A U-Haul moving truck was observed outside Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass's official residence on Friday, the day after she conceded defeat in the mayoral election to challenger Nithya Raman.
The appearance of the truck at the Getty House in Windsor Square occurred as Bass, who served one term, prepared to leave office. She is the first Los Angeles mayor in over two decades not to win reelection.
The Getty House, a 19-room Tudor-style mansion built in 1921, has been the mayor's official residence since 1977. It has hosted numerous dignitaries and events, serving as both a private home and a symbol of the city's leadership.
Bass, 73, was seen leaving the residence on Friday wearing a red suit. She had no public appearances scheduled but was reportedly directing firefighters regarding preparations for anticipated Santa Ana winds during her final weeks in office. The mayor's wing at City Hall was closed to the public on Friday.
Meanwhile, Mayor-elect Nithya Raman did not attend the City Council meeting on Friday, which included a tribute to outgoing Councilmember Curren Price. Raman had made her first public appearance as mayor-elect the previous evening.
Bass conceded the race on Thursday morning after Raman's lead grew to over 34,000 votes, with Raman securing 52.1% of the vote to Bass's 47.9%. The Associated Press called the race for Raman that morning. By Friday evening, Raman's lead had expanded to nearly 68,500 votes.
Bass's loss marked a significant political shift after she made history in 2022 as the city's first female and first Black mayor. Her defeat came amid voter concerns about homelessness, public safety, city services, and the handling of wildfires.
"While this is not the outcome we hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken," Bass stated in her concession. "I have called Councilmember Nithya Raman to congratulate her on her victory, and I have committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition."
Raman is scheduled to be inaugurated on December 14, leaving Bass with just over five weeks to transition out of her administration. It remains uncertain whether Raman, who resides in Silver Lake, will occupy the Getty House. Raman's first public appearance as mayor-elect was at the Original Farmers Market on Thursday evening, where she took limited questions from reporters.