Inglewood mayor and the leading challenger say they’re ready for a runoff

Inglewood Mayor James Butts and Councilmember Gloria Gray are prepared for a runoff, each said after the first set of results came in for the city’s mayoral race Tuesday night.

Early results showed Gray with 34.51% and Butts with 29.88%, though counting will continue over coming days. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, Inglewood will hold a runoff.

Butts sat down to address supporters just after 9:30 p.m. at his election night watch party on Market Street.

He said that with more votes being counted, the election is far from over — but he’s ready for a possible showdown between himself and Gray, the leading challenger.

“If it is a runoff between myself and Ms. Gray, we’re going to crush her,” he said.

At her campaign headquarters on Crenshaw Boulevard, Gray told a crowd “it’s not done until it’s over.”

“But when you see the numbers,” she said, “we have a great chance because the mayor is very vulnerable.”

A possible runoff comes as Butts has led Inglewood for 15 years, presiding over what he has described as a renaissance that has brought world-class stadiums and venues to the city, which previously faced a financial crisis. Yet some question whether that development is actually helping longtime residents and business owners, and whether Butts and other city officials are being transparent in their decision-making.

This election season has been marked by big money from the stadiums — who gave Gray a $25,000 donation and whose relationship with Butts has soured — and a billboard company that’s working with the city. Most recently, an Inglewood High School student filed a claim alleging that Butts inappropriately touched her, which Butts has denied and said is part of the “political warfare” he’s facing.

Whoever ultimately wins the office will lead the city when the Olympics come to town in 2028 and will be responsible for reconstructing the city’s tattered financial relationship with SoFi Stadium. 

Butts said that Inglewood’s stadiums have spent the election season trying to take control of the city and pointed to the combined millions they’ve spent on ballot measure campaigns and the mayor’s race.

“They are so condescending. They’ve come to believe of us that all they have to do is drop six pieces of mail on your doorstep and you’ll vote against yourself,” he said.

Butts’ own campaign has pulled in support from billboard companies and developers.

Patsy Nimmers, an Inglewood resident and supporter of Butts, said it’s still too early to tell how the race will shake out. She said some voters are worried about change, but that she believes Butts has done a terrific job guiding the city.

“Nobody has done what Mayor Butts has done,” she said.

Meanwhile, Gray’s supporters cheered and clapped as she arrived at campaign headquarters, sharing the early results with her.

“You’re on your way,” one woman told her.

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