2022 Los Angeles mayoral election explained

Election Name:2022 Los Angeles mayoral election
Country:Los Angeles
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Registered:2,120,515
Turnout:43.86%
Last Update:3:11 PM 11/22
Time Zone:GMT-8
Previous Election:2017 Los Angeles mayoral election
Previous Year:2017
Next Election:2026 Los Angeles mayoral election
Next Year:2026
Election Date:June 7, 2022 (first round)
November 8, 2022 (runoff)
1Blank:First round
2Blank:Runoff
Image1:Mayor Karen Bass official portrait (alt crop).jpg
Color1:c0c0c0
Candidate1:Karen Bass
1Data1:278,511
43.11%
2Data1:509,944
54.83%
Color2:c0c0c0
Candidate2:Rick Caruso
1Data2:232,490
35.99%
2Data2:420,030
45.17%
Image4:Kevin de León (portrait) (crop 2).jpg
Color4:c0c0c0
Candidate4:Kevin de León
1Data4:50,372
7.79%
2Data4:Eliminated
Color5:c0c0c0
Candidate5:Gina Viola
1Data5:44,341
6.86%
2Data5:Eliminated
Mayor
Before Election:Eric Garcetti
After Election:Karen Bass

The 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the mayor of Los Angeles, California. A top-two primary was held on June 7, 2022. Candidates could win the election outright by receiving more than 50% of the vote, but no candidate received a majority.[1] More than forty candidates formed committees to run. Twenty-seven filed their declaration of intention to collect signatures for the ballot, and of these twelve qualified.

Incumbent Mayor Eric Garcetti was ineligible to seek a third term due to term limits but was serving an extended second term due to a law moving election dates from an "off-year election" to a midterm and statewide election year.[2] In July 2021, Garcetti was nominated to become United States Ambassador to India.[3] If Garcetti left office before his mayoral term ended, the Los Angeles City Council would have appointed an interim replacement to finish the remainder of that term.[4] This nomination was stalled in the Senate, leaving Garcetti to finish his term.

U.S. Representative Karen Bass and real estate developer Rick Caruso advanced to the general election. On November 16, Bass was declared the winner.

There were a total of 2,120,515 registered voters within the City of Los Angeles and 1,018,139 votes received as of November 22, 2022 as of the last update there were 15,105 ballots outstanding within Los Angeles County.[5] [6] The election was nonpartisan, as are all local elections in California.

Candidates

Advanced to general election

Eliminated in primary

Disqualified

Withdrawn

Declined

Primary

Campaign

With an open race for mayor, Karen Bass announced that she would retire from Congress and run for Los Angeles mayor.[38] Bass was widely seen as the favorite frontrunner with other moderates and progressives polling much lower and divided amongst themselves. The wide lead led to speculation that Bass would have been able to avoid a runoff all together.[39] Real estate developer Rick Caruso had announced that he would run after speculation in past races and polled in the single digits. However, during the spring of 2022, Caruso saw a surge of support rivaling that of Bass.[40]

As the primary neared, many prominent candidates dropped out and endorsed the two frontrunners, Bass representing the progressive element of the race and Caruso representing the moderate element.[41] This had been shown with two former mayoral candidates: Joe Buscaino, a City Councilmember, endorsed Caruso, and Mike Feuer, the Los Angeles City Attorney, endorsed Bass.[42] Councilmember Kevin de León also had significant support but lagged behind Bass and Caruso,[43] and ultimately did not advance to the general election.[44]

Debates

On December 12, 2021, the Stonewall Democratic Club hosted a forum with candidates Bass, Feuer, Lall, and Greiwe. Buscaino and de León cancelled last minute due to scheduling conflicts. On February 22, 2022, Loyola Marymount University alongside Spectrum News 1 hosted the first formal debate between candidates, with Caruso absent because of a scheduling issue.[45] During the debate, protesters started heckling them, resulting in them attempting to rush the stage near the end of the debate.[46] [47]

On March 22, 2022, FOX 11 along with the Los Angeles Times hosted a debate at the University of Southern California with Bass, Buscaino, Caruso, de León, and Feuer.[48] Although most of the other candidates attacked Caruso, many people said that Caruso had won the debate.[49]

