1909 Los Angeles mayoral special election

1909 Los Angeles mayoral special election
← 1906 March 26, 1909 (1909-03-26) November 1909 →
 
Candidate George Alexander Fred C. Wheeler
Popular vote 14,043 12,341
Percentage 53.23% 46.77%

Mayor before election

William D. Stephens

Elected Mayor

George Alexander

The 1909 Los Angeles mayoral special election took place on March 26, 1909, following the recall attempt of incumbent Arthur Cyprian Harper.[1] George Alexander was elected over Fred C. Wheeler by a small plurality.[2] It was the first election "ever held in any American city for the recall of a mayor."[3] It was also the first election held after the charter amendment that instituted nonpartisan elections and made the office of Mayor nonpartisan.[4]

  1. ^ "Election Results to Be Known Early", Los Angeles Herald, March 26, 1909, image 5.
  2. ^ "Los Angeles Elects Reform Mayor", Tonopah (Nevada) Bonanza, March 27, 1909, image 1.
  3. ^ "Los Angeles In Quandary", Des Moines Evening Tribune, March 15, 1909, image 3.
  4. ^ "LOS ANGELES: STRUCTURE OF A CITY GOVERNMENT" (PDF). League of Women Voters.