Gavin Newsom has finally picked a side in the Los Angeles mayor’s race — and it’ll surprise no one who he’s rowed in behind.
The California governor on Thursday revealed his endorsement for incumbent Mayor Karen Bass ahead of the election on June 2.
It comes as she falters in the polling against far-left Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, and former reality TV star Spencer Pratt.
“The work Karen Bass is doing in Los Angeles is making our entire state stronger, with an 18% decline in homelessness while it grew nationally, historic drops in violent crime, boosting film production in L.A., and protecting our communities against ICE,” Newsom told the LA Times.
“She has my full support for reelection,” the termed-out governor added.
Newsom and Bass, longtime fixtures in California Democratic politics, have maintained a friendly and supportive rapport.
When Newsom faced a formidable recall election in 2021, Bass, alongside other prominent leaders in California, held public press conferences to aggressively support the governor.
When Bass ran for Los Angeles mayor in 2022 against billionaire Rick Caruso, Newsom remained notably neutral during the heated primary.
He ultimately did not endorse either candidate in the heavily watched race, a move some strategists attributed to his cautious approach to California’s massive, multi-billionaire donor base and his own rising national profile.
Back in March, Newsom signaled his support for Bass’s reelection without making a formal endorsement.
Newsom may have felt the need to weigh in as both Pratt and Raman appear to have a fair shot at the highest office in the second-largest city in the United States.
Follow the latest on Spencer Pratt:
Bass has 26% support from likely voters, while Raman stands at 25% and Pratt at 22%, according to a poll released earlier Thursday.
Pratt appears to align strongly with MAGA and more conservative voters, while Raman has appealed to a more left-leaning base in Los Angeles.
Last year, Bass and Newsom confronted a $1 billion Los Angeles budget shortfall, with Newsom calling a state bailout a “nonstarter.” The deficit forced Bass to consider difficult budget decisions to avoid layoffs and major service cuts.
Newsom ruled out using state funds to cover the gap, pointing to California’s own financial pressures. While some Los Angeles City Council members criticized the lack of assistance, Bass continued to stress that she and Newsom remained aligned on broader goals for the city and state.
The biggest point of unity between Bass and Newsom has been opposition to the immigration crackdown by the Trump administration and increased scrutiny from the federal government.
Bass has also racked up major endorsements from Democratic leaders, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, both of California.
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