On April 28, 2022, ABC7 announced that they would be hosting a debate at California State University, Los Angeles with the top five leading candidates. In response to the list, candidates Craig Greiwe, Alex Gruenenfelder Smith, Gina Viola, and Mel Wilson criticized their exclusion at the debates and the organizers.[50] [51] Candidate Ramit Varma later released a statement criticizing his exclusion at debates.[52] During the Sunday debate, police removed Melina Abdullah, a professor at Cal State LA and Black Lives Matter founder, as well as other protesters from the room as they did not have a tickets to the event.[53]

The issues talked at the debates were homelessness, the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, crime, and climate change.[54] [55]

Mayoral debates and forums

2022 Los Angeles mayoral election primary debates and forums
Date Host Moderator(s) Link Participants
Key:
Participant   Absent   Non-invitee   Withdrew   Not yet entered race  
BassBuscainoCarusode LeónFeuerGreiweGruenenfelderLallVarmaViolaWilson
December 12, 2021Stonewall Democrats of California
Minority AIDS Project
National Association of Black Journalists
Jarrett Hill
Tanya McRae
VideoO[56]
February 19, 2022Heart of Los Angeles
Invest In Youth Coalittion
Kelvin WashingtonVideoW[57]
February 22, 2022Loyola Marymount University
Spectrum News 1
Fernando Guerra
Giselle Fernández
Video[58] [59]
March 15, 2022Los Angeles Business Council
Spectrum News 1
Alex CohenVideo[60]
March 21, 2022Temple Beth HillelErika D. SmithVideo[61] [62]
March 22, 2022FOX 11
University of Southern California
Los Angeles Times
Elex Michaelson
Erika D. Smith
Video[63] [64]
March 26, 2022National Union of Healthcare Workers
Courage California
Sophia Mendoza
Irene Khao
Video[65]
April 12, 2022Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters
ABC7
Josh HaskellVideo[66]
April 30, 2022Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles
Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance
Andrew Menor[67]
May 1, 2022League of Women Voters
California State University, Los Angeles
ABC7
Marc Brown[68]
May 16, 2022Los Angeles Latino Equity and Diversity InitiativeGabriel Lerner
Claudia Batera
VideoW[69]
May 18, 2022University of California, Los AngelesBineh NdefruVideoW[70]
May 20, 2022Los Angeles Times
KCRW
Anna Scott
Gustavo Arellano
Video[71] [72]
May 24, 2022ICM Partners
Politico
Jeremy B. White W[73]

Polling

Graphical summary
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
Karen
Bass
Joe
Buscaino
Rick
Caruso
Kevin
Mike
Feuer
OtherUndecided
Berkeley IGSMay 24–31, 20221,204 (RV)± 2.9%25%0%23%6%3%8%35%
816 (LV)± 3.5%38%1%32%6%3%4%15%
May 24, 2022Varma drops out and endorses Caruso
May 17, 2022Feuer drops out and endorses Bass
FM3 Research (D)May 13–17, 2022798 (LV)± 3.1%35%1%37%6%6%6%10%
David Binder Research (D)May 12–16, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%34%32%7%5%17%
May 12, 2022Buscaino drops out and endorses Caruso
EVITARUS (D)May 2022– (LV)30%2%28%3%
Berkeley IGSMarch 29 – April 5, 20221,380 (LV)± 3.5%23%1%24%6%2%6%39%
Berkeley IGSFebruary 3–10, 20221,446 (LV)± 4.0%32%4%8%8%4%4%40%
Loyola Marymount UniversityJanuary 4 – February 10, 20221,000 (A)± 3.1%14%7%6%12%6%9%46%
815 (RV)± 3.4%16%8%6%12%7%10%42%
February 8, 2022Lall drops out
September 16, 2021Martinez announces she will not run
August 16, 2021Ridley-Thomas announces he will not run and endorses Bass
FM3 Research (D)July 29 – August 5, 2021803 (LV)± 3.5%22%5%6%6%4%12%45%

Results

Runoff

Debates

2022 Los Angeles mayoral election debates
DateHostModeratorLinkParticipants
Key:
Participant  Absent  Non-invitee  Invitee Withdrawn
Karen BassRick Caruso
1Sept. 21, 2022Los Angeles TimesElex Michelson, Erika Smith, Gabriela TeissierVideo
2Oct. 6, 2022KNXCharles Feldman, Mike SimpsonVideo
scope=row3Oct. 11, 2022NBC4 and Telemundo52Conan Nolan, Colleen Williams, Dunia ElvirVideo

Endorsements

Endorsements in bold were made after the primary election.

