What’s at stake in this race

L.A.’s mayor has a big bully pulpit as leader of the nation’s second-largest city. Aside from leading a government with a $14 billion budget, the mayor is the face of Los Angeles.

Some of the big issues facing the next mayor are the homelessness crisis, Palisades Fire recovery and preparation for the 2028 Olympics.

Homelessness has been an especially intractable problem. In recent years, the city has allocated more than $1 billion annually to get people off the streets and into affordable housing. Yet more than 43,000 men, women and children remain unhoused.

What does L.A.'s mayor do?

• Proposes and approves an annual budget, which was $14 billion in 2025-26.
• Approves or vetoes City Council ordinances. (The council can override a veto with a two-thirds vote.)
• Hires department heads, including the police and fire chiefs, housing director and head of the Department of Water and Power.
• Appoints various boards and commissions, including the Police Commission, Planning Commission and Board of Public Works.
• Appoints four members of the Metro Board of Directors.
• Issues executive orders. 
• Declares local emergencies.
• Oversees departments responsible for filling pot holes, repairing street lights and picking up trash, among other basic city services.

You might know the mayor from

Inside Safe

Mayor Karen Bass declared a homelessness emergency on her first day in office. This declaration allowed her to cut through red tape, including through no-bid contracts, to start her signature Inside Safe program to bring people off the streets and into housing.

Naming the police chief

Bass appointed veteran law enforcement executive Jim McDonnell as chief of the Police Department. McDonnell previously served as L.A. County sheriff, Long Beach police chief and assistant chief of the LAPD.

The 2028 Olympic Games

Bass’ predecessor, Eric Garcetti, was a key player in bringing the Olympics to L.A. He initiated the bid, created a private bid committee and helped sell L.A. to the International Olympic Committee.

Palisades Fire

When the city’s preparation and response to the Palisades Fire came under sharp criticism, Bass terminated the fire chief. The former chief filed a wrongful termination lawsuit.

Here are some things the mayor doesn't do

The city of L.A. has a weak mayor system, which means a lot of decisions around development and budgeting are made by the City Council. Unlike in many other big cities, the mayor has no control over the L.A. Unified School District.

Fast facts about the mayor's office 

• The mayor is limited to two four-year terms. Bass is seeking her second and final term.
• Bass is the first woman to serve as mayor of Los Angeles.
• The mayor’s salary is about $301,000.

What’s on the agenda for next term

Palisades Fire recovery efforts

The fire killed 12 people and burned nearly 7,000 structures. Property and capital losses were between $76 billion and $131 billion, without accounting for insurance or settlement proceeds, according to the UCLA Anderson School of Management. The next mayor will need to ensure the city continues to receive federal disaster aid recovery money and that the permitting process goes smoothly as people rebuild their homes.

Ongoing homelessness crisis

The next mayor will need to decide whether to continue Bass’ Inside Safe program, which seeks to bring people off the streets and to remove homeless encampments. Bass points to a decline in the number of unhoused people in the city as evidence of its success. Critics say billions of dollars have been spent with relatively little success.

Housing

The next mayor will need to decide whether to allow affordable housing projects in neighborhoods zoned for single-family homes. The strategy is important to expanding the affordable housing stock, yet Bass abandoned it after an outcry from so-called NIMBYs (for "not in my backyard"), people who don’t want development near them. The next mayor will also have to decide whether to support delays in the implementation of SB79, the law that allows taller apartment buildings near train lines.

The LAPD

The size of the Los Angeles Police Department has dropped to fewer than 8,700 officers — down from 10,000 just a few years ago. The next mayor will have to decide whether to pour more resources into increasing the size of the department or to support further reductions.

Olympics

The next mayor will preside over preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games, guiding the allocation of city resources to accommodate up to 15 million visitors.

What it takes to win

If no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the June primary election, the top two vote-getters will face off in a November runoff.

The candidates for L.A. mayor

Karen Bass, incumbent

Karen Bass

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Courtesy Karen Bass

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Karen Bass was born in L.A. She was elected mayor in 2022. She has a long history in Democratic politics, serving in Congress and in the state Assembly, where she rose to Assembly speaker.

In 1990, Bass, a trained physician’s assistant, founded the Community Coalition, a South L.A. group that works to advance racial and economic justice.

As mayor, she is known for her Inside Safe Program, an effort to bring people off the streets and clear homeless encampments. She touts a drop in homelessness and the lowest crime rate in 60 years among her accomplishments.

But she’s been criticized for her handling of the Palisades Fire. Bass was out of town when it began, and there have been reports she urged the city Fire Department to water down a report assessing the agency’s response to the fire, something Bass denies.

