Los Angeles mayor’s race kicks off amid homelessness, raids and fallout from deadly 2025 wildfire

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Faces Tough Reelection Amid Wildfire Fallout and City Challenges

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is heading into a challenging reelection campaign as multiple contenders prepare to enter the race ahead of Saturday’s filing deadline for the June 2 primary. Bass, a Democrat and the first Black woman to hold the mayoral office, faces mounting criticism over her administration’s handling of last year’s devastating Palisades Fire and ongoing city issues.

The growing field of challengers includes tech entrepreneur Adam Miller, founder of Cornerstone OnDemand and the Better Angels nonprofit addressing homelessness. Reality television personality Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire, has also announced his candidacy, running as a Republican focused on government accountability. Community organizer Rae Huang rounds out the current list of notable contenders.

The election comes at a particularly turbulent time for America’s second-largest city. Los Angeles residents face persistent concerns about the rising cost of living, from escalating rents to higher taxes and grocery prices. The city’s infrastructure continues to deteriorate, with pothole-riddled streets and crumbling sidewalks drawing frequent complaints from residents and business owners.

Hollywood, long the city’s signature industry, has seen production jobs steadily migrate to more affordable locations across the country and internationally. Meanwhile, immigration enforcement actions by the Trump administration have created tension and uncertainty in many Los Angeles communities.

The homelessness crisis remains one of the city’s most visible challenges. Despite studies showing a slight decline in the unhoused population, encampments remain a common sight across Los Angeles neighborhoods, from downtown to Venice Beach. Critics argue Bass’s initiatives haven’t produced sufficient results on this front.

Perhaps most damaging to Bass’s reelection prospects is the ongoing fallout from the January 2025 Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people and devastated the affluent coastal neighborhood. Recovery efforts have proceeded at what many residents consider an unacceptably slow pace, and questions about the city’s response continue to plague the mayor’s administration.

Bass faced particular criticism for being in Ghana on a presidential delegation when the fire began. The Los Angeles Times has published investigative reports revealing that drafts of the Fire Department’s after-action report underwent deletions and revisions that appeared to downplay failures by city officials. This week, Bass strongly denied allegations that she personally pushed for changes to shield City Hall from legal liability, calling the account “completely fabricated.”

Investigators have determined the Palisades Fire originated from remnants of a January 1 fire that continued smoldering underground. In October, authorities arrested and charged a 29-year-old man with starting the earlier blaze. The Fire Department has faced intense scrutiny over whether it properly extinguished the initial fire.

Pratt, who gained fame alongside his wife Heidi Montag on “The Hills,” has made his personal loss in the fire central to his campaign. “I watched my home burn because the system failed us,” Pratt states on his campaign website. “We don’t need more government programs. We need common sense, accountability, and a mayor that shows up for everyone.”

Miller is positioning himself as a political outsider with the financial resources to mount a serious challenge, potentially mirroring the 2022 race where Bass defeated billionaire Rick Caruso. “Los Angeles has extraordinary potential but too often City Hall hasn’t been there for the people who call it home,” Miller said in a campaign statement.

Bass received some political breathing room when two potential strong rivals opted not to enter the race. Caruso decided against a second run after months of consideration, while Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath announced Friday she would not seek the mayoral position. Both had been vocal critics of Bass’s leadership, particularly regarding homelessness and the fire response.

Under California’s primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the November general election unless one candidate captures more than 50% in the primary. With a field expected to include numerous candidates, Los Angeles-based Democratic consultant Bill Carrick describes the race as “wide-open.”

Despite the challenges, Bass maintains an optimistic public stance. In a recent speech outlining her vision for the city’s future, she highlighted preparations for the 2028 Olympics and plans to revitalize major thoroughfares. “Even in this difficult chapter in our history, great events, moments of unity, are possible,” Bass said. “And they are coming.”