Incumbent Norris Poulson was defeated by Sam Yorty, a former U.S.

[1] Municipal elections in California, including Mayor of Los Angeles, are officially nonpartisan; candidates' party affiliations do not appear on the ballot.

[3][4] In January 1961, former U.S. Representative Sam Yorty entered the race, criticizing Poulson for his handling of smog and taxes in Los Angeles.

[5] Patrick D. McGee, a member of the Los Angeles City Council, also announced his run for mayor.

[8] In the runoff, Yorty defeated Poulson in the election, which some newspapers said was because Poulson "could not make a good public appearance.