Rick Caruso Endorses Karen Bass for Mayor, Criticizes Rival Nithya Raman

Rick Caruso, a prominent billionaire developer and former mayoral candidate, announced Monday his endorsement of current Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, eight days before the election. Caruso, who was Bass's rival in the previous mayoral race, cited their collaboration on wildfire recovery efforts as a reason for setting aside past disagreements.

"For the love of LA, I must put the past behind me," Caruso stated in an Instagram post. "Mayor Bass and I have certainly had our disagreements, and we have not always seen eye to eye on the challenges facing our city."

He added that he had witnessed firsthand Bass's "dedication, her willingness to work together, and her commitment to helping families and communities rebuild their lives."

Caruso's endorsement came with sharp criticism of Bass's challenger, Nithya Raman. He specifically targeted Raman's plans for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), calling them "reckless and dangerous."

"This is no time to turn the LAPD into a laboratory for risky DSA social experimentation," Caruso warned. He also questioned Raman's record on homelessness policy, asking, "She's led the city's homeless policy. Does anybody think that is a success?"

The announcement follows speculation after Caruso appeared alongside Bass at a recent event focused on rebuilding efforts in Pacific Palisades. His endorsement echoes that of Councilwoman Traci Park, whose district was affected by wildfires. Park recently informed her constituents that she would vote for Bass, expressing concerns that Raman's policies could hinder progress on public safety and wildfire recovery.

The election is scheduled for November 3.