Key facts
- Many Pacific Palisades residents blame Mayor Karen Bass for her response to a wildfire that killed 12 people and destroyed 5,800 homes.
- Nithya Raman, a progressive candidate, is running against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
- Pacific Palisades voters, who are predominantly white, older, wealthier, and more conservative, find Raman's progressive platform unappealing.
- Spencer Pratt, a native of Pacific Palisades, received 51% of the vote in the community during the primary.
- Bass's absence from the city during the wildfire, despite advance warnings, drew criticism.
- Residents expressed frustration with the slow pace of rebuilding efforts.
Voters in the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles are expressing significant dissatisfaction with both incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and her progressive challenger, Nithya Raman, ahead of the November general election. Many residents feel that neither candidate adequately represents their community's needs, particularly in the aftermath of a devastating wildfire.
Residents of Pacific Palisades largely blame Mayor Bass for her perceived inadequate response to the wildfire that killed 12 people and destroyed over 5,800 homes. Her absence from the city during the fire, despite high wind warnings, has been a focal point of criticism. Bass's campaign, however, asserts that the city's emergency preparedness has significantly improved under her leadership and highlights efforts to expedite rebuilding.
Nithya Raman, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, faces an uphill battle in Pacific Palisades due to her progressive platform, which is at odds with the overwhelmingly white, older, wealthier, and more conservative demographic of the community. Voters like Joanna Curtis, who lost her home in the fire, find Raman's stances on issues such as encampments near schools unacceptable.
In the June primary, former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, a native of Pacific Palisades, garnered 51% of the vote within the community, though he did not advance citywide. Pratt has been particularly critical of Raman. Bass secured 18% of the Palisades primary vote, while Raman received 14%. Some residents are considering abstaining from voting or choosing the "lesser of two evils," with one resident even dreaming of recalling the next mayor.