Editing Frank Rizzo (section)

== Later Career and Legacy ==

After leaving the mayoralty, Rizzo sought to return to office multiple times. He lost Democratic primary campaigns in 1983 and 1987, then switched parties to run as a Republican in 1991. He died of a heart attack during that campaign, leaving his political career unfinished. His death prompted mourning from supporters and reflection on his divisive legacy from critics.<ref name="pastore"/>

Rizzo's legacy remains deeply contested. A statue erected at the Municipal Services Building in 1998 became a focus of protests, with critics arguing it honored a figure associated with racism and police brutality. The statue was removed in 2020 following racial justice protests. This removal reflected ongoing debates about Rizzo's place in Philadelphia history—whether he was a defender of working-class neighborhoods or a symbol of racial division and official misconduct.<ref name="pastore"/>