Bass and Raman tie in LA mayoral race as 19% remain undecided

Los Angeles residents face a mayoral election this Tuesday where neither candidate holds a clear lead. According to a new survey, Karen Bass and Nithya Raman are tied, each commanding support from 40% of likely voters. The race hinges on a bloc of undecided voters that currently represents 19% of the electorate.

The contest began in June with a primary election that drew limited participation. Only 37% of the 2,216,699 registered voters cast ballots. Bass secured 292,593 votes, or 34.3%, while Raman received 247,781. A third candidate, Spencer Pratt, garnered 217,977 votes. That conservative-leaning bloc has since become a focal point as both candidates attempt to court undecided voters.

Bass, who has never lost a public election, expressed optimism during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Boyle Heights for housing for young adults who experienced foster care. "The increase in support I have felt and the momentum of the moment are in our favor," the mayor said. "We still have to see what voters decide, but I feel very optimistic." Raman concluded a busy schedule by celebrating Day of the Dead in the Union and Hoover areas.

Voters are evaluating the candidates on specific municipal failures. Bass faced criticism for her absence during the January 2025 Palisades fire and the June 17 Lineage fire in Boyle Heights, where she was in Chicago for the Barack Obama Presidential Center inauguration. Raman has faced scrutiny over a campaign video featuring a left-leaning figure and her comments regarding the LAPD's historical standards. She later apologized for referencing the "gold standard" under former Chief Daryl Gates, explaining she meant Special Order 40, which limited cooperation with immigration authorities.

Public safety remains a central concern. The New York Post reported that in 2024, the LAPD dispatch center answered only slightly more than half of 911 calls within 15 seconds, missing the state requirement of 90%. Over 500,000 callers waited at least 40 seconds. In one high-profile incident, creator Evan Lovett waited 59 minutes for an operator during a home invasion in Studio City, though officers arrived on scene six minutes after the call was connected.

The Berkeley IGS Poll, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, identified key voter priorities: homelessness, business closures, the LAPD budget, affordable housing, and the film industry's financial difficulties. Mark DiCamillo, director of the Berkeley IGS Poll, noted that Bass's recovery in the polls likely stems from appealing to conservative undecided voters who previously supported Pratt. Both candidates continue to debate the city's infrastructure, including broken pipes and the LAX people mover project, which is more than $1 billion over budget.