Why Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Has to Fight for Her Job

Article excerpt

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, is fighting for her political survival in a June runoff, the first such challenge for an incumbent mayor since 2005. Her first term has been turbulent, marked by the city's brush with homelessness crisis, budget shortfalls, and criticism over her response to fires and other emergencies. The runoff signals deep discontent among voters who once saw Bass as a fresh start after a bruising recall effort against her predecessor. Now she must persuade Angelenos that her administration deserves another term despite the litany of setbacks that have defined her tenure.