Los Angeles mayor race remains close as counts continue

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Council member Nithya Raman are neck and neck in the mayoral race. Early returns on Wednesday showed the two Democrats closely matched. Voters are deciding whether to keep the incumbent or switch to a challenger backed by the Democratic Socialists of America.

Bass initially held a slight lead in the first tallies. However, Raman gained ground in subsequent updates. The challenger eventually slipped ahead and maintained a slim advantage in early Wednesday counts. An estimated one-third of the ballots remained uncounted at that time.

Bass, 73, told supporters on Tuesday night that she would achieve victory. She led the crowd in chanting for four more years. Raman, 45, told her own supporters to dance and said the election was about change. She noted that hopelessness can be fatal for a city but her campaign refused to accept that.

The race centers on public safety and homelessness. Bass wants to hire more police officers. She called Raman’s views on policing extreme. Raman said she would replace the police chief. Bass argued that would be reckless ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.

Bass faces criticism over the 2025 Palisades Fire and ongoing homelessness issues. She was out of the country when the fire started. A June fire at a frozen-food warehouse also caused weeks of bad odors. Raman has opposed no-camping zones near schools but said she would not block them if elected. She aims to reduce people sleeping in encampments by at least 50% by 2028.

Top Democrats have lined up behind Bass. Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi support the incumbent. Billionaire developer Rick Caruso said he is voting for Bass. Raman has drawn support from groups like Our Revolution and the Sierra Club.

A Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll found that about 4 in 10 likely voters want to reduce homeless encampments. About 3 in 10 prioritized public safety or affordable housing. The outcome will determine if Los Angeles follows New York in electing a democratic socialist mayor.