In her own words

Priorities: Here’s how Bass described her top three priorities in response to an LAist questionnaire:

“My top three priorities for improving the quality of life in Los Angeles are ending street encampments … strengthening public safety … [and] elevating city services.”

Homelessness: Here’s Bass on an issue that is top of mind for voters:

“I will maintain focus on interim housing until the last street encampment is gone. In my first two years, I achieved a 17.5% reduction in street homelessness. … My opponents would likely retreat to the ‘business-as-usual’ approach of the last 40 years — shuffling people from one block to the next or waiting years for ‘perfect’ structural solutions while people suffer and die on our sidewalks.”

Olympics: Here’s what Bass told LAist about potential cost overruns for the 2028 Games:

“While the 1984 Olympics were the first to generate a lasting profit, we are ensuring that 2028 serves the city without burdening taxpayers. I established the Office of Major Events to cut red tape and ensure we are ready. While the LA28 Organizing Committee has secured record-breaking sponsorship, we are mandating transparency through strict, independent audits.”

Trump and immigration: Here’s part of Bass’s answer to a question about whether and how L.A.’s mayor should interact with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement:

“My approach is 'resistance with a purpose.' We will protect our residents from aggressive enforcement while ensuring the federal government fulfills its obligations to the people of Los Angeles. We will not be bullied or ignored. We will protect our people and demand our fair share.”

Why she should be reelected: Here’s what Bass wrote when LAist asked why she should get Angelenos’ votes:

“Solving 40 years of problems doesn't happen in three. I am bringing the change L.A. needs to finally move in the right direction. Under my leadership, we’ve driven street homelessness down 17.5%, accelerated 40,000 housing units and signed our first rent stabilization update in 40 years to protect tenants. I launched the city’s first-ever Comprehensive Infrastructure Plan to fix our streets and sidewalks, while our community safety strategies led to the lowest homicide total since the 1960s. Now more than ever, we need a leader with the strength to protect all Angelenos against attacks from [President Donald] Trump. I have the experience to defend our progress and ensure a city that works for everyone. Let’s keep moving forward, and we cannot afford to return to the failed policies of the past.”

More voter resources:

• Website: KarenBass.com
• Endorsements: L.A. County Democratic Party, the L.A. County Federation of Labor, Los Angeles Police Protective League, EMILY’s list
• Full endorsements list here.

Go deeper: 

• Bass talks to LAist AirTalk host Larry Mantle on the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire.
• Bass talks to NBCLA about immigration raids, other issues facing the city.
• The Guardian profile of Bass
• Pat Brown Institute interview with Bass

Bryant Acosta, small-business owner/chief creative officer

Bryant Acosta

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Courtesy Bryant Acosta

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Bryant Acosta describes himself as a first-generation American, openly gay Latino and small-business owner “who’s had to grind for every opportunity.”

He is founder/CEO of Nightbreed LA, a music, fashion and art events company.

“As a chief creative officer, I led multidisciplinary teams, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, built systems that actually work using advanced tech and helped shape global brands,” Acosta says on his website.

In his own words

Top priorities: Here’s how Acosta described his top three priorities in response to an LAist questionnaire:

“Bring homeless programs under City Hall to eliminate waste, fraud and lack of accountability. … Build permanent affordable housing. … Replace 311 with a real-time platform to track spending, timelines and services.”

Homelessness: Here’s Acosta on an issue that’s top of mind for voters:

"I promise to end the homeless industrial complex. We move people off the streets in phases bringing 3,000 to 4,000 people at a time into safe, city-run Micro City campuses for rapid stabilization, then into recovery, job training and permanent housing through dedicated wellness campuses. We bring homeless programs back under City Hall for full transparency and accountability. … We tackle root causes like mental health and addiction, using CARE Court when needed, and enforce clear standards once services are in place ending encampment cycling.”

Olympics: Here’s what Acosta told LAist about potential cost overruns for the 2028 Games:

“Taxpayers should never be the safety net. I’ll deliver full transparency real-time public tracking of every Olympic dollar and independent oversight of all contracts. We’ll cap city exposure, require private partners and insurers to absorb overruns, and renegotiate terms to protect Angelenos. … No more price gouging on tickets. If we host the world, it will be inclusive, accountable and leave L.A. stronger — not in debt.”

Trump and immigration: Here’s part of Acosta’s answer to a question about whether and how L.A.’s mayor should interact with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement:

“I’ll work with the White House when it benefits Los Angeles and push back hard when it doesn’t. When Washington’s actions hurt our communities, I won’t stay quiet. I’ll take the fight directly to them and deliver for Angelenos.”

