Politics & Government

Eric Garcetti Is the Next Mayor of L.A.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Garcetti had 54 percent of the vote, compared to 46 percent for City Controller Wendy Greuel.

This story was reported by Craig Clough, Mike Szymanski, Matt Sanderson and City News Service.

Click here for live updates on all the Los Angeles election races.

See video of Wendy Greuel's speech and read about details from her election party here.

3:34 a.m. 
City Councilman Eric Garcetti emerged victorious Wednesday in the race to become the next mayor of Los Angeles, ending a nearly two-year campaign that saw record-breaking spending and was punctuated by a spate of attack ads in the waning weeks of the race.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Garcetti had 54 percent of the vote, compared to 46 percent for City Controller Wendy Greuel.

12:01 a.m. 
As election returns trickled in, City Councilman Eric Garcetti pulled ahead of Controller Wendy Greuel Wednesday night in the tight race for Los Angeles mayor.

"Well, the results aren't all in, but this is shaping up to be a great night,'' Garcetti told supporters at the Hollywood Palladium in a speech that sounded like a victory proclamation despite the large number of votes left to be tallied. "So let me start by saying thank you. Thank you to the thousands of you who volunteered for this campaign and thank you to the voters of L.A. who tonight voted for strong independent leadership to lead this city forward."

Garcetti had a roughly four percentage-point lead with about 22 percent of precincts reporting.

11:20 p.m.
A group of 20-somethings standing at the bar at the Greuel party before Greuel even got off stage said, "Let's go to the Prop D party." (About opening up access to medical marijuana shops in the city.) - Mike Szymanski

11:19 p.m.
The numbers aren't being shown on the big screen like they were earlier in the evening, but Wendy Greuel took the stage and said, "We're not going to know tonight." She likened it to the time she ran for City Council and went to bed with a difference of 55 votes, but ultimately when all the votes were counted she won by 225 votes. "I'm fired up," she declared. - Mike Szymanski

11:15 p.m. 
City Councilman Eric Garcetti has taken his first lead in the race to become mayor of Los Angeles, with 51 percent of the vote, compared to 49 percent for City Controller Wendy Greuel. Only about 9 percent of precincts have reported.

10:39 p.m.
Studio City Neighborhood Council members Lisa Sarkin and Lisa Cahan Davis arrived. "It was amazing how people didn't really talk about their private feelings too much on the council, there was a lot of respect because we were divided," said Davis. 

Sarkin said, "It is so important that the San Fernando Valley has a voice, and Wendy will do that. We should have better representation for the Valley in Los Angeles politics."

Did the fact that Greuel is a woman make a difference to these two activists? "No, not at all, it wasn't even a consideration," Sarkin said. "But it is nice to have a few more female voices in City Hall." - Mike Szymanski

10:31 p.m. Gil Garcetti, of Brentwood and father of Los Angeles mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti, tells Patch the last information he's heard Tuesday night was the LMU poll showing his son seven points ahead of Wendy Greuel. Gil said he's elated for his son, who could have had a career as a pianist and musician, but instead chose public policy. - Matthew Sanderson

9:44 p.m.
The Hollywood Palladium is getting filled at this hour with Eric Garcetti supporters. "Garcetti by seven," said supporter "Melrose" Larry Green, of Hollywood, who said he lost twice in a mayoral run himself in L.A., last in 2001. "Eric Garcetti is about as good as it gets. He'll clean up Hollywood." Garcetti supporters Melissa Gonzala and Silvana Belen also wore Garcetti pins, stating they are "Latinos for Garcetti." - Matthew Sanderson

8:54 p.m. 
City Controller Wendy Greuel has jumped to a very narrow early lead in the race to become Los Angeles' next mayor, with early ballot totals showing her with 50.9 percent of the vote, compared to 49 percent for City Councilman Eric Garcetti.

8:50 p.m.
  A Loyola Marymount University exit poll predicted Tuesday night that City Councilman Eric Garcetti will be the next mayor of Los Angeles.

The exit polling—conducted by students for the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles at LMU—determined that Garcetti would win Tuesday's election with 54 percent of the vote, ahead of City Controller Wendy Greuel at 46 percent. The poll was based on a survey of 800 people at polling places in 25 precincts, along with a telephone survey of people who had cast ballots by mail.

However, zero percent of the precincts have reported results. Stay tuned to Patch for live updates of the mayor's race by bookmarking this page. This story will be updated continuously as results roll in.

Click here for live updates on all the Los Angeles election races.

8:38 p.m. At the Wendy Greuel camp's election night party at Exchange Los Angeles, there were more photographers and press people than citizens and fans early on. Press came as far as Japan to cover the campaign. The locale is a famous downtown nightclub, which is a multi-level dance club with fancy lighting.

The lighting, including blinking track lighting and balls, is being used in the upstairs dance floor. Wendy Greuel is watching in a confined area with family and friends and hasn't yet appeared. There are students from a high school, and videos are being shown.






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