L.A. Mayor's Race in Flux Days Before Filing Deadline

Candidates continue to enter and exit the race as the deadline approaches.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The race for Los Angeles mayor has seen a flurry of activity in the final days before the filing deadline, with several major candidates either dropping out, considering a run, or changing their minds multiple times. Former schools Superintendent Austin Beutner withdrew, while Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and billionaire developer Rick Caruso have both wavered on whether to enter the race. The uncertainty reflects the political challenges facing incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who has faced criticism over her handling of the Palisades fire and other issues.

Why it matters

The instability in the candidate lineup highlights the unsettled nature of the L.A. mayoral race, which will have major implications for the city's future leadership and policy direction. With so many candidates still undecided, it's unclear who the frontrunners will be and what the key campaign issues will be.

The details

Several high-profile potential candidates have been weighing whether to enter the race in the final days before the filing deadline. Former schools Superintendent Austin Beutner dropped out, citing the death of his daughter, while Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said she is still deciding. Billionaire developer Rick Caruso briefly reemerged as a possible candidate before deciding not to run. Meanwhile, political newcomers like tech entrepreneur Adam Miller and reality TV star Spencer Pratt have launched their own campaigns.

  • The filing deadline for the L.A. mayoral race is noon on Saturday, February 8, 2026.
  • Beutner dropped out of the race on Thursday, February 6, 2026.
  • Caruso briefly said he was reconsidering a run on Wednesday, February 5, 2026, before deciding not to enter the race the following day.

The players

Karen Bass

The incumbent mayor of Los Angeles who is seeking reelection, but has faced criticism over her handling of the Palisades fire and other issues.

Lindsey Horvath

A Los Angeles County Supervisor who is considering a late entry into the mayoral race, but would face a compressed timeline for fundraising.

Rick Caruso

A billionaire real estate developer who previously ran for mayor in 2022 and briefly reemerged as a possible candidate before deciding not to run.

Austin Beutner

The former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District who dropped out of the mayoral race due to the death of his daughter.

Adam Miller

A Brentwood tech entrepreneur who launched a mayoral bid, saying the city needs strong management.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It appears to me that there are a lot of campaign donors sitting out of this race until now, waiting to see who will jump in.”

— Sara Sadhwani, Pomona College politics professor (Los Angeles Times)

“Karen Bass actively covered up a report meant to examine the most significant disaster in Los Angeles history. This is a complete loss of public trust and an intentional act of covering up the actions that led to people dying.”

— Rick Caruso (X (formerly Twitter)

“What would be the purpose of covering up a report that I ordered? I ordered the report because I wanted the truth to come out.”

— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The uncertainty and last-minute maneuvering in the L.A. mayoral race reflects the political challenges facing incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who has struggled with her response to the Palisades fire and other issues. The eventual winner will have to navigate a complex set of challenges facing the city, from homelessness to housing affordability.