(AURN News) — On May 29, 1973, Tom Bradley made history by becoming the first African American mayor of Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Mayor Sam Yorty with 56% of the vote.
His victory was groundbreaking in one of the nation’s largest cities and came at a time when Los Angeles still had a predominantly white population.
Bradley’s win reflected a powerful multiracial coalition and helped redefine Black political leadership on the national stage.
He served as mayor from 1973 to 1993, becoming the longest-serving mayor in Los Angeles history. During his two decades in office, Bradley helped oversee a period of significant growth and development in the city.
Bradley also ran for governor of California in 1982 and 1986, losing both races to Republican George Deukmejian.
His narrow 1982 loss helped popularize the political term “the Bradley effect,” referring to discrepancies between voter polling and actual election outcomes involving Black candidates. The theory suggests some voters may have told pollsters they supported a Black candidate but voted differently in private.
Bradley retired in 1993 and died in 1998 at age 80.
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