Editing Jimmy Walker (section)

==Running for mayor, 1925==
After his years in the Senate, Walker set his sights on the 1925 election for [[Mayor of New York City|Mayor of New York]]. Beginning with the 1925 Democratic primary for mayor, Walker knew that to ultimately win the mayoral election he had to defeat the mayor, [[John Francis Hylan]]. Walker's reputation as a flamboyant man-about-town made him a hero to many working-class voters; he was often seen at legitimate theaters and illegitimate speakeasies. Walker was a [[Fop|clothes horse]]: his valet packed 43 suits for his trip to Europe in August 1927.<ref>David Wallace, ''Capital of the World: A Portrait of New Your City in the Roaring Twenties'' (2011) p. 11</ref> On the other hand, his reputation for tolerating corruption made him suspect to middle-class and moralistic voters. Governor [[Alfred E. Smith]] was his mentor.<ref name=Connolly /> Smith was a staunch supporter since Walker backed many social and cultural issues that were considered politically important, such as social welfare legislation, legalization of boxing, repeal of [[blue laws]] against Sunday baseball games, and condemning the [[Ku Klux Klan]]. Their mutual opposition to Prohibition was especially important in their political relationship.<ref name=Connolly />

Smith knew the secret to how Walker could win the mayoral race and overcome his tarnished reputation was for Smith to guide Walker's every move. Smith used his base in the strong political machine of [[Tammany Hall]] to secure victory. Finally, Walker himself had to be willing to change some of his more unscrupulous ways or at least provide a cover for his indiscretions. As with many things in Walker's life, he chose the latter. Instead of ending his visits to [[speakeasies]] and his friendships with chorus girls, he took those activities behind the closed doors of a penthouse funded by Tammany Hall.<ref name=Young>Young, Greg. [https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2009/05/mayor-jimmy-walker-finer-class-of.html "Mayor Jimmy Walker: a finer class of corruption"]. ''[[The Bowery Boys: New York City History]]''. Retrieved May 27, 2009.</ref>

Walker defeated Hylan in the Democratic primary, and after defeating [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] mayoral candidate Frank D. Waterman in the [[New York City mayoral elections#1925|general election]] he became mayor of New York.