Los Angeles’ mayoral contest has erupted into a multimillion-dollar advertising war, as labor unions, wealthy contributors and police organizations pour money into attack ads before Election Day.
Outside groups are spending heavily to promote challenger Nithya Raman while targeting Mayor Karen Bass, making the Nov. 3 election an increasingly costly referendum on homelessness, public safety and the city’s direction.
The largest financial force behind Raman is an independent committee funded primarily by organized labor and a billionaire hedge fund manager.
By Thursday, the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters had contributed more than $10 million to its Estamos Con Nithya committee.
Aaron Sosnick, a hedge fund manager with a Reno address who has advocated for expanding Los Angeles’ bike-lane network, supplied $6 million of that total.
Raman is also benefiting from support by Streets for All, a transportation advocacy organization that has spent $1.1 million on digital ads criticizing Bass over homelessness, the Palisades fire and other matters. Los Angeles Ethics Commission records indicate that much of the group’s funding came from Sosnick and two real estate developers.
Bass’ allies have responded with a costly campaign of their own. A committee sponsored by the Los Angeles Police Protective League has spent nearly $4.8 million on ads attacking Raman, including criticism of her opposition to a law prohibiting homeless encampments near schools.
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The mayor has also secured outside backing from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and unions representing regional building trades.
The outside spending surge contrasts with the candidates’ own fundraising figures. According to the latest campaign finance reports, Bass has raised approximately $3.4 million, while Raman has collected about $3 million.
Raman, however, has nearly $1.4 million remaining in her campaign account—about twice Bass’ available funds.
During the month ending Oct. 17, Bass received $827,000 in contributions and taxpayer-funded matching dollars. Raman raised $485,000 during the same period.
Individual donations to both candidates are capped at $1,800. Independent expenditure committees, by contrast, may accept unlimited contributions provided they do not coordinate with the campaigns they support.
The spending battle is unfolding as deep dissatisfaction with Los Angeles shapes the race. A California Post-McLaughlin & Associates poll found that 66.2% of respondents believed the city was headed in the wrong direction, compared with 16.4% who said it was on the right track.
Homelessness ranked as voters’ top concern, cited by 47.3% of those surveyed. The cost of living followed at 41.7%, while housing costs were named by 35.4%.
The survey also showed broad dissatisfaction with Bass’ performance: 71.7% disapproved of her job performance, while 25.5% approved. Among registered Democrats, disapproval stood at 65.5%.
In the head-to-head poll, Raman led Bass 46.7% to 38.8%, with 13.5% of voters undecided.
