LA Elects First Black Woman Mayor

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Facts

  • Over a week after election day, and with more than a 6% lead with 74% of ballots counted late Wednesday night, US Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) is projected to beat billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso in the Los Angeles, Calif. mayoral race. She is the first woman elected to the position.
  • Bass, a former community organizer who represents parts of Los Angeles in Congress, campaigned on unity in the wake of a recent city council racism scandal. Caruso, who outspent his opponent 10-1, campaigned as a political outsider who would cut bureaucratic red tape and build homeless shelters.
  • Caruso was a lifelong Republican before becoming a Democrat ahead of the campaign, running on a tough-on-crime platform and receiving celebrity endorsements from stars such as Katy Perry, Chris Pratt, and Snoop Dogg.
  • The six-term Congresswoman and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus received endorsements from Democratic leaders including Joe Biden, Barrack Obama, and Kamala Harris. She promised to declare a state of emergency over the homelessness crisis affecting 41K city residents.
  • Bass called Caruso's promise to house 30K homeless in his first 300 days unrealistic, herself pledging to house 17K people in her first year. Having endorsed a recent vote on banning homeless encampments near schools, she'll face opposition from the city council's growing progressive wing.
  • The mayor-elect will replace outgoing mayor Eric Garcetti, whose nomination to be US ambassador to India is currently stalled in the Senate.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, NPR Online News, Breitbart, Independent, and Washington Post.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by LA Times. Bass has a challenging term ahead of her, but her governing experience and connections at all levels of government put her in a prime position to make an impact. The city needs a solution finder and consensus builder to tackle its housing and crime problems, making Bass the right woman for the job.
  • Republican narrative, as provided by NY Post. While former Republican Caruso hoped he could pull off an upset by bringing a more conservative mindset to the city, Los Angeles is simply too far "woke" today. With only 13% of residents identifying as Republican and racial politics playing a growing role, Caruso was up against a Democratic establishment candidate who didn't need to spend much to win.