California Gov. Gavin Newsom Endorses Karen Bass In Tight Los Angeles Mayor Race
California Gov. Gavin Newsom officially endorsed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Thursday, throwing his support behind the incumbent just days before the June 2 election as the race tightens dramatically.
Newsom praised Bass’ leadership on homelessness, crime and immigration issues while announcing the endorsement.
“The work Karen Bass is doing in Los Angeles is making our entire state stronger, with an 18% decline in homelessness while it grew nationally, historic drops in violent crime, boosting film production in L.A., and protecting our communities against ICE,” Newsom told the Los Angeles Times.
“She has my full support for reelection,” the governor added.
The endorsement comes as Bass faces mounting pressure from progressive challenger Nithya Raman and former reality television star Spencer Pratt, who has emerged as a surprising force in the race.
A poll released Thursday showed Bass with 26% support among likely voters, narrowly ahead of Raman at 25%, while Pratt pulled 22%, signaling a highly competitive finish in the race for leadership of the nation’s second-largest city.
Raman, who is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, has consolidated support among Los Angeles’ far-left voter base, while Pratt has aligned himself with more conservative and MAGA-friendly voters frustrated with the city’s handling of homelessness and crime.
Newsom and Bass have maintained close political ties for years. Bass publicly defended Newsom during California’s 2021 recall election, while Newsom previously stayed neutral during Bass’ 2022 mayoral race against billionaire developer Rick Caruso.
Observers long viewed Newsom’s neutrality in that contest as an effort to avoid alienating California’s influential donor class while preserving his broader national ambitions.
The governor had hinted at support for Bass earlier this year but stopped short of formally endorsing her until now.
Bass has also secured backing from several major Democratic figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Adam Schiff and Sen. Alex Padilla.
The endorsement arrives as Los Angeles continues grappling with major financial and social challenges, including a reported $1 billion budget deficit, homelessness concerns and rising tensions over immigration enforcement policies tied to President Donald Trump’s administration.
One of the biggest areas of alignment between Newsom and Bass has been their opposition to federal immigration crackdowns and increased scrutiny from Washington.
Despite their close alliance, Newsom previously refused to support a state bailout for Los Angeles during last year’s budget crisis, calling the proposal a “nonstarter” as California itself faced mounting financial pressures.