List of mayors of Los Angeles facts for kids

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

Alcalde

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.

First & Second Alcalde

In 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).

First & Second Alcalde

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

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 C. Foster	January 1, 1848 – May 21, 1849
	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 (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 74)	July 1, 2001 – July 1, 2005	4 years		Democratic	2001	15th Los Angeles City Attorney (1985–2001)
41		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 (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		Karen Bass (born 1953; age 71)	December 12, 2022 – Incumbent	1 year, 328 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.

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).

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