Caruso Says He'll Vote Bass, Not Raman

In Los Angeles on Monday, Rick Caruso said he will vote for Mayor Karen Bass in the Nov. 3 election, stopping short of an endorsement. Caruso, a billionaire real estate developer who ran against Bass for mayor in 2022, made the announcement in a statement and a video posted to his social media account.

Caruso wrote that he had "struggled with the choice" before adding, "I will be casting my ballot for Mayor Karen Bass." He said he had weighed both candidates and what he believes is best for the city. "For the love of LA, I must put the past behind me," Caruso said. "This election must be about our future, not a referendum on the past."

Last week, Caruso held a news conference with Bass in Pacific Palisades, where he praised her work on rebuilding after the 2025 Palisades Fire. He did not say then whom he supported. In his statement Monday, Caruso said Bass is learning from her mistakes and has shown dedication to the rebuilding work. He said he and Bass have worked closely together on those efforts.

Caruso also repeated concerns about councilmember Nithya Raman, Bass's challenger, saying he has "serious concerns" about her. He said his opposition turns on competence rather than ideology. "I don't believe she is prepared for this very tough job," Caruso said. Bass's campaign thanked him for his support and pointed to their work together on rebuilding the Palisades and reopening the Palisades Village.

Bass has trailed Raman in polls, with close to one-third of Los Angeles voters undecided. The California Secretary of State's office reported 651,528 ballots cast through mail-in or in-person early voting as of Oct. 25. Of the more than 5.9 million registered voters in the county, about 2.18 million are in the city of Los Angeles.

The Palisades Fire killed at least 12 people and destroyed more than 6,800 structures. Bass was on a diplomatic trip to Ghana when the fire began. City Councilmember Traci Park said at a town hall earlier this month that she is voting for Bass rather than Raman. "I hear you, I want some change too, but the alternative does not actually get us where we want to be," Park said. "I think it actually impedes our progress, and unfortunately will take us back to where we were."