When voters go to the polls on Tuesday for the Los Angeles primary election, two mayoral candidates are likely to run in the general election: MP Karen Bass (D-CA) and developer Rick Caruso.
If so, the unusual division of Hollywood in its loyalties between the two could be an indicator of a very political and massively expensive November general election.
Both candidates have received industry support, pledged to retain and increase film and television production, and have announced their support from some of the show’s most prominent donors.
In recent weeks, Caruso’s campaign has highlighted his endorsement by social media masters such as Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian and Elon Musk, and industry figures such as Bryan Lourd and Dana Walden. Bass has received recent contributions from Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, Octavia Spencer and Jennifer Garner, and a recent event at Bad Robot Productions drew 300 people, including 99-year-old Norman Lear, with JJ Abrams and Katie McGrath performing at she and Shonda Rhimes among classmates. – hosts.
Sector-specific issues are a focus compared to what has dominated the race and garnered much of the attention: the perception of a city in crisis, with a problem of out-of-control homelessness and blatant criminal incidents. and tragic. This is where the two candidates differ, with different means and approaches for a solution.
Another of the main contenders for the race, Councilman Kevin de Leon, former president of the state Senate, is also well known in industry political circles, but has lagged behind in polls. In a debate in the spring, he has positioned himself as the candidate who has already implemented housing solutions in his district.
The top two voters are advancing in the November 8 general election, but there is also the possibility that one of the candidates will break the 50% threshold. This scenario is possible, but not likely, but the wildcard is in the participation.
“Theoretically it’s possible, but not likely,” said Fernando Guerra, a professor at Loyola Marymount University and founding director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles. He points to polls showing that the race is quite tied between Bass and Caruso. A UC Berkeley-Los Angeles Times poll released Sunday showed Bass with the support of 38% of likely voters, and Caruso with 32%.
City-wide races have typically participated in a few beyond the industry’s most unconditional donor classes, but that’s not the case this year, as the city moved its mayoral election to match with the highest participation average sessions.
Undoubtedly, the city’s problems are driving interest, but also the presence of candidates who come with broad political and sectoral connections and, at least among political experts, significant name recognition.
“Historically, Hollywood has voted unanimously in one direction,” said Jay Sures, co-chair of UTA, which supports Caruso. “The only thing about this race is that they’re not. They’re very divided.”
Rick Caruso Christian Monterrosa / Sipa via AP Images
Caruso’s ability to self-finance his campaign has allowed him to cover the Los Angeles media market, perhaps in a way never before. His campaign has spent more than $ 40 million, much of his own money, and this has made him a ubiquitous presence in the Los Angeles market, introducing him to voters who may not know who he is: a real estate developer. responsible for El Grove, among other projects, who has also served as chairman of the Police Commission and a member of the Board of Water and Energy Commissioners.
His entry into the race was supported by figures such as Gwyneth Paltrow, who recorded a video message, and Ted Sarandos of Netflix, who said on Facebook that Caruso is “a decent man who loves our city and has a Successful story of doing hard things makes it a great place to live and work. ” It was an indication that Caruso, a former Republican from a left-wing city, was receiving support from longtime loyal Democratic donors. Sarandos’ wife, producer Nicole Avant, who served as President Barack Obama’s ambassador to the Bahamas, has also given her support.
“They are two candidates with very different views, different management styles and different public figures,” said Sures, who hosted Caruso’s first event after announcing his campaign in February.
Sures accredits a focused message. “At the end of the day, their message is so clear: more housing, more agents on the street. This is a message that makes sense, that people can understand and comprehend.” He said he was introduced to Caruso through John Kasich, the former Ohio governor who is a UTA client and CNN commentator.
Caruso’s recent donors, such as Sean Bailey and Adam Aron, and others who support his campaign include Maria Shriver and George Lopez.
Snoop Dogg’s endorsement came at an event last month in which Caruso appeared with community activist “Sweet Alice” Harris. “That has to be dealt with by a mayor,” the rapper said.
