Unsuccessful mayoral candidate Rick Caruso endorses Bass
Billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who lost to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in the 2022 general election, says he’s going to vote for Bass this year.
The two have not seen eye to eye on issues. Still, in a video posted on social media, Caruso said he made his decision for the Nov. 3 election after careful consideration.
“For the love of L.A., I must put the past behind me because this election must be about our future and not a referendum on the past. I will be casting my ballot for Mayor Karen Bass,” Caruso said early Monday evening. “Mayor Bass and I have certainly had our disagreements, and we have not always seen eye to eye on the challenges facing our city. But over the past several months, I’ve worked closely with her on the rebuilding efforts following the devastating fires. I believe she is learning from her mistakes. I have seen her grow into this job.”
Caruso, who calls himself a centrist Democrat, went on to say that he has “serious concerns” about the mayor’s opponent, Los Angeles Councilwoman Nithya Raman. Both Bass and Raman are Democrats, but with a difference: Raman was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.
“It is not so much about ideology but about competence, lack of her executive experience, her comments regarding firing [Police] Chief Jim McDonnell, which is reckless and dangerous in my opinion, and what I believe is her lack of a comprehensive plan to address the challenges facing Los Angeles,” said Caruso. “This is no time to turn the LAPD into a laboratory for risky DSA social experimentation, as Raman threatened to do.”
Raman has proposed firing McDonnell because of his handling of protests against U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement and the department’s response to immigrants. Bass has stood by McDonnell.
Raman has said she is ready and capable of serving as mayor. Caruso disagrees.
“At such a critical moment for our city, we cannot afford uncertainty when it comes to public safety and the future of our neighborhoods,” said Caruso. “Her track record on the council is troubling too. She led the city’s homeless policy. Does anybody think that that has been a success? Her plans are murky and she avoids telling any of us details. Councilwoman Raman would be a change all right, but not the right change.”
Raman is criticized in current TV commercials against her for supporting homeless encampments close to schools.
The Center Square reached out Tuesday to Bass and Raman for comments, but heard from neither by publication time.
In a recent debate, Raman challenged Bass’s management of the city and criticized her for being absent during the devastating Palisades Fire in January 2025.
“We cannot afford another four years of declines, of mismanagement, of excuses,” Raman said.
Bass said in that debate that she is “sorry” for not having been in the city when it needed her. She added that Los Angeles has “done a lot” to fast track the rebuilding of areas impacted by the Palisades Fire, which burned 23,448 acres near the Pacific coast, killed 12 people and destroyed 6,833 structures.
“Now is not the time to turn the city over to Nithya Raman,” said Bass.
Mostly Cloudy
