Outside spending surges in Los Angeles mayoral race before November vote

Outside political groups are spending heavily to support challenger Nithya Raman and attack incumbent Mayor Karen Bass ahead of the November 3 election, the New York Post reported. The surge in funding from labor unions, police associations, and wealthy donors has turned the Los Angeles mayoral race into a multimillion-dollar campaign focused on public safety and homelessness. [1]

The largest independent spender in the race is a committee supporting Raman called Estamos Con Nithya, which is financed primarily by organized labor and a wealthy hedge fund executive, according to the New York Post. By Thursday, the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters had contributed more than 10 million dollars to the committee, while hedge fund manager Aaron Sosnick also provided financial backing. [1]

The heavy outside campaign spending comes even as the candidates' own campaign committees report different fundraising totals, the New York Post reported. The influx of political action committee money is driving a wave of broadcast advertisements across the city as the campaign enters its final stretch. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Raman has served as the Los Angeles city councilmember representing the 4th district since 2020. During a recent debate with Bass, Raman declined to provide a timeline for potentially replacing LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. [3]