The Message Behind the Votes

In reelecting Mayor Richard Riordan, voters mentioned his record in office and his role in improving public safety as key reasons. Tom Hayden supporters saw their candidate as someone who could unite racial and ethnic groups. Education emerged as the most important issue, followed by the economy and, as a distant third, crime and gangs.

WHY DID YOU SUPPORT YOUR CHOICE FOR MAYOR TODAY?

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All Riordan Hayden voters voters voters I like him and his policies 67% 73% 59% He’s the lesser of two evils 33 27 41

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WHEN DID YOU DECIDE HOW TO VOTE FOR MAYOR TODAY?

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All Riordan Hayden voters voters voters Today 11% 10% 11% Yesterday 4 3 5 Over the weekend 6 5 8 Last week 9 8 10 In late March 9 9 9 In early March 11 9 13 Before then 50 56 44

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DO YOU APPROVE OF HOW RIORDAN IS HANDLING HIS JOB?

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All Riordan Hayden voters voters voters Approve 67% 95% 24% Disapprove 33 5 76

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WHICH OF THESE THINGS HAD A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON YOUR VOTE FOR MAYOR? (2 responses accepted)

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All Riordan Hayden voters voters voters Decision not to renew Police Chief 20% 16% 28% Willie Williams’ contract Riordan’s emphasis on improving public 21 33 3 safety Hayden’s record as state senator 16 13 22 Riordan’s record as mayor 30 41 13 Riordan’s reputation as pro-business 14 16 10 My candidate will serve the needs of 19 9 37 all racial and ethnic groups Need to improve education 11 9 12 Hayden is a Democrat 9 2 22 Riordan is a Republican 3 4 2 Hayden’s politics during Vietnam War 10 11 8 None of the above 10 9 9

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WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR CHOICE FOR MAYOR?

(2 responses accepted)

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All Riordan Hayden voters voters voters He cares about people like me 20% 14% 31% He has the experience to be mayor 21 30 7 He thinks like me on the issues 16 12 24 He can bring people together 12 10 18 He’s an outsider to city government 7 7 7 He offers good ideas 12 10 15 He’s tough enough to lead L.A. 14 18 8 He can get things done 12 17 5 He understands new, multicultural L. A. 11 5 22 He has honesty and integrity 14 15 12 He knows how to bring business to L. A. 12 19 1 None of the above 10 7 11

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WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT THE MAYORAL CANDIDATE YOU DIDN’T VOTE FOR?

(2 responses accepted)

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All Riordan Hayden voters voters voters He’s not interested in serving 22% 12% 38% all areas of the city He’s too liberal 24 37 3 He’s too conservative 10 3 22 He doesn’t stand for anything 9 10 9 He’s weak and indecisive 7 9 5 He lacks honesty and integrity 15 15 14 He doesn’t represent people like me 19 13 29 He contradicts himself 6 6 4 He’s a career politician 11 14 7 He doesn’t offer good ideas 8 8 7 He’s insensitive 4 3 7 None of the above 17 19 12

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WHICH ISSUES WERE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU IN DECIDING HOW TO VOTE TODAY?

(2 responses accepted)

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All Riordan Hayden voters voters voters Education 42% 38% 50% Jobs/The economy 35 37 34 The environment 8 4 14 Crime/Gangs 27 32 19 Homelessness/Poverty 6 3 10 Illegal immigration 9 12 6 Race relations 8 3 17 Rebuilding L.A. 16 19 12 Improving the L.A. Police 9 12 5 Department Taxes 6 8 4 Continuing construction 2 1 2 of the subway None of the above 5 4 4

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HOW ARE THINGS GOING IN LOS ANGELES THESE DAYS?

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All Riordan Hayden voters voters voters Well 53% 63% 39% Badly 47 37 61

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COMPARED TO FOUR YEARS AGO, I AM FINANCIALLY:

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All Riordan Hayden voters voters voters Better off 26% 29% 19% Worse off 24 20 31 About the same 50 51 50

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DO YOU AGREE WITH THE DECISION NOT TO RENEW WILLIE WILLIAMS’ CONTRACT AS POLICE CHIEF FOR ANOTHER TERM?

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All Riordan Hayden voters voters voters Agree 55% 68% 33% Disagree 45 32 67

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OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, RACE RELATIONS IN L.A. HAVE:

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All Riordan Hayden voters voters voters Gotten better 16% 21% 9% Gotten worse 39 31 51 Remained about the same 45 48 40

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Note: Numbers may add up to more than 100% where more than one response was accepted. All figures reflect preliminary exit poll results.

Source: Los Angeles Times exit poll conducted April 8

Times Poll data can also be accessed on the World Wide Web at

https://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/POLLS/