LOS ANGELES, CA — Billionaire developer Rick Caruso said in an interview published Monday that he plans to vote for Mayor Karen Bass, the woman who defeated him in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election.
With just eight days until Election Day, Caruso revealed his decision in an exclusive interview with ABC 7, saying he had struggled with his choices before deciding to support his former political rival over City Councilwoman Nithya Raman.
"I've looked at the records and I've made a clear decision of who I'm going to vote for...And that's going to be Mayor Bass," Caruso told the station.
Caruso, who has been an outspoken critic of Bass' handling of homelessness, public safety and the devastating January 2025 Palisades Fire, said he has seen a change in the mayor over the past year.
Caruso specifically praised Bass' efforts to support rebuilding in Pacific Palisades following the wildfire, including expediting permits and providing city resources to help reopen his Palisades Village shopping center in August.
Caruso emphasized that he was not formally endorsing Bass, but wanted voters to know whom he would support.
SEE ALSO: LA Voter Guide: What's On The Ballot, Voting, & More
The announcement comes after Caruso joined Bass for a news conference at Palisades Village last week, where he praised her wildfire recovery efforts but stopped short of endorsing her.
Caruso spent more than $100 million of his own money on his unsuccessful 2022 mayoral campaign, losing to Bass by nearly 10 percentage points. Despite speculation that he would challenge her again in 2026, he ultimately declined to run.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Los Angeles Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.