Los Angeles Mayoral Runoff: Bass vs. Raman
Voters choose between incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman on Tuesday, a decision that will shape the city's approach to homelessness and the 2028 Olympics.
By Nadia Singh ·
Los Angeles voters will cast ballots on Tuesday to determine the next mayor, concluding a nine-month campaign between incumbent Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman. The race has drawn national attention due to its impact on the city's management of homelessness and its preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Bass, 73, represents the city's established political structure. She campaigned on her record in crime and affordable housing. Her standing took a hit following the Palisades fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Bass left the city for a diplomatic event in Ghana while the fire burned, a decision she later called the worst of her tenure. She also faces criticism over a $1 billion budget shortfall, which led to the elimination of more than 1,500 city jobs.
Raman, 45, entered the race in February after endorsing Bass in January. She positions herself as a younger Democrat seeking change. Her campaign focused on Bass's handling of the Palisades fire, the homelessness crisis, and infrastructure failures. Raman cited the unfinished SkyLink people mover at Los Angeles International Airport, which is years behind schedule and $1.4 billion over budget. She accused Bass's administration of mismanagement and stated that residents pay more while receiving fewer services.
The Berkeley IGS/L.A. Times poll shows the candidates in a dead heat, with one fifth of surveyed voters undecided. Dan Schnur, a political communications professor at USC and UC Berkeley, noted that undecided voters are weighing the status quo against the risk of an unknown candidate. Raman has faced criticism for shifting her views on police hiring and the mansion tax. All 14 members of the City Council support Bass, with many expressing distrust of Raman.
External spending has intensified the contest. The Los Angeles Police Protective League spent about $6 million against Raman. Hedge fund manager Aaron Sosnick contributed $8 million to pro-Raman campaigns. The carpenters union added $3.8 million. Bass received $2 million from the Central City Assn., a group funded in part by Airbnb. The Democratic Socialists of America endorsed Raman in the runoff by a vote of 937 to 484.
The winner will oversee the 2028 Summer Olympics, an event that carries financial risks for the city. Los Angeles is responsible for the first $270 million in any deficit from the Games. Homelessness in the city has risen after two years of decline. The new mayor will also negotiate labor contracts with city employee unions, a process that will determine funding for basic services. Talks with the police union are scheduled to begin in January.
Fernando Guerra, who heads the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University, described the campaign as a choice between the old guard and a new wave of Democrats. He said the election is less about specific policy platforms and more about how the candidates present themselves to the public. The primary election in June saw Bass as the top vote-getter, while Spencer Pratt, a reality television personality, secured about a fourth of the vote but failed to reach the runoff.