Polling

Graphical summary
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
Karen
Bass
Rick
Caruso
Undecided
UC Berkeley IGSOctober 25–31, 20221,131 (LV)± 4%45%41%13%
J. Wallin Opinion ResearchOctober 15–17, 2022400 (LV)± 4.9%37%40%24%
UC Berkeley IGSSeptember 22–26, 20221,349 (LV)± 4.0%46%31%23%
1,688 (RV)±  3.5%34%31%31%
Probolsky ResearchSeptember 19–25, 2022500 (LV)± 4.5%48%42%10%
Global Strategy GroupAugust 2022– (LV)43%37%20%
FM3 Research (D)August 2022– (LV)49%38%13%
UC Berkeley IGSAugust 9–15, 20221,746 (RV)± 2.5%43%31%24%
1,212 (LV)± 3.0%53%32%14%
UC Berkeley IGSMay 24–31, 20221,204 (RV)± 2.9%37%33%30%
816 (LV)± 3.5%49%35%16%
FM3 Research (D)May 13–17, 2022798 (LV)± 3.1%48%39%13%

Results

See also

External links

Official campaign websites

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chou. Elizabeth. March 11, 2020 . LA City Attorney Mike Feuer says he wants to be mayor, kicking off early group of entrants in 2022 races . . March 21, 2022.
  2. News: March 8, 2017 . Los Angeles mayor wins re-election in landslide . . March 21, 2022.
  3. Web site: President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Four Individuals to Serve as Ambassadors . White House. July 9, 2021. March 21, 2022.
  4. Web site: Here's how L.A. Picks its next mayor as Garcetti tapped for India post. The Los Angeles Times. July 9, 2021.
  5. Web site: November 23, 2022 . 4300_community . November 23, 2022 . . 97 .
  6. Web site: November 22, 2022 . Tenth Post-Election Ballot Count Update for the 2022 General Election . November 23, 2022 . .
  7. Web site: It's official: Rep. Karen Bass is running for mayor of LA. Chou. Elizabeth. Carter. Ryan. September 27, 2021. September 27, 2021. Los Angeles Daily News.
  8. Web site: Bass officially enters Los Angeles mayor's race. Axelrod. Tal. September 27, 2021. September 27, 2021. The Hill.
  9. News: Wick. Julia. Oreskes. Benjamin. February 11, 2022. Rick Caruso has entered the mayor's race. Will L.A. elect a billionaire?. live. February 11, 2022. LA Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20220212010233/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-02-11/billionaire-developer-rick-caruso-enters-race-for-l-a-mayor . February 12, 2022 .
  10. Web site: City Councilman Kevin de León enters race to become next mayor of Los Angeles. KABC-TV. September 21, 2021.
  11. Web site: 2021-11-16. LA businessman Craig Greiwe launches mayoral campaign at Griffith Park. 2021-12-07. Daily News. en-US. Chou, Elizabeth.
  12. Web site: 19-year old runs for mayor . The Eastsider . December 9, 2021. Lank, Barry. Sanchez, Jesus.
  13. Web site: 2022 Primary Nominating Election – Certified List of Candidates. March 18, 2022 . March 18, 2022.
  14. Web site: Businessman Mel Wilson seeks greater exposure for his LA mayoral run during Pacoima kick-off. Chou. Elizabeth. July 15, 2021. Los Angeles Daily News.
  15. News: L.A. mayoral candidate Mel Wilson leads protest over DWP rates and billing scandal. Smith. Dakota. January 21, 2022. Los Angeles Times.
  16. Web site: 2022 Primary Nominating Election Candidates – Nominating Petition Filing Status. March 11, 2022 . March 12, 2022.
  17. Web site: 2022-02-08. Los Angeles Mayor Candidates Hold First Public Forum. CBS Local News. December 13, 2021.
  18. Web site: March 10, Noon, updates . March 10, 2022.
  19. Web site: This second-gen developer's campaign for LA mayor built around end to commercial zoning. Farr. Isabella. November 15, 2021. The Real Deal.
  20. Web site: 2022 Primary Nominating Election Candidates – Nominating Petition Filing Status. March 18, 2022 . March 18, 2022.
