Bass and Raman Face Off in LA Mayor Forum as City Confronts Homelessness and Job Losses

Two Democratic rivals for mayor of Los Angeles are set to appear Tuesday at a forum hosted by the Jewish Federation Los Angeles, just days before mail ballots reach voters, in a contest that will test whether the heavily Democratic city shifts further left.

Mayor Karen Bass, the first Black woman to hold the office, is seeking a second term after a turbulent first stretch in which she drew sustained criticism over the deadly Palisades Fire, the most destructive blaze in the city's history, which broke out while she was abroad. A separate fire this June at a large frozen-food warehouse east of downtown left nearby residents dealing with foul odors for weeks.

Her challenger, City Council member Nithya Raman, endorsed Bass before reversing course and entering the race. Raman, who is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America and could become the first South Asian woman to lead the city, has campaigned against what she calls a broken status quo, promising to accelerate housing construction, restore entertainment industry jobs and improve basic services.

The matchup has drawn comparisons to New York, where democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the mayoralty. But in Los Angeles, Raman remains little known citywide and has not attracted a comparable celebrity following in her first run for a citywide office.

The forum comes as the Democratic Party remains divided over the war in Gaza and aid to Israel. Bass, who served in the state Legislature and Congress before becoming mayor in 2022, represents the party establishment and has the backing of Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and influential labor unions.

Homelessness remains a central issue. Bass took office promising to tackle the crisis, but figures released in July showed the problem grew over the previous year after a brief decline. The mayor has blamed cuts and policies from the Trump administration for pushing more people onto the streets. During her tenure the city has also seen federal immigration raids and a continuing exodus of Hollywood jobs, while residents complain about dirty, crumbling streets and encampments.

The race earlier drew national attention over the candidacy of Spencer Pratt, a Republican and former star of "The Hills" who lost his home in the Palisades Fire. His campaign was boosted by supporter-made videos using artificial intelligence, but he failed to qualify for the November election, finishing with about 25% of the vote, several points behind Raman. He has continued to criticize both candidates on social media.

With mail ballots due to arrive in early October, the usual signs of campaign season — yard signs, television ads, billboards and bumper stickers — are scarce. Data compiled by AdImpact shows the campaigns have spent or booked only minimal airtime and digital messaging through Election Day.

Veteran Democratic strategist Bill Carrick said some voters who backed the mayor in the past are now undecided. "There are a bunch of people who don't want to vote for Karen (Bass) and they are wrestling with what to do," he said, adding that Raman is not widely known and that "the decibel level of this campaign is unbelievably low."

The election has been overshadowed by turmoil in Washington, the fight for Congress, two wars, inflation concerns and the Dodgers' playoff run. Questions also loom about how the financially strained city will manage the 2028 Olympics.