Local Politics · Los Angeles, CA
Bass Holds Slim Lead in LA Mayor Race; Final Results Expected Nov. 27
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass held a 2,027-vote lead over City Councilmember Nithya Raman in early returns on Election Day, with 50.17% to 49.83% as of about 12:04 a.m. Wednesday. The LA County registrar's office released its first batch of vote-by-mail results at 8:17 p.m., with updates scheduled twice daily through Friday and once daily starting Saturday; final results are expected Nov. 27. The race centered on homelessness policy, public safety staffing, housing affordability, and responses to the January 2025 Palisades fire and a June Lineage warehouse fire in Boyle Heights. Two City Council seats (Districts 3 and 9) were also contested, and all eight city ballot measures—including a half-cent sales tax increase for the Fire Department—received majority support in early returns.