Bass ran on her strong relationship skills. So why did pivotal allies turn on her?

Key Points:

• Estevan Montemayor, a former supporter of Karen Bass, switched allegiance to back Nithya Raman in the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race due to dissatisfaction with Bass's handling of homelessness, the city budget, and the Palisades fire.
• Key political allies and groups that once supported Bass, including Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, and the hotel workers union Unite Here Local 11, turned against her and supported Raman’s campaign.
• Bass faced widespread criticism over her administration’s response to major crises such as the Palisades fire, budget shortfalls, and homelessness programs that had high failure rates, contributing to her declining approval ratings.
• Conflicts with business groups over wage hikes and tax issues, as well as disputes with labor unions over construction labor standards, further eroded Bass’s support among important constituencies.
• Despite Bass’s efforts to build a broad coalition, including endorsements from former opponents and police unions, internal political fractures and public dissatisfaction culminated in her electoral defeat to Raman.