Bass’s 'Establishment' Defense Fails to Halt Raman’s Polling Surge

Key points

• Bass’s approval ratings have plummeted, with polls showing Raman leading significantly ahead of the November 3 runoff.
• Bass attempted to portray Raman as an outsider unsupported by the political establishment, a strategy critics view as a defense of the status quo rather than a positive case for her leadership.
• Fact-checkers found that Bass’s claim of an 11% reduction in homelessness is not supported by citywide data, which shows only a 2.3% decrease, while Raman’s district-specific claims align with local data but contrast with citywide trends.
• Bass’s signature Inside Safe program has cost over $300 million, with critics questioning its cost-effectiveness and accountability, while Raman advocates for expanding rental vouchers.
• Several prominent progressive politicians, including Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Ysabel Jurado, have switched their support to Bass, a move Raman’s supporters describe as a betrayal of progressive principles.

Background

The race has been defined by a clash between Bass’s establishment credentials and Raman’s progressive platform. Previous coverage highlighted Bass’s low approval ratings due to homelessness and housing crises, as well as Raman’s aggressive 100-day plan to overhaul city services. Earlier debates also revealed tensions over Raman’s policy shifts on policing and housing, which Bass has used to question her consistency. The current debate marked the final major event before the election, with both candidates making their last pitches to voters.

How outlets are covering it

The Los Angeles Times, through columnist Gustavo Arellano, argues that Bass’s strategy of invoking the political establishment’s disapproval of Raman is a losing tactic that underscores her own failures. Arellano contends that Bass has transformed from a political outsider into a symbol of the establishment she once opposed, and that her focus on Raman’s readiness rather than her own record reflects a lack of substantive policy proposals. NBC Los Angeles, in its fact-checking, provides a more neutral perspective, highlighting discrepancies in both candidates’ claims. NBC notes that Bass’s homelessness reduction claim is not supported by citywide data, while Raman’s district-specific claims are accurate but do not reflect the citywide trend. NBC also points out that Bass’s Inside Safe program is expensive and that Raman’s criticism of the LAPD’s data-sharing practices is based on concerns about private companies, not the police department itself. The two outlets differ in their emphasis: the LA Times focuses on the political dynamics and voter sentiment, while NBC focuses on the factual accuracy of the candidates’ claims.

Why it matters

The outcome of this election will determine the direction of Los Angeles’s governance for the next four years. A victory for Raman would signal a significant shift in the city’s political landscape, potentially leading to major changes in policy areas such as homelessness, public safety, and housing. A victory for Bass would represent a continuation of the current administration’s approach, which has faced widespread criticism for its handling of these issues. The race also has broader implications for the Democratic Party in California, as it tests the viability of progressive candidates in a major city.

What to watch

The next major event will be the November 3 election, where voters will decide between Bass and Raman. In the interim, both campaigns will likely intensify their efforts to mobilize voters, with Bass focusing on her experience and Raman on her reform agenda. Fact-checkers and media outlets will continue to scrutinize the candidates’ claims, and the political establishment’s support for Bass will be a key factor in the final weeks of the campaign.