Mayor Karen Bass officially kicked off her re-election campaign on Saturday, launching her bid with a spirited rally in downtown Los Angeles. Her platform centers on making the city safer and more affordable, while also drawing a clear distinction with the policies of the Trump administration.
The announcement came just two days after the third anniversary of her swearing-in. Bass addressed a crowd of family, friends, and supporters gathered at the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College Culinary Arts event space, expressing her deep gratitude and acknowledging the significant challenges faced during her tenure.
“This is just overwhelming. I have to tell you my heart is so full,” Bass shared, her voice resonating with emotion. “This is so powerful and means so much to me because this has been a hell of a year.”
She emphasized the importance of unity, stating, “They say we can’t come together. Labor can’t come together with business, and business can’t come together with community, and the faith community can’t come together. But we all come together always.” Bass proudly added, “And I’m proud to say that the relationships in this room aren’t relationships because of the campaign… They are relationships because we all believe in justice.”
While not explicitly naming former President Donald Trump, Mayor Bass’s speech highlighted her commitment to opposing policies she deems detrimental to Los Angeles. She posed the rhetorical question, “Who would have imagined that we would have to defend ourselves from our very government?”
Bass candidly addressed the ongoing struggles confronting the city, including the recovery efforts following the January Palisades Fire, the persistent crises of housing affordability and homelessness, and federal actions impacting immigration in the city.
Highlighting Accomplishments and Future Goals
The incumbent mayor took the opportunity to highlight what she considers key achievements during her term. She pointed to her executive order, now codified into an ordinance by the City Council, which permanently streamlines the approval process for affordable housing projects. Furthermore, she cited two years of reductions in street homelessness, attributing this progress in part to her signature “Inside Safe” program. Bass also noted efforts to revitalize the downtown area through a permanent “al fresco” dining initiative, which has helped boost union jobs.
Progress has also been made, according to Bass, in reducing crime rates and advancing the city’s zero-emissions goals.
“The city I’ve been in my whole life, the city that I love, I feel we have accomplished a lot, but we’re not done,” Bass declared. Her vision for the future is ambitious: “Until every Palisadian is back home. I will not rest until LA is affordable, until one paycheck is enough and families don’t have to double up or triple up. And I will not rest until there are no Angelenos on our streets.”
Support and Opposition
A notable contingent of allies attended the rally, showcasing broad support for Bass’s re-election bid. Among those present were City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, council members Hugo Soto-Martinez, Curren Price, Heather Hutt, and Adrin Nazarian. State representatives also showed their backing, including Assembly members Sade Elhawary, D-South LA, Isaac Bryan, D-LA, Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino, and Mike Fong, D-Alhambra. State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, D-South LA, and former State Senator Steven Bradford, D-Inglewood, were also in attendance.
However, Bass’s tenure has not been without criticism. Roxanne Hoge, chair of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County, offered a starkly different perspective. “Karen Bass should be embarrassed to ask voters to give her the keys to a car she’s run into a ditch repeatedly,” Hoge stated. She further elaborated, “Whether it’s watching poor mentally-ill, drug-addicted souls dying on the streets or presiding over corruption and filth in the city of Los Angeles, nothing the current mayor has done suggests she deserves a second term in office — especially with the upcoming Olympics and World Cup about to put her dysfunction on the world stage.”
The Field of Challengers
As Mayor Bass formally enters the race, several individuals have already announced their campaigns to unseat her. These include:
- Austin Beutner: The former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
- Rae Huang: A deputy director of Housing Now California.
- Asaad Alnajjar: A member of the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council and a long-time city employee.
The landscape also includes potential high-profile contenders. Billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who narrowly lost to Bass in the 2022 general election, has yet to declare his intentions for this election cycle, leaving open the possibility of another mayoral run or a bid for governor.
Key Election Dates and Voter Sentiment
The mayoral election is scheduled for June 2. Should no candidate secure a majority of the votes, a runoff election will take place on November 3, featuring the top two vote-getters.
Challenges to Bass’s record have been voiced by her opponents. Beutner, for instance, has questioned her performance on crime and development, and has been critical of the city’s response to the January Palisades Fire. He told the Los Angeles Times that the city demonstrated a “failure of leadership” during the fire, which, exacerbated by strong winds, devastated thousands of homes and businesses and resulted in 12 fatalities. It’s worth noting that Mayor Bass was in Ghana attending an inauguration ceremony when the fire broke out, as part of a presidential delegation.
A recent poll conducted by the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies between February 17-26, surveying 5,184 registered voters in Los Angeles County, revealed mixed opinions on Bass’s handling of the Palisades Fire. The poll indicated that:
* 30% rated her job performance as “very poor.”
* 14% described it as “poor.”
* 18% considered it “fair.”
* 12% believed she did a “good job.”
* 6% rated her performance as “excellent.”
* 20% expressed no opinion.
Candidate Platforms
The announced challengers bring distinct policy proposals to the forefront:
Rae Huang has committed to making housing affordable for all residents, implementing free, safe, and fast public transit, and ensuring dignified wages and work conditions.
Asaad Alnajjar has outlined a comprehensive plan that includes:
- Resolving homelessness by addressing its root causes, such as drug addiction, alcoholism, and job loss, while providing reasonably priced housing solutions for the city.
- Expediting approvals for affordable housing projects and disaster rebuilding permits by cutting through bureaucratic red tape.
- Enhancing wildfire prevention and disaster readiness through modernized systems and well-planned, effective community-based response strategies.