Austin Beutner
Austin Beutner
$30.9M
NOV 4, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleBusinessman
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age66 years old (Apr 8, 1960)
GenderMale
LocationCalifornia
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BackgroundBusinessman
EducationDartmouth College (B.A., Economics)
Notable personal detailsAustin Michael Beutner is an American businessman and civic leader who served as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2018 to 2021 and previously served as Los Angeles’ first deputy mayor (2010–2013). He has worked in investment banking, including as a co-founder of Evercore, and later served as publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Times. He founded the nonprofit Vision To Learn, which provides free eye exams and glasses to children in low-income communities.
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Political Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports business-friendly tax changes including advocating elimination or reduction of the city business (gross receipts) tax and streamlining taxes and regulations for businesses; has opposed broad sales tax increases historically but has expressed support for the concept of a targeted half-cent sales tax to fund firefighters.
Immigration & Border
Supports protections for immigrant parents and children and criticizes aggressive federal immigration enforcement; emphasizes defending immigrants and the city’s diverse communities while opposing targeting based on race. Positions favor humanitarian protections alongside acceptance of some enforcement context rather than calling for maximal restrictionist measures.
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Climate & Energy
Supports integrating renewable energy into Los Angeles’ power supply and endorses regulatory efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; backs city initiatives to prepare for electric vehicle adoption and reduce reliance on imported water while modernizing utility infrastructure. Positions emphasize clean-energy integration and emissions reduction within a pragmatic, infrastructure-focused approach.
Latest News
Austin Beutner is in the news as a candidate in California politics, with recent coverage focused on the Los Angeles mayoral primary and the broader 2026 election cycle. The mayoral race drew scrutiny after slow ballot counting changed the standings during the count, and later reports said federal investigators were probing alleged voter fraud tied to the contest. Separate coverage also places him in the crowded California gubernatorial field, where analysts have warned that vote splitting could shape who advances in the top-two primary system.
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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