[REVISION HISTORY]

LA mayoral race: Bass and Raman head to November runoff

Updated 16 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-09 20:20 UTC → 2026-09-14 19:32 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. ~~City officials noted that homelessness in Los Angeles has decreased by approximately 11% since 2023.~~

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.