1971 Philadelphia mayoral election
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| Turnout | 77%[1]  4 pp | ||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Pennsylvania |
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 Government |
The 1971 Philadelphia mayoral election took place on November 2, 1971 to fill the 182nd mayoral term in Philadelphia, with Democratic nominee Frank Rizzo defeating Republican Thacher Longstreth.[2][3] While Longstreth received many split ticket votes from Democrats, Rizzo found support among unions and the white working-class electorate.[3]
Rizzo was the first Italian-American mayor of Philadelphia,[3] and would be reelected in 1975 before a failed attempt to change the city charter to allow him to run for a third term.[4]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- William J. Green III, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district
- Ira Einhorn, counterculture figure and future convicted murderer
- Frank Lomento, pretzel vendor
- James E. Poole
- Albert Sprague, member of Local 141 of the Lithographers and Photo Engravers International Union[5]
- Frank Rizzo, Police Commissioner and acting Mayor
- Hardy Williams, State Representative from the 191st district
Withdrew
- David Cohen, former City Councilman (endorsed Green)
Campaign
Rizzo had a reputation for his harsh policing style, and as called "the toughest cop in America".[6] He began his candidacy as the frontrunner for the nomination, with the endorsement of the city's Democratic organization.[6]
Rizzo refused to debate or attend the same events as his opponents.[6] Green refused to discuss most issues, and avoided interviews or written questions by the media or civic groups.[6] He also refused to join his opponents in testifying on the city's financial problems before the Philadelphia City Council.[6] Rizzo also did not make many campaign appearances, making only a single appearance a day and only appearing in white ethnic neighborhoods considered to be friendly towards him.[6]
Rizzo repeatedly insisted that he was "not a politician".[6] Rizzo took a position against additional taxes.[6]
Rizzo had earned goodwill with many voters, who perceived his command of the police department as having staved off the sort of violent rioting other cities had experienced years earlier.[6]
Green warned voters that it would be a "disaster" if America's then-fourth largest city were to be led by Rizzo.[6]
Liberal politicians primarily supported Green.[6] Shortly before the primary, governor Milton Shapp endorsed Green (after which Rizzo attacked Shapp's record).[6]
Green's camp had attempted to get Williams to withdraw, in order to unite liberal voters around Green and against Rizzo. Williams refused.[6]
Williams was the first well-known African American to run for mayor of Philadelphia.[7]
After Shapp accused Rizzo of police brutality and Pennsylvania Attorney General J . Shane Creamer found Rizzo guilty of having beaten a black demonstrator in 1965, Rizzo dismissed this as a political "cheap shot".[6]
The Philadelphia Bulletin argued that the real race was not between Rizzo and Green, but between incumbent mayor Tate and governor Shapp for control of the Philadelphia Democratic Party.[6] This newspaper declined to endorse a candidate.[6]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Frank Rizzo | 176,621 | 48.86% | |
| Democratic | William J. Green III | 127,902 | 35.38% | |
| Democratic | Hardy Williams | 45,026 | 12.46% | |
| Democratic | David A. Cohen | 4,176 | 1.16% | |
| Democratic | James E. Poole | 2,774 | 0.77% | |
| Democratic | Frank Lomento | 2,454 | 0.68% | |
| Democratic | Albert Sprague | 1,534 | 0.42% | |
| Democratic | Ira Einhorn | 1,022 | 0.28% | |
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Thacher Longstreth, At-large City Councilman and candidate for Mayor in 1955
Results
Longstreth faced only nominal opposition for the nomination.[6]
Independents and third parties
Conservative
- Joseph J. Frieri, candidate for Mayor in 1971
Constitution
- Clarissa Cain, candidate for City Controller in 1969 and Governor in 1970
Socialist Labor
- George S. Taylor, perennial candidate
Socialist Workers
- Jean Savage
General election
Campaign
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2020) |
Rizzo's campaign slogan "Rizzo means business".[8] Rizzo benefited from white racial backlash.[8] He campaigned primarily in white, working class areas of the city.[8]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Frank Rizzo | 394,067 | 52.87% | |
| Republican | Thacher Longstreth | 345,912 | 46.41% | |
| Constitution Party (United States) | Joseph J. Frieri | 2,456 | 0.33% | |
| Conservative | Clarissa Cain | 1,054 | 0.14% | |
| Socialist Labor | George S. Taylor | 948 | 0.13% | |
| Socialist Workers | Jean Savage | 919 | 0.12% | |
| Turnout | 745,356 | |||
References
- ^ Denvir, Daniel (22 May 2015). "Voter Turnout in U.S. Mayoral Elections Is Pathetic, But It Wasn't Always This Way". City Lab. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- ^ "Mayors of Philadelphia". www.phila.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ a b c Janson, Donald (November 3, 1971). "RIZZO WINS RACE IN PHILADELPHIA". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ Gambacorta, David; Laker, Barbara (June 4, 2020). "Frank Rizzo leaves a legacy of unchecked police brutality and division in Philadelphia". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ "5th Philadelphia Candidate". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Janson, Donald (19 May 1971). "Rizzo Wins Race in Philadelphia". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Warner, Bob (20 March 2015). "Is Every Philly Mayor's Race About Race?". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ a b c Lamis, Renée M. (2009). The Realignment of Pennsylvania Politics Since 1960: Two-Party Competition in a Battleground State. Penn State Press. pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-0-271-08577-7.
- ^ "Mayors of the City of Philadelphia 1691-2000". City of Philadelphia. Retrieved 28 April 2019.