)
4		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 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)
–		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 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 C. Foster (1820-1898; aged 77)	May 7, 1856 – September 22, 1856	138 days		Democratic	1856 (M)	Mayor of Los Angeles (1855)
–		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 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 (1818–1868; aged 49)	May 9, 1859 – May 9, 1860	1 year		Democratic	1859	None
8		Henry Mellus † (1816–1860; aged 44)	May 9, 1860 – December 26, 1860	231 days		Democratic	1860	None
–		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 (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 (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		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 (1818–1868; aged 49)	May 8, 1867 – August 8, 1867	92 days		Democratic	1867	Zanjero of Los Angeles (1866–1867)
(10)		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)		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		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		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 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)		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		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		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 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		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 (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 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 (1842–1901; aged 59)	December 12, 1892 – December 12, 1894	2 years		Democratic	1892	8th Los Angeles City Treasurer (1868–1870)
22		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		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		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 (1859–1937; aged 77)	December 12, 1900 – December 8, 1904	3 years, 362 days		Democratic	1900 1902	Mayor of Los Angeles (1896–1898)
25		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		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 (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 (1859–1944; aged 84)	March 15, 1909 – March 26, 1909	11 days		Republican		Member of the Los Angeles Board of Education (1906)
28		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		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		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 (1860–1942; aged 81)	September 2, 1916 – September 5, 1916	3 days		Democratic		Member of the Los Angeles City Council (1909–1917)
31		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 (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 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 (1871–1959; aged 88)	July 1, 1929 – July 1, 1933	4 years		Democratic	1929	None
34		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		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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (born 1950; age 75)	July 1, 2001 – July 1, 2005	4 years		Democratic	2001	15th Los Angeles City Attorney (1985–2001)
41		Antonio Villaraigosa (born 1953; age 72)	July 1, 2005 – July 1, 2013	8 years		Democratic	2005 2009	Member of the Los Angeles City Council (2003–2005)
42		Eric Garcetti (born 1971; age 54)	July 1, 2013 – December 11, 2022	9 years, 163 days		Democratic	2013 2017	Member of the Los Angeles City Council (2001–2013)
43		Karen Bass (born 1953; age 71)	December 12, 2022 – Incumbent	2 years, 233 days		Democratic	2022	U.S. Representative for California (2011–2022)

How Mayoral Terms Changed

Over the years, the rules for how long a mayor serves have changed.

• In 1850, mayors served for one year at a time. There was no limit to how many times they could be re-elected. This was true for mayors from Alpheus P. Hodges to John Bryson.
• In 1889, the term length changed to two years. Mayors could still be re-elected as many times as voters chose. This applied to mayors from Henry T. Hazard to William Stephens.
• In 1909, the city changed the term to four years. There was still no limit on how many terms a mayor could serve. This started with George Alexander and continued until Meredith P. Snyder.
• In 1925, a new rule was added: mayors could only serve two terms, meaning a maximum of eight years in total. This rule began with George E. Cryer and has continued for all mayors since then.
• In 2015, voters decided to change the election dates so they would happen at the same time as bigger elections, like those for governor and president. The first mayoral election under this new schedule was in 2022.

Mayors with Interrupted Terms

Sometimes, a mayor's term in office doesn't go as planned. Eight mayors in Los Angeles history have had their terms interrupted for different reasons.

Images for kids

• 

  Stephen C. Foster

• 

  Ygnacio del Valle

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Alcaldes de Los Ángeles para niños

• Mayor of Los Angeles
• History of Los Angeles
• Pueblo de Los Angeles
• Los Angeles Pobladores