November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cIn this new season, we are going to make housing affordable for all. We are going to make transit free, safe and fast. We are going to make sure that wages and work are dignified.\u201d<\/p>\n
Huang is deputy director of Housing Now California, a coalition of over 150 organizations that fights tenant displacement. She is also a member of the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, and if elected would be Los Angeles\u2019 first Asian-American mayor.<\/p>\n
Huang is a long shot to win with little name recognition or political experience, but if her campaign gains traction she could siphon enough votes from Bass to keep the mayor from a majority in the June 2 primary. If no candidate receives over 50%, the top two finishers will meet in a runoff in November.<\/p>\n
Bass has drawn criticism for her handling of the devastating Palisades fire in January. When the fire broke out Bass was in Ghana as part of the four-member presidential delegation attending the inauguration of John Dramani Mahama as president.<\/p>\n
Bass has also drawn criticism for not doing enough to address high housing costs.<\/p>\n
Doug Herman, a spokesperson for the Bass campaign, told City News Service in an email that \u201cUnder Mayor Bass\u2019 leadership, there has been unprecedented progress on the issues that matter most to Angelenos.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHomelessness<\/a> has declined for the first time in two consecutive years, neighborhoods are safer with significant drops in crime, and the Palisades fire recovery continues far ahead of pace with the fastest recovery and rebuilding in California history,\u201d Herman said.<\/p>\n\u201cIn addition, there was no better defender of Los Angeles than Mayor Karen Bass when Trump\u2019s ICE raids started and we won a court ruling to help stop the illegal raids and unconstitutional arrests. That\u2019s what we need to move Los Angeles forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner declared his candidacy on Oct. 13.<\/p>\n
\u201cRev. Huang and I share many concerns about the direction of Los Angeles, including our city\u2019s lack of affordable housing. I look forward to getting to know her during the campaign ahead,\u201d Beutner told City News Service on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The 72-year-old Bass, a former congresswoman and Assembly speaker and a onetime community organizer herself, defeated businessman Rick Caruso in 2022 to become mayor.<\/p>\n
Caruso has not announced whether he will run for mayor again in 2026.<\/p>\n
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