  21. MayforLA. 1431342421950959616. Effective immediately, I will be ending my campaign for Los Angeles mayor. Joseph May for Los Angeles Mayor.
  22. Web site: Kwon, Jo . September 1, 2020 . Student Drops Out of College to Run for LA Mayor & Uses TikTok to Campaign . Spectrum News 1.
  23. Web site: 'I'm an Outsider with Insider Experience': A New Candidate Jumps into the Race for Mayor. Gwynedd. Stuart. LAMag.com. September 20, 2021.
  24. Web site: Jessica Lall Ends LA Mayoral Campaign; Other Candidates Participate In Community Forum. KCAL-TV. February 8, 2022.
  25. Web site: Smith . Dakota . March 15, 2021 . Councilman Joe Buscaino, a longtime LAPD officer, enters race for L.A. mayor in 2022 . The Los Angeles Times.
  26. Web site: March 15, 2021 . Councilman Joe Buscaino enters race for L.A. mayor in 2022, places homelessness, rising crime at top of to-do list . KTLA.
  27. Web site: Smith . Dakota . March 10, 2020 . City Atty. Mike Feuer says he's running for L.A. mayor . January 20, 2021 . Los Angeles Times.
  28. Web site: Stuart . Gwynedd . March 10, 2020 . City Attorney Mike Feuer Is Running for Mayor of Los Angeles .
  29. News: Smith . Dakota . 27 October 2021 . Businessman Ramit Varma enters L.A. mayor's race. Will Rick Caruso be next? . en-US . . live . 28 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211028051218/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-10-27/businessman-ramit-varma-enters-la-mayors-race . October 28, 2021.
  30. Web site: Beutner: I'm not running for mayor of LA. Los Angeles Daily News. Tat, Linh. February 6, 2022.
  31. News: January 26, 2022 . Oreskes. Benjamin . Zahniser. David . Westside Councilman Mike Bonin says he won't seek reelection . .
  32. Web site: Kiefer . Peter . The Hollywood Reporter . Who Will Hollywood Back for Next Los Angeles Mayor? . June 9, 2021 .
  33. News: May 5, 2021 . L.A. Council President Nury Martinez 'seriously considering' a bid for mayor, advisor says . Los Angeles Times. Zahniser, David.
  34. News: Had enough of Garcetti? I'm tossing my hat into the ring for mayor. Lopez . Steve . Los Angeles Times . June 24, 2021 .
  35. Web site: Zahniser. David. 16 September 2021. L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez won't run for mayor in 2022. live. The Los Angeles Times. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210916232648/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-09-16/la-me-council-president-nury-martinez-mayor . September 16, 2021 .
  36. News: February 28, 2020 . In South L.A., a veteran Democrat finds himself facing candidates on his left . Los Angeles Times.
  37. News: L.A. City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas won't run for mayor in 2022. August 16, 2021. Zahniser, David. LA Times.
  38. Web site: Karen Bass Is Reportedly Considering a Run for Mayor of L.A.. McGahan, Jason. August 3, 2021. Los Angeles.
  39. Web site: Has the Door Just Swung Wide Open for Karen Bass to Be Mayor of Los Angeles?. Los Angeles. Regardie, Jon. August 17, 2021.
  40. Web site: LA mayor's race turns into a tossup. White, Jeremy B.; Korte, Lara; Doshi, Juhi; Ramirez, Chris. April 4, 2022. Politico.
  41. Web site: Money talks in mayor's race: Ad blitz pushes Bass and Caruso ahead. Glaser, Cherry. May 10, 2022. KCRW.
  42. Web site: Feuer Exits Mayoral Race, Supports Karen Bass. May 19, 2022. Los Angeles Sentinel.
  43. Web site: Kevin de León's bid for mayor may be lagging. But he's resurrected himself before. May 30, 2022. Los Angeles Times. Reyes-Velarde, Alejandra.
  44. Web site: Rocha . Isai . 2022-06-08 . Caruso And Bass To Face Off In November Race For Mayor of L.A. . 2022-06-08 . LA Weekly . en-US.
  45. Web site: Scenes From the Kinda-Sorta Second Los Angeles Mayoral Forum. February 25, 2022. Regardie, Jon. Los Angeles.
