Los Angeles Mayor Race Heats Up as Crime, Housing, and Homelessness Dominate Voter Concerns
OCTOBER 26, 2023 — LOS ANGELES (AP) — The race for the mayor of Los Angeles has intensified in the final weeks of the campaign, with a recent poll showing a statistical tie among the top three candidates. The contest, which will determine the next leader of the nation’s second-largest city, is being defined by a single overriding question: how to effectively address the interconnected crises of rising crime, a critical shortage of affordable housing, and an estimated 75,000 unhoused residents. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who has focused her tenure on a homelessness emergency declaration and executive directives to streamline shelter construction, faces stiff challenges from two prominent council members. Councilmember Kevin de León, a progressive known for his robust climate policies, has surged in the polls by framing the homelessness crisis as a failure of market forces, while Councilmember Bob Hertzberg, a moderate, has pledged a crackdown on street-level crime and a dramatic increase in policing. With the primary election scheduled for March, and no candidate currently commanding a majority, the Los Angeles mayor race is poised for a contentious runoff.