LA Mayor Race Disrupted by Wildfire Controversies
Billionaire Rick Caruso has reaffirmed his decision to remain out of the Los Angeles mayoral race, despite earlier indications that he might reconsider his stance. This comes in the wake of a report suggesting that Mayor Karen Bass requested modifications to an after-action investigation related to last year’s devastating wildfires.
In a statement released Thursday, a spokesperson for Caruso emphasized, “Rick is incredibly moved by the outpouring of support but reached an earlier decision in a thoughtful process and it stands. He will not be a candidate for mayor.” This clarification followed Caruso’s remarks the previous day, where he hinted at the possibility of entering the race.
The scrutiny surrounding Bass’s re-election campaign has intensified following a Los Angeles Times report alleging that she asked the city’s then-interim fire chief to alter significant findings in the after-action report concerning the wildfires. Bass has publicly denied these claims.
This controversy has stirred the mayoral campaign in the second-largest city in the U.S. Tech entrepreneur Adam Miller has officially filed to run against Bass, while Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath is also contemplating a candidacy. Candidates have until February 7 to submit their declarations for the mayoral race.
Other notable contenders include reality TV star Spencer Pratt, whose home in Pacific Palisades was destroyed in the wildfires, and Rae Huang, a progressive housing activist.
On Thursday, former investment banker and ex-LA school district superintendent Austin Beutner announced his withdrawal from the race, citing the tragic loss of his 22-year-old daughter last month. “My family has experienced the unimaginable loss of our beloved daughter Emily,” Beutner stated. “She was a magical person, the light of our lives. We are still in mourning.”
Caruso, a real estate developer with an estimated net worth of $5.8 billion, previously spent over $100 million in a losing bid against Bass in the last mayoral election. Although he hinted at a potential rematch after the Times report, he ultimately decided to maintain his earlier decision to step aside.
Related: The Return Period for An LA Wildfire-Scale Event May Be Shorter Than You Think
Bass, who is actively campaigning for re-election, launched her campaign earlier this week, focusing on the city’s recovery from the wildfires and its upcoming role in hosting significant sports events, including this year’s World Cup soccer games and the 2028 Olympics.
However, concerns regarding her management of the wildfire crisis and the city’s recovery efforts have cast a shadow over her campaign. The Palisades Fire resulted in at least 12 fatalities, while the Eaton Fire in Altadena claimed 19 lives. A recent survey by the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs revealed that nearly half of Angelenos rated Bass unfavorably last year, a stark contrast to her ratings prior to the fires.
These concerns were reignited when the LA Times reported that the final after-action report downplayed the city’s failures in pre-deploying resources before the January 2025 Palisades Fire, likely due to fears of legal repercussions. Bass has denied any involvement in altering the report, citing her history of criticizing the fire response, including the dismissal of the fire chief.
“This is muckraking journalism at its lowest form,” the mayor’s office stated. “It is dangerous and irresponsible for Los Angeles Times reporters to rely on third-hand unsourced information to make unsubstantiated character attacks to advance a narrative that is false.”
Caruso expressed his outrage on social media, stating, “Today’s @latimes report is an absolute outrage. Karen Bass actively covered up a report meant to examine the most significant disaster in Los Angeles history.”
If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote in the June primary, the top two candidates will face off in the November general election.
Top photo: Rick Caruso and Karen Bass Photographer: /Bloomberg.
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Billionaire Rick Caruso has reaffirmed his decision to remain out of the Los Angeles mayoral race, despite earlier indications that he might reconsider his stance. This comes in the wake of a report suggesting that Mayor Karen Bass requested modifications to an after-action investigation related to last year’s devastating wildfires.
In a statement released Thursday, a spokesperson for Caruso emphasized, “Rick is incredibly moved by the outpouring of support but reached an earlier decision in a thoughtful process and it stands. He will not be a candidate for mayor.” This clarification followed Caruso’s remarks the previous day, where he hinted at the possibility of entering the race.
The scrutiny surrounding Bass’s re-election campaign has intensified following a Los Angeles Times report alleging that she asked the city’s then-interim fire chief to alter significant findings in the after-action report concerning the wildfires. Bass has publicly denied these claims.
This controversy has stirred the mayoral campaign in the second-largest city in the U.S. Tech entrepreneur Adam Miller has officially filed to run against Bass, while Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath is also contemplating a candidacy. Candidates have until February 7 to submit their declarations for the mayoral race.
Other notable contenders include reality TV star Spencer Pratt, whose home in Pacific Palisades was destroyed in the wildfires, and Rae Huang, a progressive housing activist.
On Thursday, former investment banker and ex-LA school district superintendent Austin Beutner announced his withdrawal from the race, citing the tragic loss of his 22-year-old daughter last month. “My family has experienced the unimaginable loss of our beloved daughter Emily,” Beutner stated. “She was a magical person, the light of our lives. We are still in mourning.”
Caruso, a real estate developer with an estimated net worth of $5.8 billion, previously spent over $100 million in a losing bid against Bass in the last mayoral election. Although he hinted at a potential rematch after the Times report, he ultimately decided to maintain his earlier decision to step aside.
Related: The Return Period for An LA Wildfire-Scale Event May Be Shorter Than You Think
Bass, who is actively campaigning for re-election, launched her campaign earlier this week, focusing on the city’s recovery from the wildfires and its upcoming role in hosting significant sports events, including this year’s World Cup soccer games and the 2028 Olympics.
However, concerns regarding her management of the wildfire crisis and the city’s recovery efforts have cast a shadow over her campaign. The Palisades Fire resulted in at least 12 fatalities, while the Eaton Fire in Altadena claimed 19 lives. A recent survey by the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs revealed that nearly half of Angelenos rated Bass unfavorably last year, a stark contrast to her ratings prior to the fires.
These concerns were reignited when the LA Times reported that the final after-action report downplayed the city’s failures in pre-deploying resources before the January 2025 Palisades Fire, likely due to fears of legal repercussions. Bass has denied any involvement in altering the report, citing her history of criticizing the fire response, including the dismissal of the fire chief.
“This is muckraking journalism at its lowest form,” the mayor’s office stated. “It is dangerous and irresponsible for Los Angeles Times reporters to rely on third-hand unsourced information to make unsubstantiated character attacks to advance a narrative that is false.”
Caruso expressed his outrage on social media, stating, “Today’s @latimes report is an absolute outrage. Karen Bass actively covered up a report meant to examine the most significant disaster in Los Angeles history.”
If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote in the June primary, the top two candidates will face off in the November general election.
Top photo: Rick Caruso and Karen Bass Photographer: /Bloomberg.
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