Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) on Thursday offered Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s campaign for reelection his endorsement, just days before voters head to the polls.
Bass faces an uneasy path to a second term ahead of the June 2 election, amid concerns about her handling of the 2025 Los Angeles fires, homelessness, crime, and economic issues, among other policies. Newsom backed the incumbent mayor as polling indicates she is in a tight campaign against Spencer Pratt, viewed as conservative but running in a nonpartisan race, and Councilwoman Nithya Raman, a progressive who shocked the city by announcing her candidacy, despite previously endorsing Bass, citing concerns that Los Angeles is “at a breaking point.”
“The work Karen Bass is doing in Los Angeles is making our entire state stronger, with an 18% decline in homelessness while it grew nationally, historic drops in violent crime, boosting film production in LA, and protecting our communities against ICE. She has my full support for reelection,” Newsom said.
The governor’s statement comes after former Vice President Kamala Harris, also a California resident, endorsed Bass earlier this month. Newsom had previously said he “broadly” supported Bass, while expressing hesitation over aspects of her leadership.
