# LA mayoral race: Bass and Raman head to November runoff > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/los-angeles-homelessness-surge > Updated: 2026-09-14T14:08:49.000Z. Sources: 60. Developments: 15. The 2026 Los Angeles mayoral runoff between incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman has intensified following Raman’s removal as chair of the City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee. Effective September 1, Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson split the committee into two separate panels, a move Harris-Dawson defended by stating Raman failed to lead with urgency on over 100 issues. Raman has characterized the removal as a political “hit job” and “retaliation” by Bass and her allies. Following the June primary, where Bass finished first with 34.3% of the vote and Raman secured 29%, the candidates are preparing for a November runoff. Raman has bolstered her campaign by securing endorsements from the Unite Here Local 11 labor union and the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). While prediction markets currently show Bass with approximately 65% odds of winning, market activity suggests the race is tightening. Simultaneously, Mayor Bass faces significant federal scrutiny regarding the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). The U.S. House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, led by Representative Tim Burchett, is investigating allegations of “waste, fraud and abuse” involving more than $1 billion in federal grants distributed through LAHSA since 2021. The probe is looking into potential “corrupt contracting and grant-making.” Amid this scrutiny, Bass has announced she is stepping down from her position on the LAHSA commission, citing time constraints and scheduling conflicts. Her departure follows reports that she missed a significant portion of commission meetings since her 2023 appointment. While Bass’s office stated she is willing to testify at a future date and is cooperating with records requests, she has declined a September 15 hearing invitation. ## Claims - A fake poll claimed Francesca Hong held a 23-point advantage in the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary. (disputed by 5 sources) - The firm fabricated its polling data as a social experiment to study the spread of unverified information. (corroborated by 9 sources) - A fake poll claimed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass held a 12-point lead over Nithya Raman. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The fake Los Angeles poll claimed to have surveyed 560 voters between July 30 and August 5. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The firm claimed the experiment was not funded or directed by any candidate, campaign, or political organization. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The firm has withdrawn all previously published polling releases and shut down its website. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Mayor's campaign called for a criminal investigation into attempts to influence elections. (corroborated by 4 sources) - In the June primary, Karen Bass received 34% of the vote and Nithya Raman received 29%. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The House Subcommittee is investigating alleged waste, fraud, and abuse at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). (corroborated by 3 sources) - LAHSA has received more than $1 billion in federal funds since 2021. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-14: Karen Bass declines House hearing on LA homelessness fund probe LA Mayor Karen Bass declined a House hearing investigating alleged fraud involving $1 billion in federal homelessness funds, citing scheduling conflicts and the cost of document compliance. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/karen-bass-declines-house-hearing-on-la-homelessness-fund-probe ### 2026-09-08: Karen Bass to resign from LAHSA commission amid federal probe Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is resigning from the LAHSA commission amid a congressional probe into alleged waste and fraud involving federal homelessness funding. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/karen-bass-declines-house-testimony-on-los-angeles-homelessness-spending ### 2026-09-03: Los Angeles Mayor summoned to testify over $1B homelessness fund probe A U.S. House subcommittee has summoned Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to testify on Sept. 15 regarding an investigation into the alleged fraud and mismanagement of $1 billion in federal homelessness funds. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/los-angeles-mayor-summoned-to-testify-over-1b-homelessness-fund-probe ### 2026-09-01: Nithya Raman gains DSA endorsement in Los Angeles mayoral race Nithya Raman has gained the endorsement of the Los Angeles DSA in her mayoral race against incumbent Karen Bass, amid tightening prediction markets and faculty union rallies at USC. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nithya-raman-receives-unite-here-local-11-endorsement ### 2026-09-01: Karen Bass seeks nuisance property funding amid reelection runoff Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is requesting $2 million to clean up nuisance properties while preparing for a November reelection runoff against Nithya Raman. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/karen-bass-seeks-nuisance-property-funding-amid-reelection-runoff ### 2026-08-23: Nithya Raman removed as Los Angeles homelessness committee chair Los Angeles Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson has removed Nithya Raman as chair of the Housing and Homelessness Committee, amid political tensions and policy disputes over the city's homelessness crisis 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nithya-raman-removed-as-los-angeles-homelessness-committee-chair ### 2026-08-20: Los Angeles mayoral candidates Bass and Raman clash in first debate Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman sparred over homelessness and public safety during their first mayoral debate, as technical issues limited the virtual livestream capacity. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/los-angeles-mayoral-candidates-bass-and-raman-clash-in-first-debate ### 2026-08-20: Median Strategies fake election polls revealed as social experiment A 21-year-old admitted to running Median Strategies, a website that released fake election polls in Wisconsin, Nevada, and California as a “social experiment” to test the spread of misinformation. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/median-strategies-fake-election-polls-revealed-as-social-experiment ### 2026-08-19: Nithya Raman taps Fight Agency for Los Angeles mayoral campaign Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman plans to hire Fight Agency for television ads, a move criticized by Mayor Karen Bass's campaign due to the firm's controversial political history. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nithya-raman-taps-fight-agency-for-los-angeles-mayoral-campaign ### 2026-08-17: Median Strategies admits to fabricating election polls in social experiment Polling firm Median Strategies admitted to fabricating election data in California, Wisconsin, and Nevada as a “social experiment” to study the spread of misinformation, prompting calls for investigations. 29 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/median-strategies-admits-los-angeles-mayoral-poll-was-fake-social-experiment ### 2026-08-13: Nithya Raman faces committee removal amid LA mayoral race Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass holds a double-digit lead in mayoral runoff polls, while challenger Nithya Raman accuses city leaders of political retaliation following her removal from a key committee chair. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nithya-raman-faces-committee-removal-amid-la-mayoral-race ### 2026-08-10: Los Angeles Council President to restructure homelessness committee Los Angeles Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson plans to split the Housing and Homelessness Committee, removing chair Nithya Raman from leadership as she campaigns for mayor against Karen Bass. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/los-angeles-council-president-to-restructure-homelessness-committee ### 2026-07-31: Los Angeles mayoral race intensifies as Nithya Raman attacks Karen Bass over homelessness and fire response Nithya Raman attacks Mayor Karen Bass over a recent fire and rising homelessness, proposing cheaper short‑term rental vouchers as an alternative to costly Inside Safe beds, as the two face a November runoff in 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/los-angeles-mayoral-race-intensifies-as-nithya-raman-attacks-karen-bass-over-homelessness-and-fire-r ### 2026-07-28: Los Angeles Mayoral Race: Bass and Raman Spar Over Rising Homelessness Los Angeles’ 2026 homeless count rose 3.4% (unsheltered up 8%). Mayor Bass and challenger Raman blame each other as both advance to a November runoff after a June primary where Bass got 34% and Raman 29%. Raman 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/los-angeles-mayoral-race-intensifies-as-homelessness-rises ### 2026-07-28: Los Angeles homelessness rises as study shows rapid re‑housing cuts future homelessness Los Angeles homelessness rose 1.2% county‑wide and 3.4% city‑wide after two years of decline, while a California Policy Lab study shows rapid re‑housing cuts future homelessness risk by 30% for individuals and 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/los-angeles-homelessness-rises-as-study-shows-rapid-rehousing-cuts-future-homelessness --- Cite as: LA mayoral race: Bass and Raman head to November runoff. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/los-angeles-homelessness-surge