LA Mayoral Candidates Divided on Noncitizen Voting Rights

A heated exchange over noncitizen voting rights exposed deep political divisions during Wednesday’s Los Angeles mayoral debate hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo, highlighting one of the campaign’s most contentious issues.

The spotlight fell on incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass and Republican challenger Spencer Pratt when moderator Enrique Chiabra pressed candidates for a straightforward yes-or-no answer on whether noncitizens should be permitted to vote in local elections.

Pratt’s response was unequivocal: “No.” When pressed again later in the debate, he maintained his position with the same one-word answer.

Mayor Bass, however, refused to provide a binary response, stating, “It depends. It’s not a yes or no.” She elaborated that the term “noncitizens” encompasses a broad category of residents, including legal permanent residents.

“When you say noncitizens, it doesn’t mean they’re here illegally. It doesn’t mean they’re undocumented. They can have green cards. They could be here perfectly legal,” Bass explained. She noted that various cities and states already permit limited noncitizen voting for specific local elections and added that she would need to review the specifics of any proposal before taking a position.

Councilwoman Nithya Raman, another Democratic candidate in the race, echoed Bass’s nuanced stance. “I would say again, it does depend,” Raman remarked, referencing precedents in other jurisdictions where noncitizen residents can participate in certain local elections, particularly school board races.

The debate comes at a critical moment as a Los Angeles city councilmember is pushing to place the question of noncitizen voting rights on the November ballot, potentially making it a decisive campaign issue. While federal law explicitly prohibits noncitizens from participating in federal elections, municipalities have authority to establish their own rules for local contests.

Several California cities, including San Francisco and Oakland, have already implemented limited forms of noncitizen voting, primarily for school board elections. Advocates argue that all taxpaying residents deserve representation in local governance, while opponents contend that voting should remain a privilege exclusively for citizens.

The exchange highlights the growing national debate around voting rights and immigration policy. In recent years, similar measures have been enacted or proposed in cities across the country, including New York City, where a law allowing noncitizen voting in municipal elections was later struck down by the courts.

The issue could prove particularly significant in Los Angeles, where approximately 35% of residents were born outside the United States, according to census data. Many of these residents contribute to the city’s economy and pay taxes but lack voting representation under current laws.

Pratt, a former reality television personality best known for his appearances on “The Hills,” has positioned himself as one of the leading challengers to Bass in a crowded field of 13 candidates. His straightforward opposition to noncitizen voting aligns with traditional Republican positions on electoral participation and citizenship.

The primary election is scheduled for June 2, with the general election following on November 3. As the race intensifies, candidates’ positions on immigration, voting rights, and representation will likely continue to play a central role in distinguishing their platforms in this highly competitive contest for leadership of America’s second-largest city.