Los Angeles Mayoral Race: Karen Bass Widens Lead Over Rick Caruso – Update
22.06.2022 - 03:13
/ deadline.com
UPDATED: The Los Angeles mayoral primary race that saw billionaire Grove developer Rick Caruso in the lead and Rep. Karen Bass trailing on election night has swung the other way as mail-in ballots, which make up the majority of the city’s votes, have crawled in. Caruso’s share of the tally has dropped 5 percentage points since election night, from 41% to 36% this afternoon, while Bass’ share has surged from 38% just after the polls closed to 43% today.
While the race will still head to a runoff election in six months, Bass’ ascendancy will surely be welcomed by showbiz supporters such as Jeffrey Katzenberg, Ari Emanuel, Steven Spielberg. Caruso, on the other hand, who seemed to be surging toward election night, has a greater-than-expected hill to climb in the runoff.
A little over a week ago, Bass had pulled ahead with 41% to Caruso’s 38%. Today’s tally shows the gap widening even further, with another 2% drop for Caruso even as Bass’s lead has increased 2%.
In the other high-profile race on the ballot, that to be L.A.’s next Sheriff, incumbent Alex Villanueva still holds a 31% to 26% lead over Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna. That contest will go to a runoff, as well.
PREVIOUSLY on June 7: The top two Los Angeles races in today’s primary election look to have both kicked the can down to November.
Based on early results, Rep. Karen Bass and developer Rick Caruso will face off in a runoff election in six months, as neither Democrat garnered more 50% of vote to win outright their bid to be the next mayor of Los Angeles. With 39% of precincts reporting, Caruso has 41% and Bass comes in with a stronger-than-expected 38%. Besieged by scandals and most of the political establishment, Alex Villanueva just barely survived to