While the loud sounds of bombs exploding, at least on TV newscasts, and the constant drama emulating from the latest Trump escapade—the war in Iran—it is very easy not to really notice the politics right in our own L.A. backyard. I’m referring to the upcoming governor’s race and particularly to the L.A. mayor’s race. The primary for both of those is June 6th, and that date is rolling ahead inexorably whether we’re paying attention or not.
We must remind ourselves again that California still uses the “Jungle Primary” system to weed out the weak and unserious candidates early on. That is, on June 6th, the bombast from unserious candidates will be killed off, and only the top two vote-getters in each office sought for will be left standing for the real November voting this year.
As usual, most of this first-level voting will be based more on voters’ impressions, feelings, and ease/unease with the candidates than on real tangibles like what the candidates have actually accomplished. In L.A., hell yes, the issues of homelessness and the unhoused will still bring most of the noise and commotion. That multi-layered problem is still here, certainly, and no matter who is in charge, the problem will remain well after the final votes have been cast. No single political actor will solve that overwhelming problem in L.A., so, as important as it is, it will probably not be the determining factor in either the primary or the final balloting.
What then will separate the candidates? Most likely, it will come down to a “charm” initiative—do I really like Mayor Bass (the incumbent) personally? Does she look like she’s really in charge of L.A.’s “sticky wicket”? Is the criticism of her decisions concerning the L.A. fires—the hellscape no one saw coming—enough that a change in leadership is necessary? The answer so far, based on the current polling, is no. A change in leadership is not forthcoming. Mayor Bass, along with the other decision-makers she’s surrounded by, and providence, got us through. Besides, she’s still bringing the Olympics to L.A., and that’s not chopped liver.
Among 14 known candidates, Mayor Bass is currently leading the polling for the upcoming June primary, and of the other two main candidates so far—reality TV personality Spencer Pratt and still little-known city councilwoman Nithya Raman—both of whom are not only trailing at this level of the race for mayor, but neither seems to be able to catch the lightning-in-a-bottle time or issue to threaten Mayor Bass’ current dominance. Only the top two vote-getters in the June primary will continue to the November ballot.
Actually, Mayor Bass deserves the vote to continue as mayor. In the prickly job of city mayor in the country’s second largest municipality, she has done and will continue to do an outstanding job with what she’s working with. She is no embarrassment to this city, and given the current cast of civic and national leaders, that alone is a heavy endorsement. Bass for mayor without a doubt!!
The real excitement in this year’s California elections, however, is the governor’s race. Governor Newsom has termed out, so there’ll be a new boss in town after November. One of the candidates, Tom Styer, has decided to make the race another version of Circus Maximus, that is, a political version of letting the strongest, most cunning, warrior win. To paraphrase his trumpeted theme, “It’s time to fight fire with fire, and that fire is Tom Steyer!!” He outed Eric Swalwell for being an absentee, mild-mannered congressman.
He’s also called the MAGA-crazy Riverside sheriff who confiscated 650,000 cast votes—just that—crazy and unfit for California politics. He has made himself into the front-runner and basically said, “If you think you’re bad, then come and get me, ‘cause I know I’m bad.”
Political theatrics is back in play now, and Donald Trump is not the only ringmaster. Politics is exciting again; at least it is in California.
Professor David L. Horne is founder and executive director of PAPPEI, the Pan African Public Policy and Ethical Institute, which is a new 501(c)(3) pending community-based organization or non-governmental organization (NGO). It is the stepparent organization for the California Black Think Tank which still operates and which meets every fourth Friday.
