Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Wins Major Hollywood Union Endorsements

Incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has secured the endorsement of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the nation’s largest film‑and‑TV workers union, along with other industry groups such as the Hollywood Teamsters and the American Federation of Musicians Local 47. Union leaders cited Bass’s “consistent commitment to labor,” her executive orders that cut red‑tape for productions, and her support for federal and state tax credits that keep filming in the city.

The endorsements come weeks before the June 2 primary, in which Bass faces independent challenger Spencer Pratt, a former reality‑TV star, and progressive councilwoman Nithya Raman, who has attracted support from Hollywood’s liberal wing. All three candidates have pledged to maintain an uncapped state film‑tax incentive, but Bass emphasizes her track record of streamlining permitting, reducing fees, and expanding tax credits to retain Los Angeles as the entertainment capital.

Labor groups, including the California IATSE Council and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, are contributing modest sums to Bass’s campaign, underscoring the political importance of the city’s $30‑billion‑plus film and television sector ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics and the upcoming FIFA World Cup.