How Republicans and women helped sway the LA mayor’s race

City Councilman Eric Garcetti is the next mayor of Los Angeles, beating City Controller Wendy Greuel by 54 percent to 46 percent.

That’s pretty much exactly how the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University called it last night at 8 pm, just as polls closed. Among their findings – Garcetti won 63 percent of the Latino vote, and 54 percent of the Asian vote, while Greuel won 71 percent of the African American vote. Garcetti also won 65 percent of the Republican vote, aided by the endorsement of his primary opponent, Kevin James.

Wendy Greuel, speaking at her campaign headquarters in Van Nuys, on May 22, 2013. Photo by Avishay Artsy

Fernando Guerra directs the center and joined KCRW’s Steve Chiotakis for post-election analysis.

As Greuel leaves her post as City Controller, that means that comes July 1^st, there’ll be no women in office in LA City Hall. Steve also spoke to Rachel Michelin, executive director of California Women Lead, about why there are so few women in LA politics, and why women voters were split 50/50 between Garcetti and Greuel.