Karen Bass was elected mayor of Los Angeles on Wednesday, according to US media, making her the first woman to lead the second-largest city in the United States.
A fervent Democrat, Karen Bass defeated real estate developer and former member of the Republican Party, Rick Caruso, who invested $100 million of his personal fortune in this electoral contest.
After the recount of three-quarters of the votes, Karen Bass had an advantage of about 46,500 votes, according to the count published this Wednesday. An advantage that the local media described as “insurmountable”. The final results will be certified on December 5.
solid reputation
Originally from Los Angeles, Karen Bass enjoys a solid reputation in her hometown. Highly involved in the life of the local community, she was elected to the California State Parliament and later to the United States House of Representatives. She succeeds Eric Garcetti, who has held the position since 2013.
At 69, Karen Bass finds herself at the helm of a city grappling with a large homeless population, where tens of thousands of people, often with mental health or addiction issues, sleep in tents or motorhomes. .
This problem is compounded by some of the most expensive housing in the country, in a state and city where the cost of living is high and taxes are well above the national average.
But he will also take the helm of a city preparing to host the 2028 Olympic Games and home to a thriving cultural industry, all in the world capital of cinema.
Karen Bass will be the first woman to serve as mayor in Los Angeles, but not the first person of color to serve as mayor of that city. Tom Bradley, elected in 1973, served for two decades.
Source: BFM TV
