Incumbent Richard Riordan won re-election against California State Senator and activist Tom Hayden.

[1] As of to date, this is the most recent time a Republican was elected Mayor of Los Angeles.

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

[4][5] Polls showed Riordan leading Hayden, with most of his support being from white people and Republicans.

[6] The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor pulled their support from Riordan and took a neutral stance for the two.