Why he should be mayor: Here’s what Acosta wrote when LAist asked why he should get Angelenos’ votes:

“I’m not a career politician. I’m someone who’s lived the problems Angelenos are facing and has the executive experience to fix them. I’ve managed large organizations, multimillion-dollar budgets and multidisciplinary teams and I know how to deliver results. I’m running to unite this city around practical solutions, not politics. The issues we face aren’t red or blue. They’re broken systems that need to be fixed. L.A. doesn’t have an ideas problem. It has an execution problem. And I’m ready to reset the system. I’m bringing a next-gen, tech-driven approach to City Hall to finally make government work for the people again.”

More voter resources:

• Website: AcostaForLA.com
• Social media: Instagram, Facebook

Go deeper: 

• Fighting Corruption, Fraud and Waste: Bryant Acosta runs for mayor alongside around 40 other candidates (DT News)

Asaad Alnajjar, city of L.A. engineering manager

Asaad Alnajjar

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Courtesy Asaad Alnajjar

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Asaad Alnajjar is a civil structural engineer who has worked for the city of Los Angeles for more than 36 years.

Currently, he is a member of the team leading the design and construction of 35 citywide light rail and rapid bus systems, including the people mover project at LAX.

Alnajjar is chair of the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council’s safety and transit committee. Previously, he ran for City Council in District 12. He is also a volunteer with the Community Emergency Response Team of Los Angeles.

In his own words

Priorities: Here’s how Alnajjar described his top three priorities in response to an LAist questionnaire:

“Balancing the budget to eliminate waste so that … we can resolve the homelessness and related safety issues and … rebuild a stronger Los Angeles business and economy backbone base. The combination of parallel approaches to these three areas will make a better living space for generations to come.”

Homelessness: Here’s Alnajjar on an issue that’s top of mind for voters:

"We have since 2015 an extensive solutions manual with detailed plans that is fully funded, however, our current mayor and councilmembers abuse our funding and throw it as an easy prey to special interest groups. I will immediately implement my 90-day plan to set the path of recovery comparable to what other cities have successfully implemented."

Olympics: Here’s what Alnajjar told LAist about potential cost overruns for the 2028 Games:

“As one of the senior managers in Public Works, we reported to Mayor Bass we need $1.87 billion to get Los Angeles ready. Funding is not coming from LA28. Hence, as your 44th L.A. mayor, I need in 14 months once sworn in through public-private partnerships to keep LA28 in Los Angeles with no overruns burden. It can be done.”

Trump and immigration: Here’s part of Alnajjar’s answer to a question about whether and how L.A.’s mayor should interact with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement:

“First day I will cancel General Order 40 so that LAPD takes the lead on identifying immigrants' status and work with immigration through the existing TPS program to get all undocumented Angelenos processed and legalized within a 90-day window. … What we have today in L.A. is a power struggle between Bass, Newsom and Trump, and the people are the victims.”

Why he should be mayor: Here’s what Alnajjar wrote when LAist asked why he should get Angelenos’ votes:

“I am a non-politician civil servant engineer immigrant [who has] been working for 37 years on the design build of our city infrastructure and understand totally how to run our city more efficiently once empowered and the red tape is removed. I know our budget faults, department waste, and I have solutions and determination to restore our Los Angeles to its golden days and to eliminate the state we have today caused by our elected politicians. Together we engineer a stronger Los Angeles.”

More voter resources:

• Website: LAmayor2026.org
• Social media: Instagram, Facebook

Go deeper: 

• Fox-11 TV news interview with Alnajjar

Nelson Cheng, streamer/behavioral interventionist

Nelson Cheng

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Courtesy Nelson Cheng

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Nelson Cheng graduated from UC Berkeley with two bachelor’s degrees in 2024, according to his campaign Instagram page. At Berkeley, he ran for student body president. He says he represents youth and education. Easing traffic congestion and reducing crime and homelessness are his top priorities. He is a Roblox YouTuber.

He said he opposes President Donald Trump’s policy of trying to deport “innocent undocumented immigrants” but says federal immigration authorities should go after those who have committed crimes.

In his own words

Priorities: Here’s how Cheng described his top three priorities in response to an LAist questionnaire:

“My top three priorities are to reduce traffic, crime and homelessness.”

Homelessness: Here’s Cheng on an issue that’s top of mind for voters:

“In order to reduce homelessness, I would use abandoned warehouses and facilities [as] renovated homeless shelters. … I also have an alternative plan to build new homeless shelters near Los Angeles National Forest if I cannot … acquire abandoned places.”

Olympics: Here’s what Cheng told LAist about potential cost overruns for the 2028 Games:

“The local government will not always keep its promises to the L.A. taxpayers regardless of a huge event or project planned to develop soon. … Since L.A. is a primary guarantor, L.A. has to be the first one who has to pay about $270 million. … This means LA would increase our taxes so high that many people would not have enough money to save, and billions of taxpayers’ money would go to waste.”

