Full Breakdown
Latino Vote Drives Los Angeles Mayoral Primary Outcome
6/13/2026, 1:53:27 AM
Background: 2022 Election and Latino Electorate
Latinos comprise roughly 37 % of Los Angeles’s electorate. In the 2022 mayoral primary, incumbent Karen Bass won 24 Latino-majority precincts, while challenger Rick Caruso captured 16 of those precincts and secured 34 % of the vote in neighborhoods that are at least 80 % Latino. Bass’s share in those heavily Latino areas was 27 % at that time.
Candidates and Campaign Strategies
Karen Bass emphasized her opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration raids and secured endorsements from the Avance Democratic Club, Dolores Huerta, and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla. Nithya Raman ran a bilingual outreach effort, placing Spanish-language ads and holding events in Boyle Heights, Pico-Union, and on Olvera Street. Kevin Pratt (listed as “Pratt” in precinct data) did not present a distinct Latino outreach plan and lacked prominent Latino endorsements.
Precinct-Level Data on Latino-Majority Neighborhoods
County precinct analysis shows Bass carried 35 Latino-majority neighborhoods—including Boyle Heights, Pacoima, and Historic South-Central—representing a 46 % increase from 2022. Raman won seven such neighborhoods (El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, Highland Park, Montecito Heights, Glassell Park, Cypress Park, and Westlake). Pratt secured only Harbor City, a precinct that is 51 % Latino. In precincts with >=80 % Latino residents, Bass obtained 38 % of the vote, Raman 25 % and Pratt 17 %.
Impact on the November Runoff
Bass’s performance positions her as the front-runner for the Nov. 3 runoff against Raman. The shift of neighborhoods such as Boyle Heights and Historic South-Central—previously won by Kevin de León in 2022—to Bass, and Raman’s flipping of six precincts previously held by Bass, suggest both candidates will continue to target Latino voters.
Official Statements & Responses
Raman announced she will “enforce” Los Angeles’s sanctuary-city ordinance without apology and expand deportation-defense funding while working to make the city more affordable. Bass’s campaign spokesperson described her Latino support as “organic” and rooted in her long-standing community involvement.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts noted Pratt’s failure to articulate a clear stance on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, which “hurt his appeal to Latinos.” Observers also pointed to his lack of a ground game in Latino neighborhoods. Some voters expressed concern that Bass has not sufficiently addressed homelessness and the fallout from recent immigration raids.
On-the-Ground Perspectives
Nilza Serrano, president of Avance Democratic Club, said Latinos voted for Bass because of her efforts against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Marco Santana, a Van Nuys resident, indicated he considered supporting Bass until Raman entered the race, citing “a sense of urgency.” Stephenie Lucio, a Northridge resident, admitted she voted for Bass “reluctantly” after weighing issues important to the Latino community.
Conflicting Polls & Data Gaps
A March UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll showed Bass leading Latino voters with 29 % support, Pratt at 16 % and Raman at 9 %. A May poll reversed the order, giving Raman 24 %, Pratt 21 % and Bass 20 %. The precinct-level results, which do not capture individual voter preferences, differ from these poll trends, highlighting a gap between survey data and actual voting outcomes.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Latinos came out for her because she has done a really, really good job in trying to fight the Trump administration,” — Nilza Serrano, president, Avance Democratic Club
- “If they’re legal or illegal, if they’re a danger — I want them off our streets, that’s what I said,” — Kevin Pratt, mayoral candidate
- “I’ll work every day to make Los Angeles more affordable and create more opportunity, so that Latino families — and all families — can afford to live here and thrive,” — Nithya Raman, mayoral candidate
- “Karen Bass has always fought for the Latino community.” — Alex Stack, Bass campaign spokesperson
- “really speaking up about things that are important to me and the Latino community.” — Stephenie Lucio, Northridge resident
What’s Next
The November runoff will focus on housing affordability, immigration enforcement, and public safety. Both campaigns have indicated plans for additional outreach events in Latino neighborhoods and policy proposals aimed at expanding sanctuary protections and addressing homelessness.
