Los Angeles voters narrowed the field in the city's mayoral race during the June 2 primary, with observers concluding that Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman advanced to the general election.
How the primary unfolded
The 2026 Los Angeles municipal elections filled a slate of offices, including mayor, city controller, city attorney and several council seats. In the mayoral contest, incumbent Karen Bass sought re-election. By June 8, election observers concluded that Bass and Raman had advanced, with the outcome locking out other contenders from the general.
Under the city's system, candidates advance to a runoff unless one secures an outright majority in the primary, making the top-two result the key threshold.
The offices on the ballot
Beyond the mayor's race, voters weighed contests for city controller and city attorney, along with council districts and school board seats. Incumbents including the city attorney and city controller sought re-election, making the primary a broad test of city leadership.
- Primary held June 2, 2026.
- Bass and Raman advanced in the mayoral race.
- Controller, city attorney and council seats also on the ballot.
- General election scheduled for November 3.
A citywide leadership test
Los Angeles mayoral races draw national attention given the city's size and prominence. The advance of an incumbent mayor alongside a sitting councilmember sets up a contest between candidates with distinct records and constituencies within the city.
Municipal elections often turn on local concerns such as housing, homelessness, public safety and city services, and the general-election campaign is likely to center on how each candidate addresses those issues.
Looking toward the general
With the field set, the runoff gives voters a clear choice for the fall. Turnout in municipal general elections, campaign resources and coalition-building will shape the outcome over the coming months.
The Los Angeles results are part of a busy 2026 calendar of mayoral and local elections nationwide, underscoring how city-level contests shape governance for millions of residents even as national races draw the bulk of attention.