Trump and immigration: Here’s part of Cheng’s answer to a question about whether and how L.A.’s mayor should interact with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement:

“If I am elected … I will oppose Donald Trump and the Trump administration for carrying out unnecessary strict immigration policies. … I will talk to Trump to stop ICE from going after innocent undocumented immigrants, but ICE should go after real criminals such as murderers, rapists, pedophiles, arsonists, drug and narcotic traffickers, human and sex traffickers, etc. instead.”

Why he should be mayor: Here’s what Cheng wrote when LAist asked why he should get Angelenos’ votes:

“I should get Los Angelenos’ votes for L.A. mayor because I am the youngest L.A. mayoral candidate who has a common sense and dignity to be able to lead Los Angelenos well. I have graduated at UC Berkeley with two bachelor’s degrees in both social welfare and legal studies back in 2024. I have served as a member of the UC Berkeley ASUC Sexual Violence Commission ... I currently work as a behavioral interventionist, which I do 1:1 sessions with children diagnosed with special needs and developmental disabilities. I am also a somewhat popular Roblox YouTuber called Evilheartful E who has almost 50,000 subscribers, which is why I was encouraged to run for L.A. mayor to address and resolve the issues across L.A., as well as hoping to remove age verification.”

More voter resources:

• Social media: Instagram

Go deeper: 

• Here is an article about his run for UC Berkeley student body president in 2024.

Rae Huang, minister/organizer

Rae Huang

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Courtesy Rae Huang

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The Rev. Rae Huang, 43, is a Presbyterian minister and community organizer who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. She is the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants and grew up on the East Coast.

As deputy director of Housing Now! California, Huang directed statewide campaigns to make housing affordable and end the displacement of working class communities, according to her website. She is also an organizer with Clergy for Black Lives, a collective of Southern California faith leaders who advocate for racial justice, police accountability and support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

In her own words

Priorities: Here’s how Huang described her top three priorities in response to an LAist questionnaire:

“I hear the frustration and I want to address it directly. Dirty streets … potholes and traffic … homelessness … cost of living. Los Angeles has everything it needs. We just have to choose to build it that way.”

Homelessness: Here’s Huang on an issue that’s top of mind for voters:

"I will direct the city controller to audit Inside Safe and every major homelessness contract because Angelenos deserve to know exactly where their money is going and whether it is actually housing people. Then I will … bring LAPD, LAHSA and every relevant city department under one roof with one mission: permanent housing, not temporary fixes. No more sweeps. No more shuffling people from one sidewalk to another. We will replace Section 41.18 enforcement with real service delivery and build Permanent Supportive Housing at scale."

Olympics: Here’s what Huang told LAist about potential cost overruns for the 2028 Games:

“The Olympic bid was made without a public vote and without a plan to protect Angelenos from what follows. That's not OK. Here's my commitment: The games must generate lasting benefits for the communities that make them possible, not just the IOC and real estate speculators.”

Trump and immigration: Here’s part of Huang’s answer to a question about whether and how L.A.’s mayor should interact with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement:

“Los Angeles calls itself a sanctuary city, but that promise remains unfulfilled. I will change that. I’ll end LAPD's collaboration with ICE, close the loophole that lets jail staff tip off federal agents about release dates and guarantee universal legal representation for any Angeleno facing deportation. … Real safety means protecting everyone, not just those the government approves of. We will not cooperate with a system designed to tear families apart.”

Why she should be mayor: Here’s what Huang wrote when LAist asked why she should get Angelenos’ votes:

“Because this platform was not built in a campaign office. It was built by the organizers, advocates and neighbors who have been showing up for Los Angeles long before I ran for office. I am not asking Angelenos to trust me. I am asking them to recognize their own work reflected back in these policies, and to send someone to City Hall who will fight for it. I will house people, not shuffle them. I will fund firehouses, not Wall Street. I will protect immigrant families, not surveil them. I will fix sidewalks, fund mental health care and make buses free. Los Angeles has everything it needs to be a city that works for everyone. What it has lacked is the political will to build it that way. I am ready to do that work. And I will not do it alone.”

More voter resources:

• Website: RaeForLA.com
• Social media: Instagram
• Full endorsements list here.

