In an interview this Monday with ABC7, real estate developer Rick Caruso announced that he would be voting for incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the upcoming mayoral elections. Caruso ran against Bass in the 2022 L.A. mayoral race, and ultimately lost. He did not run in the 2026 election.
In the interview, Caruso said that Bass “has worked hard to learn from the mistakes of the past.”
“I feel very strongly, because of my love for Los Angeles, I had to put the past behind me,” Caruso said.
Mayor Bass has suffered strong criticism for her response to the Palisades and Boyle Heights warehouse fires that many felt were deeply inadequate. Caruso explained that he felt that Bass has since been making a concerted effort to return people to their homes. Caruso affirmed that Bass has “always been open to taking my suggestions,” but clarified that this was not an official endorsement, but rather a “sharing of my vote.”
Later in the interview, he stated that he feels strongly that “Councilwoman Raman is not ready for the job,” specifically citing her stance to remove Chief of Police for the Los Angeles Police, Jim McDonnell, from office.
Caruso conceded that while he and Bass have and still do disagree on multiple issues, he felt that she had sufficient experience to properly lead the city, while citing concerns that Raman has yet to hold an executive position. In response to the interviewer’s question about supporters of Spencer Pratt, who are thinking about sitting the election out, Caruso said: “Not voting, for me, is not an option. Your opinion matters. Your vote matters.”
Bass and Raman will face off in the L.A. mayoral election this upcoming Tuesday, November 3rd.
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