Who can push Rep. Karen Bass into a runoff? Caruso can.
The race could be headed for a second round after June, with a new poll showing former front-runner Bass now neck and neck with Rick Caruso.
The biggest issues in the race, like rising crime and homeless encampments crowding the streets, aren’t exactly cat nip for progressives. Caruso, a former Republican and billionaire developer, talks tough about cracking down on crime and street dwelling. Bass is trying to talk tough too. But as a longtime member of the party's progressive flank, she has a harder time threading that needle.
Of course, the $9 million Caruso has spent monopolizing airwaves hasn’t hurt him either.
“Caruso has had the airwaves to himself,” said UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) Poll Director Mark DiCamillo.
The latest IGS survey, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, has Caruso at 24% of likely voters and Bass at 23%. That’s a big shift from February when Bass was in a comfortable lead.
City Council Member Kevin de León is now in third place. His support dropped from 8% of likely voters in February to 6%. Nine other candidates are competing and not a single one has over 2%. But there’s room for change. Around 40% of likely voters are still undecided.
LA’s primary election takes place on June 7. If a candidate wins over 50% of the vote, they win outright. Otherwise, the top two vote-getters will head to a runoff.