Billionaire Developer Rick Caruso Pivots, Declares Intention to Vote for Mayor Karen Bass in Reelection Bid

Billionaire developer Rick Caruso announced Monday that he plans to vote for Karen Bass in her mayoral reelection bid, turning away from a challenger whose platform he warned against during a recent joint appearance.

Caruso, who poured more than $100 million of his own fortune into his unsuccessful 2022 mayoral campaign against Bass, clarified his voting preference as the 2026 race takes shape. A spokesperson for Caruso emphasized that the statement stops short of a formal endorsement, noting that it simply informs the public of his intended vote.

The shift follows months of close cooperation between the developer and the mayor surrounding the Palisades fire rebuilding process. Caruso credited those interactions with shaping his perspective on the incumbent’s leadership.

“I have seen her grow into this job. I have seen firsthand her dedication, her willingness to work together, and her commitment to helping families and communities rebuild their lives,” Caruso said in a statement.

Bass welcomed the announcement, releasing a statement indicating she was honored to receive his vote. “Rick and I have a long history of working together to solve big problems,” the mayor said. “I look forward to working with him over the next four years to solve major problems in our city.” Meanwhile, the campaign for challenger Nithya Raman declined to comment on the announcement.

Caruso’s voting choice does not emerge from a vacuum. Relations between the developer and the incumbent have thawed gradually following the June primary election. After his defeat four years ago, Caruso frequently utilized social media to critique Bass over her administration of the homelessness crisis and wildfire response. He also publicly weighed another mayoral run for 2026 before opting against a second bid.

The thaw in relations became evident as the two collaborated on local recovery initiatives. Last month, Caruso joined Bass in Pacific Palisades to break ground on the new Palisades Recreation Center, a project aided by fundraising efforts from Caruso’s nonprofit organization, Steadfast LA. At that event, however, he declined to disclose his voting preference.

Public alignment solidified further last week when Caruso appeared alongside Bass at an event hosted at his Palisades Village shopping center. During that gathering, the developer voiced sharp reservations regarding Raman’s stated intention to replace Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell if elected.

“I do show extreme concern when a candidate is talking about firing a chief of police,” Caruso stated at the time, while still withholding his voting endorsement. He also cautioned against political alignment with the Democratic Socialists of America, which has endorsed Raman, stating that Los Angeles should not allow the department to become a laboratory experiment for the organization.

In addition to police leadership concerns, Caruso criticized Raman’s previous legislative record, taking aim at her tenure leading the City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee and calling her past performance troubling.

Caruso, a former registered Republican who changed his party affiliation to Democrat in 2022, owns prominent Southern California retail destinations including the Grove, the Americana at Brand, and Palisades Village. While his announcement clarifies his personal ballot plans, the evolving political alignment highlights shifting alliances among the city’s prominent stakeholders as the mayoral contest advances.