A new poll shows Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman leading Mayor Karen Bass by 11 percentage points with about six weeks left before the mayoral runoff. The survey, conducted Sept. 15-20 by the Los Angeles Times and UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies, found Raman at 39% and Bass at 28%, while 33% of likely voters remained undecided.
The poll suggests a sharp generational split. Among voters ages 18 to 29, Raman held a 66% to 4% lead, while Bass led 41% to 21% among voters 65 and older. The undecided bloc could still play a major role, especially supporters of Spencer Pratt, who finished the June primary but has not yet released his runoff endorsement; 63% of his supporters said they had not chosen a candidate.
Bass’ campaign pushed back against the findings, arguing that an online survey may undercount working-class voters, older voters and those who are not English-speaking. Campaign spokesman Alex Stack said previous polls also differed from the June primary results and predicted a close race. The campaign also pointed to a separate early-August poll commissioned by an independent expenditure committee that showed Bass ahead 41% to 35%.
Still, the central issue in the race appears to be Bass’ homeless policy, Inside Safe, which has become a key point of criticism. As the runoff approaches, the contest is increasingly being shaped not just by polling but by voters’ views of whether the program has delivered results.