Go deeper: 

• “She’s challenging Bass from the left. Could she become L.A.’s Mamdani?” (LA Times)
• The Pat Brown Institute’s Mike Bonin interview with Huang
• “Calling for ‘housing for all’ and free buses, progressive Rae Huang enters Los Angeles mayor’s race” (East Bay Times)

Tish Hyman, musician/entrepreneur

Tish Hyman

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Courtesy Tish Hyman

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Tish Hyman is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, recording artist and entrepreneur. Hyman was born in The Bronx and came to Los Angeles in 2010 after working in the mortgage industry in New York. Over more than a decade as a professional songwriter, she collaborated with and wrote for major artists, including Alicia Keys, Ty Dolla $ign, H.E.R. and Kanye West, according to her website.

Hyman became a darling of the right after she spoke out against allowing biological men who identify as transgender in women’s spaces. She spoke out after getting into a confrontation with a trans woman at a Gold’s Gym bathroom.

In her own words

Priorities: Here’s how Hyman described her top three priorities in response to an LAist questionnaire:

“Get people off the streets and into real solutions … deliver basic city services consistently … [and] revitalize neighborhoods and small businesses.”

Homelessness: Here’s Hyman on an issue that’s top of mind for voters:

"Audit and fix the system first. Within my first 90 days, I will launch a full independent audit of every dollar spent on homelessness and restructure the system so money actually results in people getting housed. Then I will implement a citywide ‘offer of services’ policy: housing, treatment and support offered consistently with clear enforcement for those who refuse help and continue to endanger public safety. The goal is simple: No people on the streets."

Olympics: Here’s what Hyman told LAist about potential cost overruns for the 2028 Games:

“Los Angeles will host the Olympics, but not on a blank check. I will push for enforceable guarantees that protect taxpayers from cost overruns, including stronger agreements with LA28 and the IOC, strict budget caps and real-time public financial transparency. … If costs rise, the burden will not fall on residents; it will be managed through accountable, pre-negotiated safeguards.”

Trump and immigration: Here’s part of Hyman’s answer to a question about whether and how L.A.’s mayor should interact with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement:

“I will put Los Angeles first always. I’ll work with the White House when it brings real results for our city, whether that’s funding, public safety or infrastructure. But I will not hesitate to push back when federal policies harm our communities or ignore the realities on the ground here.”

Why she should be mayor: Here’s what Hyman wrote when LAist asked why she should get Angelenos’ votes:

“I’m not a career politician. I’m a builder. I’ve created businesses, led teams and solved real problems under pressure. Los Angeles doesn’t need more talk; it needs results. I will tackle homelessness with accountability and housing, restore public safety while reducing liability and lower the cost of living by cutting red tape and activating our economy. I will protect women and children, support small businesses and bring transparency back to City Hall. I’m independent, fearless and focused on outcomes, not politics. Give me 1% of your trust, and I’ll earn the other 99%.”

More voter resources:

• Website: Hyman4mayor.com
• Social media: X, Facebook

Go deeper: 

• Viral Gold’s Gym women's locker room whistleblower announces run for LA Mayor (ABC7)
• Fox-11 TV News report on Hyman’s Gold’s Gym incident

Andrew K. Kim, attorney

Andrew Kim

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Courtesy Andrew Kim

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Andrew Kim was born in South Korea and came to the U.S. when he was 14. He earned a law degree from Pepperdine University and has practiced as a one-man law firm since 1986. He focuses on individual civil rights, as well as the rights of senior citizens and women in subsidized senior housing, according to his website.

He previously ran for the state Assembly, City Council and mayor in 2022. Kim has served on the L.A. County Commission on Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and as a temporary judge of the Superior Court.

Kim also holds a master's degree in theology.

In his own words

Priorities: Here’s how Kim described his top three priorities in response to an LAist questionnaire:

“First, solving homelessness. … Second, restoration of law and order on the streets. … Third, helping Angelenos with affordability issues.”

Homelessness: Here’s Kim on an issue that’s top of mind for voters:

“As the mayor, I would collaborate with the resources and wisdom that our faith community has in dealing with the homeless population. Homeless people need hand-ups, not hand-outs. … Merely pouring more money into the homelessness is not the answer. The key is self-motivated recovery.”

Olympics: Here’s what Kim told LAist about potential cost overruns for the 2028 Games:

“As to the financial management of Olympic games, the gold standard seems to be our very own 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. … Right now, the expected major cost overruns seem to be related to the security and safety costs. … With close collaboration with the federal government, this type of cost can be dramatically lowered.“

Trump and immigration: Here’s part of Kim’s answer to a question about whether and how L.A.’s mayor should interact with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement:

“While any type of blatant human right abuses by the federal agents will be called out and be confronted, the necessary and measured enforcement of U.S. immigration laws for the well-being of law-abiding Angelenos will be respected and supported.”