  46. Web site: Hecklers interrupt spirited first debate among LA mayoral candidates. February 22, 2022. Spectrum News 1. Carpenter, Susan.
  47. News: Protesters shout down candidates in raucous L.A. mayor debate . Rainey, James . Wick, Julia . Oreskes, Benjamin . Smith, Dakota. February 22, 2022. Los Angeles Times.
  48. Web site: At much-anticipated debate, LA mayor candidates talk homelessness, public safety and corruption. Los Angeles Daily News. March 22, 2022. Chou, Elizabeth.
  49. News: Column: Only Karen Bass knew Rule No. 1 in the mayoral debate: Don't help Rick Caruso steal the show. McNamara, Mary. Los Angeles Times.
  50. News: L.A. mayoral candidates demand to be included in Cal State L.A. debate. Park, Jeong. April 12, 2022. Los Angeles Times.
  51. Web site: LA mayoral candidates left out of debate blast organizers. Couh, Elizabeth. April 12, 2022. Los Angeles Daily News.
  52. Web site: RISING LOS ANGELES MAYORAL CANDIDATE RAMIT VARMA SPEAKS OUT AGAINST DEBATE EXCLUSION. April 28, 2022. Yahoo! Finance.
  53. News: Police forcibly remove Black Lives Matter-L.A. leader from mayoral debate. May 1, 2022 . Park, Jeong . Newberry, Laura . Wick, Julia. Los Angeles Times.
  54. Web site: Los Angeles mayoral candidates discuss policy issues in televised debate. March 27, 2022. Waters, Tucker. Daily Bruin.
  55. Web site: Los Angeles mayoral race shows shift in policing debate in heavily Democratic city. Reston, Maeve. CNN. March 23, 2022.
  56. News: Scenes From the Kinda First Los Angeles Mayoral Forum. Regardie, Jon. Los Angeles. December 13, 2021.
  57. Web site: CENTERING YOUTH VOICES IN THE LA MAYOR'S RACE. February 24, 2021. Heart of LA.
  58. Web site: L.A. mayoral candidates to debate Tuesday at Loyola Marymount University. Estrada, Marie. February 18, 2022. KNX. Audacy.
  59. Web site: Los Angeles mayoral candidates discuss homelessness and policing during first debate as protestors shout in disapproval. February 24, 2022. Mitchell, Taiyler Simone. Insider Inc..
  60. Web site: LA mayor's race candidates participate in forum. March 20, 2022. Spectrum News 1.
  61. News: Protesters shut down L.A. mayoral candidate forum at San Fernando Valley synagogue . Zahniser, David . Oreskes, Benjamin. Los Angeles Times. March 21, 2022.
  62. Web site: Forum discussion on homelessness with LA mayoral candidates gets cut short. March 21, 2022. FOX 11.
  63. News: Stakes are high as 5 leading candidates for L.A. mayor finally meet. Wick, Julia. March 22, 2022. Los Angeles Times.
  64. Web site: The Race to Replace LA Mayor Eric Garcetti Heats Up in Debate at USC. March 22, 2022. White, Beverly. KNBC.
  65. Web site: Los Angeles Mayoral Debate. National Union of Healthcare Workers.
  66. Web site: To mark Earth Day, Los Angeles mayoral candidates debate environmental issues. Haskell, Josh. ABC7. April 22, 2022.
  67. Web site: L.A. Mayoral Candidate Forum at Terasaki Budokan. April 29, 2022. Rafu Shimpo.
  68. Web site: LA mayor race: 5 candidates to face off during mayoral debate on ABC7. April 28, 2022. ABC7.
  69. Web site: Mayoral candidates attend forum hosted by Los Angeles Latino Equity and Diversity Initiative. May 16, 2022. CBS News.
  70. Web site: Science Policy Group at UCLA hosts panel for LA mayoral candidates. Dai-Liu, Anna. Daily Bruin. May 22, 2022.
  71. Web site: L.A.'s Big Debate – Homelessness: Top Candidates for Mayor Join Us Live. KCRW.
  72. Web site: L.A.'s BIG DEBATE: Homelessness. May 17, 2022. Los Angeles Times.
  73. Web site: Los Angeles Mayor's Race: ICM Partners, Politico To Host Candidates Forum On Homelessness. May 23, 2022. Johnson, Ted. Deadline Hollywood.