A U-Haul truck was seen outside Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ official residence Friday, one day after she conceded the mayoral race to challenger Nithya Raman.
The moving truck arrived at Getty House in Windsor Square as Bass prepared to leave office after a single four-year term. Her defeat makes her the first Los Angeles mayor in more than 20 years to lose a reelection campaign.
The 19-room Tudor-style mansion, built in 1921, has served as the mayor’s official residence since 1977. Getty House has welcomed visiting dignitaries and political leaders while hosting civic events, functioning both as a home and as a symbol of Los Angeles’ highest elected office.
Bass, 73, was seen leaving the residence Friday in a bright red suit. She kept a low profile, however, with no public events listed on her schedule.
She continued to handle city business, directing firefighters to prepare for hazardous Santa Ana winds as her final weeks in office approach.
Meanwhile, the mayor’s wing at City Hall was locked and closed to the public, despite typically being open to visitors.
Raman was also notably absent from City Hall.
The mayor-elect skipped Friday’s regularly scheduled City Council meeting, which featured a farewell tribute to outgoing Councilmember Curren Price. Her absence came a day after she celebrated her historic win and made her first public appearance since securing the office.
Bass conceded Thursday morning after Raman’s advantage grew to 34,654 votes. The 45-year-old challenger held 52.1% of the vote to Bass’ 47.9%, prompting The Associated Press to call the race for Raman.
By Friday evening, Raman’s lead had expanded to nearly 68,500 votes. She held 53.56% of the vote, while Bass had 46.44%.
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More than 961,000 ballots had been counted.
The loss represented a stunning reversal for Bass, who made history in 2022 as Los Angeles’ first woman and first Black mayor. Her administration, however, struggled to overcome growing public anger over homelessness, public safety, declining city services and its response to the devastating wildfires of January 2025.
“While this is not the outcome we hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken,” Bass said in a concession statement Thursday.
“I have called Councilmember Nithya Raman to congratulate her on her victory, and I have committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition.”
Raman is set to take office Dec. 14, leaving Bass slightly more than five weeks to conclude her administration and transfer control of the nation’s second-largest city.
It is not yet known whether Raman, who lives in Silver Lake with her husband and twin children, will move into the mayoral residence.
She appeared publicly for the first time as mayor-elect Thursday evening at the Original Farmers Market. About 30 reporters were there as shoppers and passersby gathered to observe.
Raman answered only a few questions before leaving, avoiding questions about whether she still plans to remove LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell—a pledge that drew intense attention during her campaign.
“Public safety is the most important service that the city is delivering to its people,” Raman said.
