Kamala Harris has entered the conversation about the LA mayor’s race, backing incumbent Karen Bass while steering clear of endorsing a gubernatorial candidate.
Living in Malibu now, Harris expressed her full support for Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles. “She has my full support for re-election,” Harris stated.
The two have a long history, knowing each other for over 20 years. They were even viewed as rivals when Biden was searching for a vice-presidential running mate in 2020. Bass took office as mayor while Harris was still in her vice-presidential role.
As Bass faces challenges in her re-election, particularly concerning her response to the Palisades Fire, Harris highlighted her accomplishments. “Mayor Karen Bass is the leader Los Angeles needs. She has achieved a historic two-year drop in homelessness and has lowered crime rates to levels we haven’t seen since the 1960s,” she stated.
Current statistics show that unsheltered homelessness in Los Angeles decreased by 7.9%, while sheltered homelessness rose by 4.7%, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Crime is also on a downward trend, with a 19% drop in homicides in 2025 compared to the previous year, marking the lowest homicide rates since 1966, as noted by LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.
As mail-in ballots are sent out, Harris’s remarks arrive at a crucial time for voters. Bass is currently leading her opponents, Councilmember Nithya Raman and reality TV star Spencer Pratt, but public opinion is mixed. A recent poll from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies/Los Angeles Times shows that while Bass has 25% support, about a quarter of voters remain undecided. Meanwhile, Raman and Pratt are gaining traction with 17% and 15% support, respectively.
Bass’s tenure has had its controversies, including allegations from February 2026 that she diluted an after-action report on the Palisades Fire, purportedly to sidestep legal issues. Bass has denied these claims.
While Harris chose not to endorse anyone in the crowded gubernatorial primary, she did endorse several other Democrats in key California races, including Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis for state treasurer and incumbents Rob Bonta and Malia Cohen for attorney general and state controller, respectively.
As the political landscape evolves in California, Harris’s choices could reflect broader trends among voters. The increasing competition could reshape endorsements as candidates aim to capture the support of a diverse electorate.
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