The Problem with the LA Mayoral Race

Article by Noelle Hardy, TPT guest writer


The media’s latest favorite topic of discussion has been the Los Angeles Mayoral race between lifelong Democrat Karen Bass and private sector millionaire Rick Caruso. This election is a nail-biter as both compete for the job of our last mayor Eric Garcetti. However, the drama, energy, and sheer amount of money that has gone into this race have been a complete waste of the time of the Democratic party: organizers and voters alike. 

Bass has been in democratic politics for decades, first as founder of the activist organization Community Coalition and later as Speaker of the California Assembly, and as a member of Congress. Caruso built and owns some of Los Angeles’s most expensive real estate including the Grove, a famed mall that attracts more visitors than Disneyland. Caruso is a former Republican and only recently switched his registration to be a Democrat to run in the Democratic primary. Does a former Republican millionaire sound like the best person to solve the LA homelessness crisis with his record of making LA housing all the more expensive?

Photo via Carolyn Kaster/AP

Results from the primary in June placed Bass ahead by 7 percent and according to recent polls, she still leads. However, according to the average polling error collected during the 2016 and 2020 election cycles, this lead can still be in the margin of error. Make no mistake this race is tight. Why? Mainly due to money. Caruso has made this race the most expensive in history as what he lacks in work experience and name recognition he has in money that he can spend on his campaign. Before the primary, Caruso spent $176 dollars for every vote while Bass spent just $11. Instead of pumping money into flippable Senate seats, the Democratic Party and voters are spending money protecting a veteran politician in one of the bluest counties in America.

Photo via Alex Gallardo/AP

The Democratic Party has a blue-on-blue problem. While most of historically blue LA  would love the most progressive person in their representative seat, the bottom line is that in order to get anything substantial done, we need more Democrats of any shape and size. In order to codify Roe, same-sex marriage, and ban assault weapons, we need Democrats. Our energy must be spent turning out people in swing districts to keep Congress blue. 

The Los Angeles mayoral race is the most counterproductive race in this cycle with the consequences overblown. If Rick Caruso knew what was good for him he would run for President in 2024 so he could see, on the national stage, the distaste that the Democratic Party has for millionaires without wasting all of our time. 


The views articulated in this piece are the writer’s own, and do not reflect the official stances of The Progressive Teen or HSDA at large.

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