L.A. Mayoral Campaign Draws To A Close With Today's Election

After several long, hard months of campaigning after the primaries earlier this year, Los Angeles mayoral hopefuls Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel are finally at the finish line. Los Angeles' mayoral runoff election is today, and there is no clear cut favorite to win the coveted position.

This mayoral election has been one to remember for several reasons. With over $33 million spent on the political campaigns of all of the candidates, it has become the most expensive campaign for the mayor's seat in history. Despite that, however, it is also expected to have one of the lowest voter turnouts of all-time for Los Angeles.

Part of the reason for such a low turnout is the fact that both candidates in the runoff are Democrats, and share many of the same beliefs and goals. Furthermore, neither of them are particularly polarizing, as both have long political history and are not of a distinct ethnic class.

"The same diversity that makes Los Angeles such an exciting and vibrant place in many other ways makes it extremely difficult for anyone to create a unifying presence right now," said Dan Schnur, the director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California. "Voters just don't seem to think that the outcome will make much of a difference."

In truth, there are more similarities than differences between the two candidates. In a recent debate they even admitted to the audience that they essentially agree on most of the topics at hand.

"It was hard for me to choose between the two," said Susan Rubinyi, a writer who declined to give her age. "So I voted for one in the primary and one this time."

Both candidates would represent firsts for the mayoral position in Los Angeles. If chosen, Garcetti would represent the first person of Jewish descent elected as mayor. If Wendy Greuel wins, she would be the first woman elected. Despite these landmark possibilities, few people view the decision as noteworthy.

"There is a real continued blurring of racial and ethnic boundaries," said Raphael Sonenshein, the executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles. "There is no candidate seen as a kind of archetype that people identify with and say 'I have to show up for my candidate.' This year, every part of the city is up for grabs."