Incumbent
Los Angeles mayoral election: first round winner
$987.6K
JUN 3, 2026
Candidate standings
Live market pricing for the leading candidates in this election.
Overview
Current roleMayor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age72 years old (Oct 3, 1953)
GenderFemale
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LocationCalifornia
BackgroundPolitician
EducationCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hills (B.A., Health Sciences)
Notable personal detailsKaren Ruth Bass is an American politician who has served as the 43rd mayor of Los Angeles since December 2022. She previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives (2011–2022) after serving in the California State Assembly (2004–2010), including as Speaker (2008–2010). She has also been active as a community organizer and worked in health care.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports using taxation and budgeting tools to fund government services and has indicated willingness to raise or use taxes to balance budgets while also delivering targeted tax relief for disaster-impacted businesses. As mayor she has signed city budgets prioritizing services and proposed budget measures that reduce spending and seek new revenue.
Healthcare
Supports protecting and expanding the Affordable Care Act and increasing access to government programs such as Medi‑Cal; emphasizes improving access to mental health care and protecting frontline caregivers. Positions reflect advocacy for expanding coverage and using public programs rather than endorsing full single‑payer Medicare for All.
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Immigration & Border
Supports protecting immigrant communities from federal enforcement actions, restricts use of city resources for immigration enforcement, and expands local support and legal/financial assistance for those affected by ICE raids. Advocates investigations into alleged unlawful federal detentions and has issued executive directives and city protocols to shield undocumented residents and preserve access to services. Public actions emphasize preserving asylum access and opposing large-scale deportation tactics within the city.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports robust abortion and reproductive rights protections, including preserving access to abortion and defending reproductive healthcare in Los Angeles. Has endorsed measures and organizations that advance reproductive freedom and has pledged to make the city a safe haven for those seeking abortion care. Advocates for legislative protections consistent with codifying reproductive rights at the federal level and opposing restrictive bans.
Climate & Energy
Supports aggressive city-level climate action including a goal of 100% carbon-free/clean energy by 2035, divestment from coal in the city’s power supply, major federal funding for pollution reduction and investments in zero‑emission technology and green hydrogen, and other resilience and nature-based initiatives (tree planting, coastal and urban cooling programs).
Public Safety & Guns
Supports strengthening public-safety capacity while investing in community-led safety programs; backs efforts to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers and to combat untraceable "ghost guns." Plans include restoring LAPD staffing and investing in specialized detectives alongside community-based violence-prevention efforts.
News
Karen Bass is in the news because the Los Angeles mayoral race is tightening ahead of the primary, with recent polls showing her either narrowly leading or tied with Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman. Several reports say no candidate is likely to win outright, making a runoff likely. Bass is also facing criticism over homelessness and city management, and Pratt has accused her campaign of election-law violations, which her spokesperson denies.
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Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20242022
2024
LatestCycle 2022
Cycle 2024
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements