Rep. Karen Bass has emerged victorious in the Los Angeles mayoral race, defeating businessman Rick Caruso, which makes her the first woman and second Black Angeleno to be elected as the city’s leader in its 241-year history, as reported by an Associated Press projection on Wednesday.
Despite his opponent, a 69-year-old congresswoman, spending more than $100 million on TV advertising and outreach, Caruso achieved victory by shattering local spending records and pumping unprecedented sums into the field.
According to the campaign, Bass discovered the information while in her congressional office in Los Angeles. In a statement on Wednesday evening, she expressed, “The residents of Los Angeles have conveyed a distinct message: the moment has come for transformation and the moment has come for immediacy.”
She stated that her message to the city was a pledge to urgently prevent crime and solve homelessness, in order to make Los Angeles affordable for working families.
Despite being a former Republican in a sapphire-blue city in California, Caruso was ultimately unable to prevail, as he was outspent by Bass, who spent 63 times more than him.
She was leading by just six points on Wednesday. The margin grew steadily in her favor as the race for Bass’s election processed vote-by-mail ballots the day after. The thin lead Caruso had eked out in the early morning was buoyed by support from voters who marked their ballots in person, but the preliminary election results seesawed by the next night.
Congratulations, Karen, and may God grant you success. The movement we established must be set aside for now, as a city, it is imperative that we come together and rally behind Mayor-elect Bass, providing her with the assistance she requires to confront the numerous problems we encounter. “There will be additional accomplishments stemming from our efforts to involve marginalized communities, granting a platform to those who have been disregarded, and shedding light on the most significant obstacles our magnificent city confronts,” Caruso expressed in a statement conceding the election. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved.
Caruso phoned Bass to acknowledge defeat on Wednesday evening, as reported by both campaigns.
The County Registrar-Recorder/County L.A. Clerk’s office is expected to certify the results on December 5. Although it may still take a few more days, it appears that the recent conclusion is almost certain, similar to the path that Bass’ campaign had started in City Hall.
Born in South Los Angeles, Karen Bass has spent her life deeply rooted in the ideals of social justice. She is a longtime resident of the Baldwin Hills and Venice-Fairfax area, and has ultimately taken her leadership to the nonprofit halls of power in Washington, D.C. And Sacramento, as well as the emergency county room.
When she takes office on Dec. 12 as the 43rd mayor of Los Angeles, her daily journey to work will become significantly shorter, replacing Eric Garcetti.
Bass’ victory, in addition to a wider change in the leadership of local politics, was mentioned by USC political science and international relations department chair Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro as two factors contributing to this incredibly significant occasion.
At present, all five seats on the powerful Board of Supervisors are held by women, marking a significant shift in the historically male-dominated county leadership. By the end of 2022, at least five women will be seated on both the citywide office and the city council, further increasing female representation. It is worth noting that five years ago, there were already two women serving on both the citywide office and the Los Angeles City Council.
“Los Angeles is currently witnessing what I would describe as a significant period in the history of women’s leadership,” stated Hancock Alfaro.
Bass will take control of a city marred by corruption scandals and a deepening crisis of homelessness, exacerbated by the profound inequities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Confidence in the local government seems to be at a low point, following a series of indictments in recent years and the release of an audio recording leaked less than a month before the election, which revealed top officials making racist comments and engaging in scheming to maintain political power.
Bass said that in the days leading up to the election, her first priority upon taking office would be to declare a state of emergency on homelessness and provide temporary housing for the 41,000 individuals sleeping in makeshift shelters, RVs, and tents in the city.
The mayoral race in the city during the almost ten-year decade was a story of contrasts, symbolized by two divergent candidates who represented different visions for the city.
Karen Bass, a Black woman who has dedicated decades to public service, initially as an activist and organizer and later as an elected official, has tirelessly fought for incremental gains in underserved communities in Los Angeles.
The former speaker of the Assembly and six-term member of Congress is known for her skills as a coalition-builder, with a decidedly low-key reputation.
Caruso, a white man, built a real estate empire focusing on creating highly controlled private spaces like the Grove, a shopping center that evokes an idealized urban life with meticulous attention to detail and a spectacular spectacle.
Former Police Commission President, an outsider in the political world with business experience, painted a picture of long-standing failed politicians who were unable to succeed. His candidacy largely focused on his easily digestible pledge to clean up L.A., Which had a high sheen.
Ultimately, though, it was the candidates’ distinct political backgrounds that became the defining split of the competition.
In the race for city mayor, it was evident that only the Democratic candidate, she, received frequent endorsements from Democratic clubs and officials. This overwhelming support from the establishment Democratic party built a strong wall of virtual support for lifelong Democrat Bass.
Mainly characterized by voter discontent regarding homelessness and crime, the significance of party history was of lesser importance during the initial months. Less than three weeks prior to the declaration, the real estate developer, who had never before been registered as a Democrat, announced his candidacy in late January.
However, Caruso’s previous affiliation with the Republican party became an unavoidable burden during the summer and autumn seasons.
The upcoming mayoral race in modern-day L.A. May take place in a year filled with synchronized federal and state elections, against the backdrop of intensifying hyper-partisan national politics.
Throughout his campaign, Caruso loudly touted his support for abortion rights, despite his murky history on the issue and past donations to antiabortion politicians. He made the issue of abortion rights a potent campaign issue, but overturning the Supreme Court’s decision in Wade vs. Roe was an unlikely outcome and Congress never had full control over the rancorous battle.
While on the campaign trail, Caruso primarily aimed to steer clear of conversations regarding his partisan political transformation and covered his promotional materials with the term “Democrat”. However, in mid-October, he changed his strategy and broadcasted a television advertisement that directly broached the topic, highlighting how the Republican Party “veered towards a direction that no longer aligned with my principles.”
Hoping to replicate the success of Richard Riordan, a Republican centrist businessman who relied on his outsider status and a record-breaking influx of funds for his victorious 1993 mayoral bid, the campaign relied on the bona fides of their personal candidate.
Tom Bradley succeeded Riordan as the first Black mayor of the city’s Los Angeles, having shepherded through a two-decade tenure as mayor, after being elected in 1973.
The 2022 race grew uglier in its final months as both candidates fought with much fire in response to the bombardment centered on one of the most prominent private institutions in the city. Caruso frequently hammered her allies, branding them as “liars” and “phonies,” while also attacking her opponent’s scandals and relationships. Bass, on the other hand, praised Scientology and gave a speech, hitting Caruso for his past Republican affiliations and also attacking his opponent’s scandals and relationships at USC.
Bass emerged as an immediate frontrunner when she joined the race last autumn, over four months before Caruso.
Garcetti managed to fight through a challenging and lengthy battle as a strong contender, but ultimately finished second in the primary. Caruso’s aggressive advertising campaign and unprecedented spending helped him surge into contention, despite having little name recognition when he entered the race. Additionally, as a well-known real estate developer, he had built some of the region’s most prominent retail centers.
In the final weeks of the race, Caruso significantly increased his advertising efforts, spending approximately $4 million.
With the aim to secure the lead in the Voters Valley, Fernando San Caruso sought support from moderates and Latinos. However, Bass, a strong advocate for registered Democrats, liberals, and women, continued to back him.
Bass’ political consciousness took shape at the pinnacle of the civil rights movement, as a young girl listening to her father, who was a letter-carrier, with anticipation every morning before the news.
In 1990, Bass spearheaded a gathering in a residential area that commenced with Community Coalition — the politically powerful not-for-profit organization she established. The calamity profoundly affected communities in South L.A. During the peak of the crack cocaine epidemic, initiating her career as a nurse and medical practitioner’s aide.
Before Long, she became the first Black woman to lead the legislative body of the California Assembly as the community-based leadership frequently brought her to City Hall as an advocate, pushing lawmakers outside the system.
Amidst fractious conflicts and frequent demonstrations in council chambers, she, as the ultimate insider, will make her return to City Hall as the leader of the nation’s second-largest city.