1971 Philadelphia mayoral election
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November 2, 1971
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| Turnout | 77%[1]  4 pp | ||||||||||||||||
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 Results by ward Rizzo: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Longstreth: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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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]
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
Frank Rizzo had a reputation for his harsh policing style and was called "the toughest cop in America".[6] He began 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% | |