Outside groups are spending big to boost challenger Nithya Raman and tear into Mayor Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race.
The news that's left me stunned is that millions of dollars are flooding into the Los Angeles mayoral election, with outside groups throwing their weight behind challenger Nithya Raman while simultaneously going after incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
Millions Pour in to Boost Raman and Tear Down Bass
According to campaign finance reports, as of Thursday, the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters had raised more than $10 million for its Estamos Con Nithya committee. A significant portion of this amount came from hedge fund manager Aaron Sosnick, who accounted for $6 million of the total.
Millions Pour in to Boost Bass Campaign Fundraising Efforts
A committee sponsored by the Los Angeles Police Protective League has spent nearly $4.8 million on ads attacking Raman, including over her opposition to a law barring homeless encampments near schools. Streets for All, a transportation advocacy group, has also been active in the campaign, spending $1.1 million on digital ads blasting Bass over homelessness, the Palisades fire and other issues.
Millions Pour in to Boost Bass and Outpace Raman Fundraising
According to the latest campaign finance reports, Mayor Karen Bass has outraised challenger Nithya Raman in fundraising, pulling in about $3.4 million to Raman's $3 million. This is a significant advantage for Bass, who collected $827,000 in contributions and taxpayer matching funds during the one-month reporting period that ended Oct. 17.
Raman reported bringing in $485,000 during the same period, but she had nearly $1.4 million on hand for the final days of the campaign, while Bass reported about half of that - a significant amount considering the candidates can only raise up to $1,800 per donor.
While outside groups are spending big to boost Raman's chances, it remains to be seen whether this will give her the edge she needs to win. The impact of these outside campaigns on the final days of the campaign is still unclear, and it will likely come down to how voters respond to the messages being pushed by these groups.
Source: Google News
