Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has confirmed that she anticipated a challenge in her reelection campaign, particularly from former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner. In an interview with CBS LA’s Ross Palombo on Sunday, Bass expressed her commitment to highlighting her achievements while addressing the pressing issues facing the city, including homelessness and federal immigration policies.
Beutner’s entry into the race comes as Bass prepares for a renewed focus on her track record since taking office in December 2022. She remarked, “Actually, it wasn’t a surprise. Anybody is a challenge, but it’s my job to talk about what we’ve done successfully and how much more we have to go.”
Addressing Homelessness in Los Angeles
Central to Bass’s agenda has been her response to homelessness, an issue that has persisted in Los Angeles for years. She defended her administration’s efforts in reducing street homelessness and clearing encampments, stating that areas like Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard have seen significant improvements. According to the 2025 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, there was a 4% decrease in homelessness over the past year.
Despite these figures, Beutner criticized the count, referencing a report from the RAND Corporation that suggests a significant number of homeless individuals may have been overlooked in the survey. “We all know it is up because we see it,” Beutner said. “It’s a humanitarian crisis.” While Bass acknowledged that the homeless count needs refinement, she disagreed with the notion that the problem is worsening.
Confronting Federal Policies
Bass’s term has also been marked by tensions with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement. She described the federal government’s actions as an assault on the city, noting that Los Angeles was the first city targeted by the administration’s military deployment strategy. Bass stated, “Our city was under assault from the federal government, and it was important that we stood up.”
In response to recent actions, she called for a federal investigation into allegations of unlawful detentions of U.S. citizens and immigrants during immigration raids, which she deemed unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that immigration officers may use certain characteristics, such as race, as factors for detentions, further complicating the situation.
Beutner weighed in on the federal focus on Los Angeles, suggesting it stems from the city’s perceived inability to address its challenges effectively. He commented, “That’s when people like Donald Trump and his administration come in to our community and say, ‘well, if you’re that rudderless, I’ll come in.’ We shouldn’t be rudderless.”
As the campaign unfolds, the issues of homelessness and federal immigration policies are set to be pivotal in shaping the discourse around Bass’s reelection bid. The dynamic between Bass and Beutner represents not just a political rivalry but also a broader conversation about leadership and accountability in addressing the critical challenges facing Los Angeles.
