Full Breakdown
Harris Endorses Bass in 2026 Los Angeles Mayoral Race
5/5/2026, 9:24:14 PM
Harris Endorses Bass
Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced on May 4, 2026 that she fully backs incumbent Mayor Karen Bass for re-election, citing a two-year decline in homelessness, a drop in violent crime to 1960s levels, and resistance to federal pressure.
Opponents, Polls, and Key Metrics
Bass’s opponents are City Councilmember Nithya Raman and reality-TV personality Spencer Pratt. A UC Berkeley poll (March) gave Bass 25 % support, Raman 17 % and Pratt 14 %; a UCLA Luskin poll (May) showed Bass 25 %, Pratt 11 % and Raman 9 %, with 40 % undecided. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported a 7.9 % drop in unsheltered homelessness, while Bass’s office cites a 17.5 % overall decline. Fundraising filings show Bass raised $495 k and holds $2.3 million cash, while Pratt and Raman raised over $530 k each.
Official Statements
Harris praised Bass’s record on homelessness, safety and federal relations, pledging support. Bass thanked Harris, calling the endorsement proof of a vision for a “safer, more affordable” city. Four Los Angeles County supervisors—Hilda Solis, Holly Mitchell, Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger—called Bass a “trailblazer.” Harris also backed Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Controller Malia Cohen.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics fault Bass for her handling of the January 2025 Palisades fire, alleging she softened the after-action report and was abroad in Ghana when the blaze spread. Berkeley poll shows 56 % of voters view her unfavorably. Spencer Pratt’s campaign brands Bass “Karen Bass’ Worst Nightmare” and runs ads contrasting his modest home with hers. Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America declined to endorse Raman, saying endorsements require a petition and membership vote.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Polls differ on undecided voters—one shows a quarter still undecided, another reports 40 % undecided. Homelessness metrics also vary: the city agency cites a 7.9 % drop in unsheltered counts, while the mayor’s office cites a 17.5 % overall decline. Fundraising filings show Bass raised less than her rivals but retains a larger cash balance. No eyewitness accounts of the fire response have been published.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Mayor Karen Bass is the leader Los Angeles needs right now.” — Kamala Harris, former Vice President
- “She has done what so many said couldn't be done — the first ever two-year decline in homelessness, reducing crime to levels this city hasn't seen since the 1960s, and refusing to back down when the federal government came after our neighbors.” — Kamala Harris, former Vice President
- “I am deeply honored to have the support of Vice President Kamala Harris, who has spent her career fighting for the people of Los Angeles and our country,” — Karen Bass, Mayor
- “It is unusual for 40% of likely voters to be unsure of their choice just two months before an LA mayoralty election,” — Zev Yaroslavsky, director, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
What's Next
June 2 primary decides mayor; runoff follows no candidate hits 50 %.
