LA Mayoral Race Pivots on 2028 Olympic Leadership and Financial Risks

Key points

• Bass and allies warn that Raman’s pledge to replace Police Chief Jim McDonnell could disrupt security for the 2028 Games, which are 640 days away. Bass argues that changing leadership this close to the event would cause serious setbacks, while Raman has not specified if she would replace the chief before the Games begin.
• Raman, who opposed the Olympic bid in 2020, now supports the Games but criticizes the city’s financial risk. She voted against the agreement with the LA28 organizing committee, arguing that the city is exposed to unlimited cost overruns. She plans to appoint a financial executive to oversee Olympic costs and increase transparency from LA28.
• The 2028 Games are projected to cost over $730 million in policing alone, with the LAPD budget for the two-month event period exceeding half its annual allocation. The U.S. Secret Service will lead security, but the LAPD will play a major role. The city has agreed to a $270 million contingency fund, but remains the financial guarantor if costs exceed expectations.
• Raman could influence the LA28 board of directors, the Metro Board, and the Board of Police Commissioners. She has proposed using her mayoral appointments to push for greater public transit investment and financial accountability. Bass, by contrast, has emphasized the importance of stability and continuity in leadership for the event.
• The race has shifted from focusing on wildfires and housing to the Olympics, with Bass’s allies using Raman’s past opposition as a key attack. Raman has stated she wants the Games to succeed but has criticized the lack of public input and financial transparency in the planning process.

Background

The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a major event for Los Angeles, with the city serving as the host. The Games are expected to use existing venues, with no new permanent structures built, a first since London 1948. The city has a complex relationship with the private LA28 organizing committee, which is operating on a $7.2 billion budget. The city has agreed to reimburse LA28 for municipal services, but has expressed concerns about financial risk. The 2026 mayoral election is the first in two decades where a progressive is attempting to oust a sitting mayor, with the Olympics becoming a central issue in the race.

How outlets are covering it

Bass and her allies, including City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, argue that Raman’s past opposition to the Olympics and pledge to replace the police chief could jeopardize the event’s security and financial stability. They emphasize the importance of continuity in leadership for a major national security event. Raman, while now supporting the Games, criticizes the city’s financial exposure and plans to increase oversight of LA28. She has voted against the city’s agreement with LA28 and has called for greater transparency in the organizing committee’s finances. LAist and LAmag highlight the potential for Raman to shake up key bodies, including the Metro Board and the LA28 board of directors, while also noting the city’s financial risk. Daily Bruin focuses on the social issues surrounding the Games, particularly homelessness, and argues that the city should use the event as an opportunity to address these issues rather than hiding them. The outlets differ in their emphasis, with some focusing on the political and financial aspects, while others highlight the social and humanitarian issues.

Why it matters

The outcome of the LA mayoral race will determine who oversees the final preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games, with significant implications for public safety, transit, and municipal budgets. The Games are a major event for the city, with a projected cost of over $730 million in policing alone. The city has agreed to a $270 million contingency fund, but remains the financial guarantor if costs exceed expectations. The race has shifted from focusing on wildfires and housing to the Olympics, with Bass’s allies using Raman’s past opposition as a key attack. The election on November 3 will determine who has the power to influence the LA28 board of directors, the Metro Board, and the Board of Police Commissioners, with potential implications for the city’s financial and social policies.

What to watch

The LA mayoral election will take place on November 3, 2026. The winner will oversee the final preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the city facing a two-year countdown. The new mayor will have the power to influence the LA28 board of directors, the Metro Board, and the Board of Police Commissioners, with potential implications for the city’s financial and social policies. The city will also face the challenge of addressing homelessness and other social issues during the Games, with the potential for increased scrutiny and public attention. The outcome of the race will determine whether the city maintains its current approach to the Games or shifts to a more critical and oversight-focused stance.