“She’s the community, and she’s been by his side for 40 years. There’s no doubt I’m endorsing the real thing, and that’s real.”
Karen Bass Ted Soqui / Sipa via AP Images
Bass, for his part, also highlighted the support of celebrities on social media, such as Ken Jeong, who wrote that he was “the real deal and the right choice for LA,” and other figures such as Yvette Nicole Brown and Tracee Ellis Ross. Ariana Grande has posted messages in favor of Bass on Instagram and a warning about the possibility of Caruso exceeding 50%. Bass’s latest donors include Jackson Browne, and he has also had the backing of figures such as Ari Emanuel, David Nevins and Michael Eisner. In a statement to Deadline, Bass said that “the film and television industries have been the backbone of our city’s middle class for over a century, and as mayor I will continue my commitment for decades to come. keep film and television right here in Los Angeles. ”
Having represented a Los Angeles Congressional district since 2011, Bass garnered national recognition in 2020 when he was on Joe Biden’s list of potential presidential candidates, praising his ability to work through the corridor. In her campaign, she has highlighted her experience as a coalition builder, as a founder of the Community Coalition, formed to address crime, addiction and poverty in South Los Angeles, and later as president of the California State Assembly.
Last summer, when it seemed that the mayor’s career would be dominated by privileged people from the City Council, there was an effort to recruit her to the race. Jeffrey Katzenberg was one of those who encouraged her, and a poll was circulated showing that she would enter the race as the undisputed favorite.
At the time, Caruso was thinking about entering the race, as he has done in previous cycles, but the poll showed that he still had to establish the recognition of the name.
This time, Caruso took the plunge and was willing to invest tens of millions from the beginning to create his identification.
Guerra points out that in the polls, Caruso started with a digit but grew rapidly. “It’s like a door-to-door salesman who kept coming: TV, online, billboards. It’s amazing and effective.”
By contrast, Guerra said, Bass’s strategy seems to have been “not to make a mistake and just get into the second round … from that perspective, his campaign is very effective.”
But there is an obvious concern for Bass’ ability to match or even respond to Caruso, especially on the airwaves. His campaign has spent only a fraction of what Caruso has, $ 3.3 million, and he has taken his resources a little more calmly. According to Dave Weigel of the Washington Post, Bass was asked last week about his ability to respond to Caruso on the airwaves, telling a UCLA class, “I don’t have $ 37 million.”
Lara Bergthold, director of the communications and advocacy firm RALLY, which supports Bass, said a challenge for the candidate is that she recognizes the complexities of issues such as homelessness and “it’s hard to talk about complexities.” . “We know that the solution to homelessness is to build more affordable housing,” he said. “Caruso has never built a single affordable housing unit. He has no background.” LA does not empower its mayor like other major cities, Bergthold points out, while resolving the homeless situation involves issues of zoning, funding, land availability, and bureaucratic coordination. “This is ultimately the problem and ultimately the solution.”
Katzenberg supports an independent spending committee to try to level the playing field a bit. He donated $ 600,000 to Communities United for Bass for LA Mayor 2022, with other six-figure contributions from Abrams and McGrath and Monica Rosenthal, and recent donors such as Rob Reiner, Barry Meyer and Marta Kauffman.
IE has also spawned one of the most prominent tiffs in the primary competition, after publishing a spot comparing Caruso to Donald Trump, calling him a “fraud” and opposing abortion, and referring to him as “Republican of a Lifetime.” “Caruso has been” declining the state “since 2011, and then registered as a Democrat in January. In an interview with Variety, Caruso accused Katzenberg, as IE’s biggest bankroller, of “lying.” Katzenberg told the Los Angeles Times that Caruso was “too thin and temperamental to serve as our mayor.”
In a statement to Deadline, Katzenberg said: “Karen knows that sounds will never solve our homelessness crisis and rising crime. She has comprehensive plans to address the root causes of our city’s housing challenges. , as well as the increase in crime without …