Why he should be mayor: Here’s what Kim wrote when LAist asked why he should get Angelenos’ votes:

“I ask for the votes of fellow Angelenos because I have a passion to liberate our city from the boondoggle of socialist ideology-driven DEI and woke cancel culture policies, which are driving our city toward social chaos and economic ruin. I have a plan to lead our city with time-tested policies, which will provide real help for those hard-working, honest Angelenos and make our city safe and prosperous. I call it ‘Project Liberation of Los Angeles 2026.’ My foremost passion is to eradicate the chronic homeless problem in our city. My promise to the voters is that I will do my sincere best to eradicate the homelessness in our city.”

More voter resources:

• Website: KimforLA.com
• Social media: Facebook

Go deeper: 

• The Andrew Kim show on AM870 radio.
• KHCla-tv interview with Kim

Suzy Kim, mental health professional

The city clerk lists Suzy Kim as a mental health professional. She appears to have no campaign website, and there is no readily available information about her online.

John Logsdon, neighborhood council board member

John Logsdon is a member of the board of the Westchester/Playa Neighborhood Council. In an Instagram post, he calls himself a small-business owner who will focus on supporting the Police and Fire departments and affordability.

“Homelessness persists, affordability is a huge issue and a major disaster swept through L.A. as we realized leadership was missing,” he said.

“People are tired. People feel let down. People are fed up.”

In his own words

Logsdon had not responded to LAist’s requests to fill out a candidate survey by our production deadline. This article will be updated with his responses soon.

More voter resources:

• Website: LogsdonforLA.com
• Social media: Instagram, TikTok, X

Juanita Lopez, community activist

Juanita Lopez

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Courtesy Juanita Lopez

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Juanita Lopez is a native Angeleno and accountant who holds degrees in political science and behavioral science. She has worked at the Federal Reserve Bank. She said she entered the race because she is “frustrated with our city’s decline — trash, dirty sidewalks, potholes and homeless encampments.”

She proposes a clean city initiative: “I will operate the sanitation department 24/7 and create smaller departments in each council district. I plan to collaborate with the County Board of Supervisors and Sheriff [Robert] Luna to utilize inmates serving two years or less to clean our streets and parks.”

In her own words

Priorities: Here’s how Lopez described her top three priorities in response to an LAist questionnaire:

“Clean city … financial transparency … [and] tax reform.”

Homelessness: Here’s Lopez on an issue that’s top of mind for voters:

"Addressing homelessness in our community is vital. I propose that our IT department create a database to document individuals experiencing homelessness, including photographs and fingerprints. For individuals with outstanding warrants from other states, we will assist in their return. If individuals decline assistance, they will be detained and have judicial orders for detoxification programs. … For those needing further assistance, I will explore options like Permanent Supportive Housing."

Olympics: Here’s what Lopez told LAist about potential cost overruns for the 2028 Games:

“The city might have benefited from withdrawing to host the Olympics. Regrettably, it may now be too late for such a withdrawal. … Ultimately, taxpayers may bear the financial responsibilities following the Olympics.”

Trump and immigration: Here’s part of Lopez’s answer to a question about whether and how L.A.’s mayor should interact with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement:

“I respectfully express my disagreement with President Trump's immigration policy regarding entry into our neighborhoods. As mayor, my role is to advocate for open communication and to seek collaborative solutions that can help prevent ICE from entering our communities. … My commitment is to engage in dialogue at the federal level and to work towards compromises that prioritize the well-being of our community.”

Why she should be mayor: Here’s what Lopez wrote when LAist asked why she should get Angelenos’ votes:

“I respectfully disagree with the current commissioners' and administration's approach. We must prioritize taxpayers' interests by focusing on essential services like street maintenance, addressing encampments, reducing taxes and ensuring transparency. Our aim should be to operate an efficient city with proper checks and balances. However, it seems that taxpayer funds are being used to secure votes rather than tackle critical issues such as infrastructure and public safety. We need to ensure a safe environment for both residents and tourists. My commitment is to the taxpayers, who deserve quality services that foster a safe and healthy community, and I am dedicated to managing their resources responsibly.”

More voter resources:

• Website: JuanitaForMayor.com
• Social media: Facebook page, Instagram, X account

Adam Miller, tech entrepreneur

Adam Miller

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Courtesy Adam Miller

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Adam Miller is a tech entrepreneur from West Los Angeles who co-founded Cornerstone OnDemand, an education software company with 5,000 employees across 25 countries. The publicly traded company was sold to a private equity firm in 2021 for $5.2 billion, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Beyond his business career, Miller has led several nonprofits in L.A. He founded Better Angels, a nonprofit focused on preventing homelessness and building affordable housing. He served as chair of Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response organization with 180,000 volunteers. He holds an MBA and law degree from UCLA.

