{"id":2498420,"date":"2025-10-13T13:50:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T17:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/beutner-challenges-bass-in-la-mayoral-race-la-is-adrift\/"},"modified":"2025-10-13T13:52:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T17:52:42","slug":"beutner-challenges-bass-in-la-mayoral-race-la-is-adrift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/beutner-challenges-bass-in-la-mayoral-race-la-is-adrift\/","title":{"rendered":"Beutner challenges Bass in LA mayoral race: &#8216;LA is adrift&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbeutner-challenges-bass-in-la-mayoral-race-la-is-adrift%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2498420&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Austin Beutner, former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, has announced his candidacy for the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral election, challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Beutner criticized Bass&#8217;s tenure, stating that Los Angeles is &#8220;adrift,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joe-biden-democrats-seek-625-billion-tax-cut-for-wealthy-coastal-elites\/\" title=\"Joe Biden, Democrats Seek 5 Billion Tax Cut for Wealthy Coastal Elites\">facing rising costs<\/a>, safety concerns, homelessness, and unemployment. He highlighted problems such as ineffective city leadership, exemplified by issues during recent wildfires where fire hydrants failed due to budget cuts to the Fire Department. Beutner also emphasized his record managing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/calif-gov-newsom-announces-2b-plan-to-reopen-schools-by-spring\/\" title=\"Calif. Gov. Newsom announces B p...n to reopen schools by spring\">school district<\/a> during the COVID-19 pandemic, including efforts to provide remote learning and free meals to students. in response, Bass&#8217;s campaign defended her management&#8217;s progress on homelessness and crime reduction. Beutner further denounced the Trump administration&#8217;s immigration policies and positioned himself as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/randy-fine-wins-florida-special-election-in-nail-biter-race\/\" title=\"Randy Fine wins Florida special election in nail-biter race\">progressive candidate aiming<\/a> to create a safer, more equitable Los Angeles. Other potential contenders like Rick Caruso are also considering a run for mayor or governor next year.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Beutner challenges Bass in LA mayoral race: &lsquo;LA is adrift&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2369454\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Austin Beutner, who served as superintendent in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/los-angeles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Los Angeles<\/a> Unified School District, announced on Monday that he is running against Mayor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/karen-bass\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Karen Bass<\/a> for the city&rsquo;s election next year.<\/p>\n<p>In a video marking his <a href=\"https:\/\/austinforla.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">campaign launch<\/a>, Beutner digged at Bass&rsquo;s time in office by declaring, &ldquo;Los Angeles needs change.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3847868\/tiana-lowe-doescher-predicts-decline-highest-corporate-tax-rate-gop-wins-new-jersey\/\">Tiana Lowe Doescher predicts decline of &#8216;highest corporate tax rate&#8217; if GOP wins in NJ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3846747\/robert-white-dc-house-seat-norton-unable\/\">Robert White looks to bring fire to DC House seat as Norton &lsquo;can&rsquo;t fight the way she did&rsquo;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3847455\/mark-kelly-kamala-harris-strong-2028-candidate\/\">Mark Kelly says Kamala Harris would be &#8216;incredibly strong&#8217; 2028 candidate<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;L.A. is adrift,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It seems every day our city is becoming a more expensive, less safe, and a more difficult place to live. The city has spent billions to solve problems that have just become bigger problems: homelessness, the cost of housing, the loss of jobs, and opportunity.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Beutner is the first serious contender to enter the 2026 mayoral race and challenge Bass, who has been criticized for her administration&rsquo;s response to the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>The incumbent made budget cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department prior to the January outbreak of the fires, which became out of control due to the high demand placed on the city&rsquo;s water supply. At the time, at least 20% of the fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades area near one of the fires ran dry.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Fire hydrants that don&rsquo;t work are a metaphor for the failure of leadership in City Hall,&rdquo; Beutner said, adding he voted for Bass in 2022. This time, he&rsquo;s running himself.<\/p>\n<p>Beutner worked through a crisis of his own while serving as superintendent of Los Angeles&rsquo;s largest public school district: the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When COVID hit, we made sure every student had a computer and internet access to stay connected and continue learning,&rdquo; he said, touting his remote-learning efforts. &ldquo;And when the economy closed down, we provided 140 million free meals to help kids and their families make it through.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In response to his campaign launch, Bass&rsquo;s campaign strategist Douglas Herman called on Beutner to &ldquo;move past divisive attacks and talk about accomplishments,&rdquo; instead, citing the Democratic mayor&rsquo;s work to address homelessness and crime.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Thousands of people have been moved off our streets and into housing,&rdquo; Herman said. &ldquo;Violent crime is down across the city. Homicides have decreased to their lowest levels in 60 years. These achievements represent real progress for families in Los Angeles.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Beyond Bass, Beutner also took a shot at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump administration<\/a> over its aggressive illegal immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll never accept the Trump administration&rsquo;s assault on our values and our neighbors,&rdquo; the progressive candidate vowed. &ldquo;Targeting people solely based on the color of their skin is unacceptable and un-American. I&rsquo;ll counter these injustices and work to keep every person safe and build a better Los Angeles.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3762415\/la-fire-chief-accuses-karen-bass-misinformation-campaign-wildfires\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FIRED LA FIRE CHIEF ACCUSES BASS OF &lsquo;MISINFORMATION&rsquo; CAMPAIGN AFTER WILDFIRES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Real estate developer Rick Caruso, a Republican-turned-Democrat, is weighing whether to enter the mayoral race or run for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">California<\/a> governor next year. Caruso unsuccessfully challenged Bass in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Beutner briefly ran for Los Angeles mayor in 2013 after serving as the city&rsquo;s first deputy mayor for three years.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Beutner challenges Bass for LA mayor: &#8220;LA is adrift<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2498421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP22273528092906.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[51930,65145,34059,65146,65147],"class_list":["post-2498420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-bass-2","tag-beutner","tag-election-2024","tag-la-mayoral-race","tag-los-angeles-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP22273528092906.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2498420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2498420"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2498420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2498424,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2498420\/revisions\/2498424"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2498421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2498420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2498420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2498420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}