Kamala Harris Involved in Los Angeles Mayoral Race

Kamala Harris has made her stance clear in the Los Angeles mayoral race, endorsing a candidate while remaining neutral in the gubernatorial contest.

The former vice president, currently residing in Malibu, has publicly endorsed the incumbent Karen Bass for mayor of Los Angeles, which is the second-largest city in the U.S.

“She has our full support for re-election,” Harris stated.

Harris and Bass have known each other for over two decades and were once thought to be contenders for the position of running mate when Biden expressed his intent to pick a woman in 2020.

Bass, in her first term, took office while Harris was still serving as vice president.

As Bass faces challenges and scrutiny heading into her re-election bid—particularly over her response to the recent Palisades fire—Harris highlighted Bass’s track record on homelessness and crime.

“Mayor Karen Bass is the leader Los Angeles needs right now. She has achieved what many deemed impossible: for the first time in history, homelessness has decreased in two years, and crime levels are at their lowest since the 1960s, all while not wavering in the face of federal government challenges,” Harris remarked in a statement.

In terms of homelessness in Los Angeles, there was a slight decrease of 7.9% in unsheltered individuals, while those in shelters rose by 4.7%, as reported by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

Crime statistics indicate a steady decline, with murders projected to drop by 19% in 2025 compared to 2024. According to Police Chief Jim McDonnell, homicide rates will reach their lowest since 1966.

Harris’s endorsement comes as mail-in ballots are being distributed to residents, prompting them to make their voting decisions.

Bass leads against her main rivals—City Councilor Nitya Raman and reality TV personality Spencer Pratt—but public opinion is mixed. Many view her unfavorably, and 13% remain undecided.

Currently, Bass holds 25% support among voters; however, a considerable portion of the electorate is still unsure, as per a poll by the Berkeley Institute of Government and the Los Angeles Times.

On the gubernatorial primary front, Harris opted to stay neutral when choosing between colleagues Katie Porter and Xavier Becerra, who leads within the Democratic field.

Meanwhile, Raman and Pratt hold 17% and 15% of voter support, respectively, as they extend their backing toward Bass.

Bass faced significant criticism earlier this year after being accused of producing a “watered-down” report in response to the January 2025 Palisades fire, which allegedly softened criticism of the Los Angeles Fire Department’s failures—an accusation that Bass has vehemently denied.

Though she has remained reserved during the intense gubernatorial primary, Harris has endorsed candidates in other key California races. She backed Democrats like Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis for state treasurer, and also supported Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Maria Cohen.

Harris’s lack of endorsement between Porter and Becerra illustrates her cautious approach in this competitive political landscape.

Bass confronts a challenging road to re-election ahead.