LA Mayoral Race Becomes Multimillion-Dollar Spending Battle

Los Angeles’ mayoral race has become a multimillion-dollar contest, with labor unions, wealthy donors, and police groups spending heavily on advertisements ahead of the Nov. 3 election. This surge in external spending has transformed the race between Mayor Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman into an expensive battle focused on issues such as homelessness and public safety.

The Western States Regional Council of Carpenters has contributed significantly to the Estamos Con Nithya committee, backing Raman. By Thursday, this committee had raised over $10 million, with hedge fund manager Aaron Sosnick accounting for $6 million of that sum. Sosnick, who has advocated for expanding Los Angeles' bike-lane network, also provided funding to Streets for All, a transportation advocacy group that has spent $1.1 million on digital ads critical of Bass, particularly concerning homelessness and the Palisades fire.

Mayor Bass's campaign has also seen substantial support from outside entities. A committee sponsored by the Los Angeles Police Protective League has spent nearly $4.8 million on advertisements targeting Raman, including her stance on a law that would prohibit homeless encampments near schools. Additionally, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and regional building-trade unions have provided support to Bass.

While outside groups are engaged in a significant spending war, the candidates' direct fundraising totals present a different picture. Bass has raised approximately $3.4 million overall, slightly more than Raman's $3 million, according to recent campaign finance reports. However, Raman has a nearly $1.4 million cash advantage over Bass, who has less available to spend.

In the period leading up to Oct. 17, Bass secured $827,000 in contributions and taxpayer matching funds, while Raman received $485,000. Individual donations to campaigns are capped at $1,800, but independent expenditure committees are permitted to accept unlimited contributions, provided they do not coordinate directly with the campaigns.

This intense spending occurs against a backdrop of public dissatisfaction with the direction of Los Angeles. A California Post-McLaughlin & Associates poll indicated that 66.2% of respondents believe the city is headed in the wrong direction, with only 16.4% holding a contrary view. Homelessness emerged as the primary concern for voters, cited by 47.3%, followed by the cost of living at 41.7% and housing costs at 35.4%.

The same poll revealed a significant disapproval rating for Mayor Bass's performance, with 71.7% of respondents disapproving, compared to 25.5% approval. Even among registered Democrats, 65.5% expressed disapproval. In a head-to-head matchup, Raman led Bass in the survey, 46.7% to 38.8%, with 13.5% of voters remaining undecided.