{"id":2602257,"date":"2026-05-13T14:58:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:58:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/karen-bass-keeps-lead-in-la-mayoral-race-after-fiery-debate\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T15:01:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T19:01:24","slug":"karen-bass-keeps-lead-in-la-mayoral-race-after-fiery-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/karen-bass-keeps-lead-in-la-mayoral-race-after-fiery-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"Karen Bass keeps lead in LA mayoral race after fiery debate"},"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\">22<\/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%2Fkaren-bass-keeps-lead-in-la-mayoral-race-after-fiery-debate%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=2602257&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>The article reports that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is leading in the city\u2019s upcoming mayoral race, according to a new Emerson College Polling\/Inside California Politics survey. Bass receives 30% support, ahead of reality TV figure Spencer Pratt at 22% and Councilwoman Nithya Raman at 19%; simultaneously occurring, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >undecided voters drop sharply<\/a> from 51% in March to 16%.<\/p>\n<p>It notes that Bass\u2019s support has grown since March, as have those of her rivals, and it highlights the momentum created for Republicans after Pratt and other allies attacked Bass during the recent mayoral debate. The piece also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dei-disaster-petition-circulating-within-secret-service-community-warns-of-potential-insider-threats\/\" title=\"DEI Crisis: Secret Service Petition Raises Concerns About &#039;Insider Threats\">discusses concerns raised<\/a> by Republicans about drug use and homelessness in Los Angeles and continued scrutiny over Bass\u2019s response to the 2025 Palisades fires, including questions about edits to official reporting and alleged issues with preparedness and rebuilding timelines.<\/p>\n<p>During the debate, Bass defended her record, including claims about reductions in street homelessness.A key point is that, despite Bass\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congressional-democrats-hold-an-eight-point-advantage-over-republicans-poll-shows-but-theres-a-catch\/\" title=\"Congressional Democrats Hold An Eight-Point Advantage Over Republicans, ... Shows, But There\u2019s A Catch\">polling advantage<\/a>, her political allies-turned-rivals are working to portray her as vulnerable-particularly after Raman entered the race earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>the poll surveyed 1,000 California voters from May 9-10, with an approximate 3-point margin of error.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/los-angeles\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1221\">Los Angeles<\/a> Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/karen-bass\/\">Karen Bass<\/a> holds the lead in a field of rivals looking to claim victory in the city\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mayors\/\">mayoral<\/a> race this fall, according to a new poll. <\/p>\n<p>The poll from Emerson College Polling\/Inside California Politics showed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/emersoncollegepolling.com\/california-2026-poll-becerra-continues-to-surge-steyer-and-hilton-compete-for-second-spot\/\">Bass holds <\/a>30% of voters\u2019 support, followed by reality television star Spencer Pratt at 22% and Councilwoman Nithya Raman with 19%.\u00a0Support for Bass increased by 10 points since\u00a0March, Pratt by 12 points, and Raman by 10 points, while the percentage of undecided voters dropped from 51% to 16%, according to the survey.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4566729\/mike-johnson-warns-mini-mamdanis-taking-us-far-left\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mike Johnson warns of \u2018mini Mamdanis\u2019 taking the country \u2018far, far left\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4566609\/karen-bass-keep-lead-la-mayor-race-after-debate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Karen Bass keeps lead in LA mayoral race after fiery debate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4561482\/gop-inroads-election-security\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>GOP makes inroads with election security through piecemeal strategy as SAVE America Act stalls<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Bass, a Democrat, faced intense scrutiny from a slew of rivals looking to oust her during last week\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4560958\/spencer-pratt-sheds-joke-label-as-momentum-grows-la-mayoral\/\">first mayoral debate <\/a>of the election cycle. <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Pratt, one of five viable contenders heading into the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\">June 2 primary<\/a> and a registered Republican, particularly captured attention at the debate for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4558427\/spencer-pratt-karen-bass-la-mayor-debate\/\">going after<\/a> Bass, giving rise to GOP hopes for a conservative LA mayor. Polymarket put Bass\u2019s odds of winning at 45%, Raman\u2019s at 38%, and Pratt\u2019s at 18% following the debate. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnother performance like that, and he has a real chance,\u201d Jeff Burton, a former senior National Republican Congressional Committee official, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4560958\/spencer-pratt-sheds-joke-label-as-momentum-grows-la-mayoral\/\">previously told<\/a> the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans have highlighted that Los Angeles is home to some of the highest rates of drug use in the United States and holds some of the country\u2019s largest homeless populations.<\/p>\n<p>Bass\u2019s handling of the 2025 fires also remains important to voters, particularly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4409757\/palisades-fire-report-edited-by-la-mayor-to-soften-criticism-of-city-response\/\">after accusations <\/a>she requested edits to the official Palisades fires report to soften criticism of the city\u2019s response to the crisis, which claimed 31 lives. Bass\u2019s office has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3285906\/newsom-bass-recall-efforts-gain-momentum-fallout-california-wildfires\/\">faced questions<\/a> about why some of the state\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/infrastructure\/3287203\/la-water-department-sued-over-having-little-to-no-water-to-fight-fires\/\">largest water reservoirs were empty <\/a>when the disaster sparked, why the LAFD\u2019s budget was cut shortly before the crisis occurred, and why rebuilding efforts have stretched on after the fires caused billions in damage and torched thousands of structures. It takes over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ca.gov\/lafires\/track-progress\/\">half a year <\/a>for developers and survivors whose homes were burned down to receive permission to rebuild in Los Angeles County, according to Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1426\">Gavin Newsom\u2019s<\/a> (D-CA) office. <\/p>\n<p>During the debate, Bass defended her record. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that I deserve a second term, and I\u2019m going to fight for that because we have made significant progress in a variety of areas,\u201d she said. \u201cFor example, homelessness was going up year after year, and under my watch, it is the first time we\u2019ve had a decrease in street homelessness. While it went up in the country 18%, it came down in Los Angeles 17.5%.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The latest poll indicates Bass\u2019s campaign holds a critical edge weeks ahead of the primary. But allies-turned rivals have sought to paint her as a highly vulnerable candidate. Raman sent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4450113\/karen-bass-progressive-bid-replace-los-angeles-mayor\/\">shockwaves through the city <\/a>when she entered the mayoral race against Bass earlier this year, despite previously endorsing the incumbent. At the time, Raman said Los Angeles is \u201cat a breaking point.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4562158\/karen-bass-withdraw-la-mayor-forum\/\"><strong>KAREN BASS EXITS LA MAYOR FORUM DAYS AFTER HEATED DEBATE AGAINST SPENCER PRATT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI do think Angelenos have really given us a lot of faith, voted for more taxes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/progressive-bass-ally-launches-bid-to-replace-embattled-los-angeles-mayor\/\" title=\"Progressive Bass ally launches bid to replace embattled ... mayor\">address important housing issues<\/a>, address homelessness, to address some of our biggest crises,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd if we don\u2019t show results to them, I think we will lose them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Emerson College\/Inside California Politics poll surveyed 1,000 California voters from May 9-10 with a margin of error of approximately 3 percentage points.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LA Mayor Karen Bass leads rivals in fall mayoral race poll<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2602258,"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\/2026\/05\/AP25263665417691.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[36585,40870,5894],"class_list":["post-2602257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-los-angeles","tag-mayoral-election","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP25263665417691.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602257","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\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2602257"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2602261,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602257\/revisions\/2602261"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2602258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2602257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2602257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2602257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}