LA elects Hispanic mayor
After a lacklustre term tainted by corruption claims, Mr Hahn was turned out of office in favour of a high school dropout who turned his life around to become speaker of the California Assembly and a member of Los Angeles City Council.
With 70% of precincts reporting, Mr Villaraigosa had 202,861 votes, or 59%, to 140,416 votes for Hahn, or 41%.
“You all know I love LA, but tonight I really love LA,” an exuberant Mr Villaraigosa told his supporters.
He will become the first Hispanic mayor of Los Angeles since 1872, back when the city was a dusty outpost of only about 5,000 residents on the edge of the Western frontier.
Mr Hahn, the scion of a prominent political family, becomes the first Los Angeles mayor in 32 years to be bounced from office.
Mr Villaraigosa, 52, positioned himself as a unity candidate who would bridge racial and ethnic groups in a city that is 48% Hispanic, 31% white, 11% Asian and 10% black. The Democrat lined up endorsements from former presidential candidate John Kerry to basketball legend Magic Johnson.
The bruising run-off between the two Democrats was a rematch of the 2001 election, in which Mr Hahn rallied to defeat Mr Villaraigosa and win his first term. But Mr Villaraigosa came back strong this year, nearly ousting Mr Hahn in the March primary.
Mr Villaraigosa promised to bring a fresh start to the city.
“I will never forget where I came from. And I will always believe in the people of Los Angeles,” he said.
