Rick Caruso Says He Will Vote for LA Mayor Karen Bass Over Nithya Raman

Billionaire developer Rick Caruso announced on Monday that he is voting for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in her reelection bid, breaking from the political rivalry that defined the 2022 mayoral race, ABC7 reported. With just eight days left until the election, Caruso revealed his choice during an exclusive interview, stating that his recent collaboration with the mayor on rebuilding the Pacific Palisades following the devastating 2025 fire changed his perspective.

Putting Past Political Battles Aside for Future Leadership

Caruso spent more than $100 million of his own money running against Bass four years ago, but he now insists that voters should look forward rather than backward. In a statement and social media video, he admitted he initially struggled with the decision before concluding that Bass is best prepared to lead the city.

The developer pointed to recent public-private partnerships and the expedited permitting that helped reopen his Palisades Village shopping mall in August as evidence of a shift in the mayor’s administrative approach. “The last few months, almost a year, we’ve worked together and I saw a change,” Caruso told ABC7 Political Reporter Josh Haskell. “She has worked hard to learn from the mistakes of the past.”

Weighing Community Recovery Against Prior Criticisms

Caruso has not shied away from criticizing Bass’s first term, which faced intense scrutiny over rising homelessness, fluctuating crime rates, and the catastrophic Palisades Fire. Coast neighborhood constituents previously criticized the mayor for being on a diplomatic trip to Ghana when the blaze erupted, destroying more than 6,800 structures and killing at least 12 people. NBC Los Angeles noted that while Bass expressed profound sorrow for her absence, voters may not be swayed by her apology.

Despite past friction, Caruso argued that his recent dealings with the administration demonstrated a willingness to listen. “She hasn’t been stubborn about it,” Caruso said, emphasizing that her responsiveness extended beyond his own business interests to assisting devastated neighborhoods.

Drawn Lines Over Public Safety and the Police Chief

Caruso’s decision to speak out now is heavily anchored in his opposition to Bass’s challenger, City Councilmember Nithya Raman. As a former Los Angeles Police Department Police Commissioner, Caruso voiced sharp concerns regarding Raman’s policy proposals and her stated intention to remove LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.

Photo: nbclosangeles.com

Caruso criticized Raman’s record leading the City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee as troubling. NBC Los Angeles reported that Caruso described Raman’s platform as a risky endeavor, stating that “this is no time to turn the LAPD into a laboratory for risky DSA social experimentation.” Caruso warned that Raman’s proposals and the potential replacement of McDonnell would create uncertainty for public safety and the future of the city’s neighborhoods as the city prepares to host the Olympic Games.

While Caruso stopped short of issuing a formal endorsement—clarifying that he was simply letting voters know where his ballot is going—the intervention injects a high-profile voice into a tight contest. The California Secretary of State’s office reported that 651,528 ballots had already been cast as of October 25 through mail-in voting and in-person early casting. Representatives for both the Bass and Raman campaigns were reached for comment.

Rick Caruso backs former rival Karen Bass for LA mayor, blasts Nithya Raman's LAPD plans as 'reckless and dangerous' https://t.co/fL5AyA8v0M pic.twitter.com/4t452kl3L0

— https://x.com/californiapost/status/2114857053881602101