The top mayoral candidates spread out across Los Angeles over the weekend, making their final appeals to voters just days before Tuesday’s fiercely contested primary election.
Mayor Karen Bass energized crowds of union workers clad in campaign gear on Saturday. “Four more years!” the crowd erupted, as numerous prominent local and state Democrats rallied alongside the incumbent.
City Councilmember Nithya Raman zipped around local eateries and bars in a vintage yellow Scout convertible, engaging with business owners and supporters throughout the day.
At the same time, former reality star Spencer Pratt hosted a block party in Baldwin Village that featured barbecue, free merchandise, and American-flag lawn chairs. He spent considerable time listening to the concerns of local Black residents.
Recent polls indicate Pratt and Raman are in close contention with Bass, who has held a substantial lead in the race. A new poll, co-sponsored by The Times, showed Bass at 26%, Raman at 25%, and Pratt at 22%, with around a 3% margin for error and 10% of voters still undecided.
The top two finishers in Tuesday’s jungle primary will advance to a runoff in November, unless one candidate can secure over 50% of the vote.
Mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt converses with Diane Waterhouse, a caregiver and Westchester native, about issues related to homelessness and drug addiction at a campaign gathering on Saturday in Baldwin Village. “We just talk about it like, ‘oh it’s Skid Row, that’s just where the drug addicts are.’ No, there’s communities, there’s kids, there’s people that work there, businesses,” Pratt remarked.
(Noah Haggerty / Los Angeles Times)
“I believe God moves mountains; I believe that you can get that 51% on that Tuesday,” said Diane Waterhouse, a 60-year-old caregiver, as she spoke with Pratt at his Baldwin Village gathering.
At Jim Gilliam Park on Saturday, supporters from throughout the city cheered for Pratt, snapped selfies with black campaign vans featuring his hummingbird logo, and snacked on cookies adorned with his likeness as kids zipped around on scooters alongside a few dogs.
Pratt, who had spent the morning engaging with animal welfare advocates at the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter, made his way to the local recreation center to hear from residents away from cameras.
“Most candidates who come here for our votes — we give them our votes; we’re still living like this. Nothing changes,” Erica Helon, a 40-year-old bus driver, expressed during a poignant moment of the event.
He emphasized that he wasn’t there to ask for votes but to listen, even giving Helon his personal phone number for further discussions.
“I’m here because I want to be a voice for the community,” he stated. “I’m here because I don’t know what I don’t know.”
Helon, remaining undecided, left the event with an open mind regarding Pratt.
“I would love to see what he’s going to do for this city,” she added.
Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman poses for a group photo during a campaign stop on Sunday after preparing meals for individuals experiencing homelessness with SevaSphere volunteers at Oaks Kitchens.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Raman, known for her detailed policy proposals, spent Saturday interacting with local restaurant owners following the release of her small business policy plan.
As evening approached, the yellow convertible arrived at Lowboy Bar, an Echo Park fixture. Dressed in a Japanese Dodgers cap and a rainbow City Council fanny pack, Raman mingled with campaign staff at tables adorned with “Nithya Raman for Mayor” pins.
A few young Angelenos, dressed in trendy outfits for their night out, recognized Raman and stopped by to chat and take selfies.
“I’ve lived in L.A. for 12 years. This city is incredibly important to me,” said Ryan Bergeron, a 35-year-old marketing professional and artist.
Bergeron, also a member of the Echo Park neighborhood council, believes Los Angeles can be a “beacon in an otherwise scary time for the country” as it addresses affordability, the housing crisis, and sustainability challenges.
Regarding Raman, he stated, “I’ve seen her as a councilmember and felt really proud of that.” When she announced her mayoral campaign, “Everything clicked into place.”
Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Monica Rodriguez attend the Los Angeles Democratic Party and Avance Democratic Club Carne Asada Tour, a community event hosted Saturday at the Yosemite Recreation Center. Avance is among the nation’s largest Latino Democratic clubs.
(Karla Gachet / For The Times)
Bass, on the other hand, concluded her day of union events by enjoying tacos at the Yosemite Recreation Center’s picnic tables in Eagle Rock, accompanied by several local officials, including Councilmember Monica Rodriguez and county Democratic Party Chair Mark Ramos.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna joined Bass earlier, with Luna missing the picnic but still managing a few tacos in his car.
The following Sunday, Raman, dressed in jeans and a vibrant cardigan, was welcoming cyclists at a Sawtelle coffee shop and addressing a phone banking group at UCLA.
“It’s crucial that our small campaign, without extensive political backing or funding, finds its way to the people, and today’s efforts are vital to that,” Raman remarked to a group of graduate students represented by the United Auto Workers from various nearby universities.
She had many other appearances lined up for the day, including lunch with a gathering of Korean American Democrats in Koreatown, attending Encinofest, a block party in Silver Lake, and visiting Boyle Heights.
“There seems to be a growing awareness of the race and enthusiasm around the issues,” Raman told The Times. “It’s been exciting to see people engaging positively about the city’s future.”
About two dozen students reached out to potential voters linked with UAW, encouraging them to mark Raman’s name on their ballots by Tuesday.
Stephanie Wert, a 30-year-old psychology graduate student at UCLA and head steward for UAW, stated that the phone bank could be crucial in determining the fate of Raman’s campaign in the coming week.
“This election could come down to voter margins, and I believe we can significantly impact her chances of reaching the runoff,” Wert expressed.
Bass, later on Sunday, peered from the backdoors of a supporter’s Venice home to cheers from dozens of backers at a close-knit gathering. Conversations over snacks and drinks revealed many felt they had witnessed genuine improvements in local homelessness during Bass’ tenure.
Tatiana Barhar, a 30-year Venice resident, noted the “extreme” homelessness issue had improved during Bass’ time, thanks to her Inside Safe initiative. “I want to support her,” she said. “I believe there’s far more she can achieve.”
Bass addressed the issue of rising crime, sharing that thousands of unhoused individuals had been placed into housing and highlighted efforts to enhance Hollywood during her term as mayor. “There’s much work ahead,” Bass said. “We have such a bright future in the second-largest city in the nation, and I hope you all will continue along this journey with me as we triumph.”
Pratt kept a lower profile on Sunday, aiming for personal interactions with L.A. communities rather than a media spectacle like some of his previous events.
One of his more discreet gatherings was a community event in a Latino neighborhood near downtown L.A. Sunday morning, following a day spent in New York for national media interviews to “spread the word to as many people as possible.”
