Horvath Endorses Raman, Challenging Bass's Council Support
L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath endorsed Nithya Raman for mayor on Tuesday, offering the challenger a significant boost in the Westside and San Fernando Valley. While Mayor Karen Bass retains the support of most local officials, Horvath’s backing challenges Bass’s narrative of Raman’s isolation. The endorsement highlights ongoing tensions between the county and city over homelessness services and emergency response.
Key points
- Lindsey Horvath, representing a district of 2 million people, endorsed Nithya Raman for Los Angeles mayor on October 20, 2026.
- The endorsement provides Raman with crucial support in the Westside and San Fernando Valley, areas where her campaign had previously lagged.
- Horvath criticized Mayor Karen Bass’s record on the 2025 Palisades fire, the Lineage warehouse fire, and the loss of entertainment industry jobs.
- Bass retains the endorsements of the other four county supervisors and Sheriff Robert Luna, while 13 of her 14 council colleagues support her.
- The endorsement follows a period of acrimony between Horvath and Bass, particularly regarding the county’s decision to move over $300 million from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to a new county agency.
- Horvath stated that Raman’s approach to homelessness and housing affordability represents a necessary shake-up of institutional inertia.
Background
The November 3 mayoral runoff between Nithya Raman and Karen Bass has been characterized by intense scrutiny of policy shifts and housing affordability. Recent fact-checks disputed Bass’s claims regarding homelessness reductions, while Raman maintained a polling lead despite criticism of her changing stances on police funding and housing taxes. The race highlights a clash between establishment stability and progressive reform in the United States' second-largest city.
Why it matters
The endorsement shifts the balance of local political support, potentially influencing voter perception in key districts. It also underscores the deepening rift between city and county governments over the management of homelessness and emergency preparedness, issues that are central to the mayoral race.
What to watch
The campaign will likely focus on the impact of Horvath’s endorsement in the Westside and San Fernando Valley. Bass’s campaign may respond by emphasizing her broader support from local officials. The race will continue to center on homelessness, housing affordability, and emergency preparedness as the November 3 election approaches.
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