Story perspectives

UC Berkeley Poll Gives Raman 11-Point Lead Over Bass

By Drooid · Oct 2, 2026, 2:53 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Bass Avoids Genocide Label

Los Angeles mayoral candidates Nithya Raman and Karen Bass addressed Jewish voters at a forum in the Skirball Cultural Center on Tuesday.
A UC Berkeley poll of 2,150 likely voters (Sept 15-20) gave Raman an 11-point lead over Bass, with one-third undecided.
Bass said she focuses on conflicts’ impact on Los Angeles and avoided labeling Israel’s actions genocide.
Both campaigns have raised about $2.5 million in contributions and city matching funds.

Right

Candidate Media Defense

Los Angeles mayoral candidates Nithya Raman and Karen Bass addressed Jewish voters at a Skirball Cultural Center forum on Tuesday.
Raman defended appearing on streamer Hasan Piker’s program, saying candidates must speak to voters on platforms where they are present.
April Silverman said Raman’s remarks were hurtful to Angelenos and showed she misread the audience.
Rabbi Noah Farkas and CEO Jessie Kornberg led the forum, hosted by Federation and ADL.

Blindspot

A UC Berkeley poll of 2,150 likely voters conducted Sept 15-20 showed Raman leading Bass by 11 points, with about one-third of voters undecided.
Both campaigns have raised roughly $2.5 million in contributions, supplemented by city matching funds.
Within this story's sources, this polling and fundraising information appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

When incumbent Tom Bradley retired in 1993, the open mayoral race let Republican businessman Richard Riordan spend $4.2 million and win 54% of the vote, becoming the city’s first Republican mayor in 36 years and drawing strong support from the Jewish community. That 1993 coalition-building model now informs candidates Nithya Raman and Karen Bass as they court Jewish voters.

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Bass Avoids Genocide Label

Los Angeles mayoral candidates Nithya Raman and Karen Bass addressed Jewish voters at a forum in the Skirball Cultural Center on Tuesday.
A UC Berkeley poll of 2,150 likely voters (Sept 15-20) gave Raman an 11-point lead over Bass, with one-third undecided.
Bass said she focuses on conflicts’ impact on Los Angeles and avoided labeling Israel’s actions genocide.
Both campaigns have raised about $2.5 million in contributions and city matching funds.

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