OpenCampaign

2026 election issues

LA Mayoral Race: Bass vs. Raman

Los Angeles is heading to a November 2026 general election runoff between incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman after neither candidate cleared 50% in the June 2 primary. Bass received 34% of the vote, Raman 29%, and Republican Spencer Pratt 26%. Key issues in the race include affordability, public safety, homelessness, and accusations of 'pay to play' politics under Bass. It is the first mayoral runoff in LA since 2005.

Who should lead Los Angeles as mayor after the November 2026 runoff election?

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Sources

Ballotpedia — https://ballotpedia.org/Mayoral_election_in_Los_Angeles,_California_(2026)
Incumbent Karen Bass and Nithya Raman are running in the nonpartisan general election for mayor of Los Angeles, California, on November 3, 2026.
Nithya Raman — https://ballotpedia.org/Mayoral_election_in_Los_Angeles,_California_(2026)
Raman says Bass represents the status quo and engages in 'pay to play' politics, saying special interests ...
Positions on this issue  ·  liberal → conservative
  1. Elect Nithya Raman; her urban planning background and progressive reform agenda are what LA needs.
  2. Support Raman as a fresh alternative to Bass, but hold her accountable to concrete affordability outcomes.
  3. Either candidate can succeed; what matters is the city council working collaboratively with whoever wins.
  4. Re-elect Karen Bass; incumbents deserve the chance to complete long-term recovery and homelessness plans.
  5. Neither Bass nor Raman; the runoff should have included Republican Spencer Pratt for a real policy contrast.