Los Angeles mayoral race tightens ahead of 2028 Olympics

Los Angeles voters will elect a new mayor on Tuesday, November 3, choosing between two Democrats for a role that includes leading the city through the 2028 Olympic Games. Incumbent Karen Bass, 73, is the first woman to lead the second-largest city in the United States and is backed by the party establishment.

Her challenger, Nithya Raman, is 45 and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Raman was previously an ally of Bass before deciding to run against her just hours before the candidate registration deadline.

“The last thing residents want is more upheaval.”

A recent poll by the University of California, Berkeley, in partnership with the Los Angeles Times, shows both candidates at 40 percent of voter intentions. Another 19 percent of voters remain undecided.

The winner will face the challenge of preparing for the Olympics while dealing with delayed construction projects and a blown budget. President Donald Trump has refused to release federal funds previously agreed upon by former President Joe Biden.

Bass's term has been marked by the Palisades fire in January 2025, which began while she was on an official trip to Ghana. Along with the Eaton fire in neighboring Altadena, the disaster killed at least 30 people and left thousands homeless. Bass points to a decline in homelessness and homicides as evidence of her administration's success.

Residents of Pacific Palisades initially wanted Bass to resign after the fire, but many now plan to vote for her re-election. Supporters say they prefer stability over further upheaval after the pandemic, riots, and fire, despite criticizing government failures during the disaster.

The Olympic spotlight offers both visibility and risk for the next mayor. The city must complete preparations for the 2028 Games while managing recovery from recent disasters and ongoing budget disputes with the federal government.