Bass and Raman enter final week in Los Angeles mayoral runoff
A new poll shows the race is tied, with voters deciding between the incumbent mayor and a city councilmember in a contest defined by sharp attacks and high stakes for the 2028 Olympics.
By Matthew Qureshi ·
The Los Angeles mayoral race enters its final week with the two candidates in a statistical tie, according to the latest Berkeley IGS/L.A. Times poll.
Karen Bass, the 73-year-old incumbent, and Nithya Raman, the 45-year-old city councilmember, will face off in Tuesday's runoff election. The contest concludes a nine-month campaign marked by intense rivalry between two former political allies. A fifth of surveyed voters remain undecided, keeping the outcome in balance.
Raman has positioned herself as a challenger to the established order, criticizing Bass's management of the city's infrastructure and homelessness crisis. At a news conference near the unfinished SkyLink people mover at LAX, Raman pointed to the project being years behind schedule and $1.4 billion over budget. She described the administration's record as one where residents pay more and receive less, citing mismanagement and lies.
Bass has countered by attacking Raman's consistency on key issues, including police hiring and the proposed mansion tax. All 14 of Bass's colleagues on the City Council have endorsed her, with several stating they do not trust Raman. Bass also highlighted her work in Raman's Hollywood Hills district, noting she has handled constituent complaints there for four years to assist the councilmember.
Analysts describe the race as a choice between the establishment and a new wave of Democratic politics. Fernando Guerra of Loyola Marymount University noted that the symbolism of Bass as the old guard against Raman as the future is central to many voters' decisions. Dan Schnur of USC and UC Berkeley added that the contest forces undecided voters to choose between an unsatisfying status quo and the risk of an unknown quantity.
The winner will oversee the city during the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, an event that carries financial risks. The city is liable for the first $270 million if the Games lose money. Additionally, the next mayor will negotiate new contracts with city employee unions, which will determine funding for basic services. Talks with the Los Angeles Police Protective League are set to begin in January.
The campaign has featured significant outside spending. The Los Angeles Police Protective League spent about $6 million against Raman. In support of Raman, hedge fund manager Aaron Sosnick contributed $8 million, and the carpenters union provided $3.8 million. Bass received $2 million from the Central City Assn., a group with funding links to Airbnb.