In his own words

Priorities: Here’s how Miller described his top three priorities in response to an LAist questionnaire:

“First, solving the housing and homelessness crisis with a real, accountable plan not more spending without results. Second, strengthening public safety through better staffing, smarter technology and actual accountability for outcomes. Third, restoring affordability and economic opportunity so working families aren't priced out of the city they built.”

Homelessness: Here’s Miller on an issue that’s top of mind for voters:

“I will build a unified system that tracks every shelter bed, every service slot and every outreach contact so we know what's available and who's falling through the cracks. But the real promise is this: We stop the pipeline before it starts. Through Better Angels, we've kept thousands of people housed by intervening the moment an eviction notice arrives. As mayor, I'll scale that citywide, pairing prevention with real shelter offers, real services and real pathways to permanent housing.”

Olympics: Here’s what Miller told LAist about potential cost overruns for the 2028 Games:

“The Olympics are either an opportunity or a liability. It depends entirely on leadership. … Every dollar of infrastructure we spend must improve daily life for Angelenos long after the closing ceremony: better transit, better broadband, better public spaces. If it doesn't, we've missed the moment. … Done right, taxpayers won't be stuck with a bill; they'll have a city that finally works. The Olympics shouldn't be our peak. They should be the moment L.A. turned the corner.”

Trump and immigration: Here’s part of Miller’s answer to a question about whether and how L.A.’s mayor should interact with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement:

“Every person in this city deserves to feel safe from fire and ICE. I don't support the president's immigration policies, and I will push back against any federal action that undermines the safety and dignity of our communities. We will maintain our commitment to being a sanctuary city. … At the same time, I'm a pragmatist. … So while I'll fight where I must, I'll also engage with the administration wherever engagement benefits Angelenos.”

Why he should be mayor: Here’s what Miller wrote when LAist asked why he should get Angelenos’ votes:

“I love this city, but Los Angeles isn't working the way it should. My wife and I raised our three kids here, and I want it to be a place they can afford and feel safe coming back to. I'm not a career politician. For 35 years, as a founder, CEO and chairman, I've built and led organizations focused on solving real problems: from building a global education software company to scaling disaster response, tackling homelessness and expanding economic opportunity for underserved youth. I'm the only proven change candidate with a record of results across both the private and nonprofit sectors. L.A. is too big and complex to be run without that experience. I'll run City Hall with full transparency and accountability. My only priority is delivering results for the people of Los Angeles.”

More voter resources:

• Website: VoteMiller.com
• Full endorsements list here.

Go deeper: 

• Pat Brown Institute interview with Miller
• Tech background drives campaign (LA Business Journal)
• City Watch interview with Miller

Spencer Pratt, reality TV star/influencer

Spencer Pratt

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Courtesy Spencer Pratt

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Spencer Pratt is a former star of the MTV reality series The Hills, which aired from 2006 to 2010 and The Hills: New Beginnings, which aired from 2019 to 2021. He is a social media influencer with more than a million followers on Instagram. He grew up in L.A. and earned a political science degree from USC.

Pratt lost his home in the Palisades Fire and has been an outspoken critic of Bass’ handling of the fire. He told NBC News his house was “stolen by criminal negligence.”

In his own words

Pratt has not responded to multiple requests to participate in LAist's candidate survey.

More voter resources:

• Website: MayorPratt.com
• Endorsements: Ric Grennel, an ally of President Donald Trump who led overhauls at the Kennedy Center in Washington

Go deeper: 

• New York Times article on Pratt’s announcement he’s running for mayor.
• Inside California Politics interview with Pratt.
• KTLA interview with Pratt.

Nithya Raman, City Council member, District 4

Nithya Raman

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Vivien Killilea

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Getty Images

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Nithya Raman is in her second term on the L.A. City Council, representing District 4, which stretches from Silver Lake to Sherman Oaks in the San Fernando Valley. She was born in India and moved to the U.S. with her family when she was 6.

She was the first person in nearly two decades to oust an incumbent council member when she was first elected in 2020. Raman, an urban planner, was also the first in a wave of progressives elected to the council with the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America.

In her own words

Priorities: Here’s how Raman described her top three priorities in response to an LAist questionnaire:

“My top priority for improving quality of life is addressing housing and homelessness. … Second, basic city services. … Third, safer communities.”

Homelessness: Here’s Raman on an issue that’s top of mind for voters:

"I promise to put real accountability at the center of Los Angeles’ homelessness response so that every dollar spent is tied to measurable results. … I will also launch a public dashboard to show in real time what is working and what is not. Funding decisions will be tied to performance, with underperforming contracts reformed or ended. Finally, I will ensure we are maximizing existing shelter and housing capacity so that beds and units we are paying for are actually filled."

