What to Know About the Los Angeles Mayor’s Race

The filing deadline produced a crowded field and a surprise late entry as more than three dozen candidates declared for mayor of Los Angeles, and City Council member Nithya Raman launched a last-minute challenge to incumbent Karen Bass, who is seeking a second term.

Bass, a nationally known Democrat and former congresswoman, had high approval early in her tenure after overseeing pandemic recovery and reductions in homelessness. Everything shifted after a Jan. 7, 2025, wildfire swept through Pacific Palisades. Wind-driven flames killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes; officials found a city reservoir empty and the county fire department responding with far less preparation and personnel than in past disasters.

The mayor was out of the country when the blaze began, rushed back, and struggled to regain trust. Her ratings only began to recover after the Trump administration sent the National Guard during a federal immigration crackdown, but she remains politically weakened and is expected to face a runoff.

United States, Los Angeles

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