Bass Erases Raman's Lead as LA Mayor's Race Ties at 40-40

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman are tied at 40% each in the race for Los Angeles mayor, according to a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times.

Source: USA Today, October 28, 2026

The poll, released Wednesday, October 28, 2026, surveyed 2,197 likely Los Angeles voters online between October 19 and 25. It carries a margin of error of 3 percentage points. Nineteen percent of voters remain undecided.

The New Poll

Bass, the incumbent mayor, and Raman, the challenger, each drew 40% support among likely voters.

It is a sharp reversal from September, when the same poll found Raman ahead by 11 percentage points.

A Bass defeat would mark the first time an incumbent Los Angeles mayor lost reelection since 2005, when James Hahn lost to Antonio Villaraigosa.

The Swing

Much of Bass's renewed support comes from voters who backed former candidate Spencer Pratt in the June 2 primary. Bass leads Raman 41% to 14% among Pratt voters, according to the poll reported by the Los Angeles Times. In September, 63% of Pratt voters were still undecided.

In the June 2 primary, Bass took about 34% of the vote to Raman's 29%.

Endorsements have continued to land for both candidates. Bass has been endorsed by billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who ran against her in 2022, as well as Samuel L. Jackson, Jane Fonda and Villaraigosa. Raman has been endorsed by the Sierra Club, Mindy Kaling and Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.

What Comes Next

Election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. With 19% of voters undecided, that group will decide the race.

Sources: UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, via USA Today, October 28, 2026; New York Post, October 28, 2026.