Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo; Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images; Insider
Karen Bass is running against Rick Caruso in Los Angeles, California’s mayoral race.
Polls close in the state at 8 p.m. local time, or 11 p.m. EST.
The current mayor, Eric Garcetti, is term-limited after holding the position for two consecutive four-year terms, making him ineligible to run a third time. The Los Angeles mayoral office is nonpartisan, though the city — the second largest in the US — has elected Democratic candidates for the last five terms.
Bass is a member of the US House, an office she’s held since 2013 after starting her career in the California State Assembly. Her platform issues include addressing the city’s growing homelessness crisis and public safety concerns.
Caruso, a billionaire luxury real estate and shopping center developer, is similarly focused on the homelessness crisis and housing affordability in the area. Caruso, who previously served as president of the Los Angeles Police Commission, has also promised to tackle rising crime rates in LA.
The race between Bass and Caruso is also turning out to be one of this year’s most expensive races. The billionaire has poured an astronomical amount of his own money into his mayoral campaign. So far, he’s spent nearly $100 million.
As one of the most-watched mayoral elections this midterm cycle, both candidates have earned high-profile endorsements: Bass has been endorsed by Former President Obama and the current Biden administration, while Caruso has supporters including the city’s police union, Kim Kardashian and Elon Musk.