Olympics: Here’s what Raman told LAist about potential cost overruns for the 2028 Games:

“The Olympics are coming, and my job as mayor will be to make sure they benefit Angelenos, not burden them. The risk of cost overruns is real. Angelenos cannot be left holding the bag. That means enforceable agreements that cap the city's liability, strict financial safeguards and full transparency so taxpayers know exactly what we are on the hook for. We must also ensure the Games do not come at the expense of our communities. … The Olympics should leave a positive legacy. That only happens if we deliver them responsibly, without financial harm or civil rights trade offs.”

Trump and immigration: Here’s part of Raman’s answer to a question about whether and how L.A.’s mayor should interact with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement:

“As the author of L.A.’s Sanctuary City Ordinance, I have built the legal foundation that prohibits city resources, personnel and data from being used for federal immigration enforcement. As mayor I will continue to oppose harmful federal actions that target immigrant communities. … At the same time, I will engage the administration where necessary to protect our residents, push back on overreach like unauthorized military deployments and advocate for local control. My responsibility is to defend Angelenos, uphold our values and ensure that federal actions do not compromise safety, dignity, or constitutional rights.”

Why she should be mayor: Here’s what Raman wrote when LAist asked why she should get Angelenos’ votes:

“Los Angeles is at a breaking point, and we need new leadership focused on getting the basics right while tackling our biggest crises with urgency and accountability. As councilmember, I passed the strongest tenant protections in city history, cut encampments in my district by 54% and voted against the contracts that drove this city into a billion-dollar deficit. As mayor, I will make L.A. a city that works and is more affordable. That means increasing housing production, making City Hall accountable for results and delivering the basics Angelenos deserve: working streetlights, safe sidewalks, a more effective homelessness response.”

More voter resources:

• Website: NithyaForTheCity.com

Go deeper: 

• Raman’s interview on LAist’s AirTalk, hosted by Larry Mantle.
• NBC-LA’s Conan Nolan interview of Raman.
• L.A. mayoral candidate Nithya Raman’s Record may surprise you (L.A. Times)

Andrej Selivra, enterprise technical architect

Andrej Selivra

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Courtesy Andrej Selivra

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Andrej Selivra, 40, is a second-generation Ukrainian-American and political science graduate from UCLA, with a 15-year career in technical project development.

As a teen, unaffordable rent forced Selivra into homelessness, living out of his car while he took steps to find employment and eventually enroll in community college, according to his website.

His platform includes creating more housing by building rapid-scale public dormitories and promoting residential construction of affordable housing.

In his own words

Priorities: Here’s how Selivra described his top three priorities in response to an LAist questionnaire:

“Overhaul public transit, housing and homelessness … [and] create the Department of Community Engagement [to] facilitate micro-grants … for groups … who want to clean up and improve our city.”

Homelessness: Here’s Selivra on an issue that’s top-of-mind for voters:

“As someone who has personally experienced homelessness as a teen, we need to meaningfully address housing our homeless and stop relying on contractors and outside organizations who have little/no accountability to solve our city's biggest problems. My plan is to build single-room occupancy L.A. city public dorms. [This] will allow us to house our homeless at less than half of the current cost. We will use the saved surplus to provide services.”

Olympics: Here’s what Selivra told LAist about potential cost overruns for the 2028 Games:

“I will preserve the Olympic wage ($30/hr) while increasing tourism taxes. … I will also create arts and music festivals to celebrate Los Angeles and create more revenue streams for our city so that we can better capture tourism dollars.”

Trump and immigration: Here’s part of Selivra’s answer to a question about whether and how L.A.’s mayor should interact with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement:

“It is clear that our people currently oppose the authoritarian, anti-democratic actions of the current administration, and I will make it clear that we will resist these kinds of unjust, anti-democratic, anti-American actions with every tool that is available to us.”

Why he should be mayor: Here’s what Selivra wrote when LAist asked why he should get Angelenos’ votes:

“I was born and raised in this Los Angeles, having experienced serious childhood struggles including foster care and homelessness, but I worked hard to graduate from UCLA and become one of the top systems engineers in my field, with systems technology I've developed being used at companies like UPS Logistics, Macy's, Costco and FashionNova, among others. I'm not a bureaucrat lawyer or career politician; I'm a problem-solver who works hard and gets things done. I don't have long-term political aspirations; in fact, I'm sacrificing months to campaign and perhaps four to eight years of my successful tech career because I believe I have the right experience, values and qualifications for the job, and I want to give back to the city that made me who I am today."

More voter resources:

• Website: Andrej4LA.com
• Social media: Instagram, Threads

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