County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath won't run for L.A. mayor

Horvath's decision ends weeks of speculation about a potential challenge to incumbent Karen Bass.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Lindsey Horvath, a Los Angeles County Supervisor representing 2 million people on the Westside and in the San Fernando Valley, announced she will not run for mayor of Los Angeles. Horvath's decision comes after weeks of speculation about a potential challenge to incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, and follows the recent withdrawals of former L.A. schools superintendent Austin Beutner and real estate developer Rick Caruso from the mayoral race.

Why it matters

Horvath's decision not to run for mayor is significant as she has been one of Bass's most outspoken critics, particularly over the city's handling of homelessness and the Palisades fire. Her decision leaves Bass facing a crowded field of challengers from across the political spectrum, including reality TV star Spencer Pratt, democratic socialist Rae Huang, and tech entrepreneur Adam Miller.

The details

Horvath, 43, cited her unfinished work as a county supervisor as the reason for her decision not to run for mayor. She has been a vocal critic of Bass's record on homelessness, accusing the mayor of putting out 'misinformation' about a new county agency on homelessness. In turn, Bass has criticized the county's decision to shift hundreds of millions of dollars out of a city-county partnership on homelessness and into the new county agency.

  • Horvath announced her decision on February 6, 2026, the night before the deadline for candidates to file for the mayoral race.
  • The June 2 primary election is the next key date in the mayoral race.

The players

Lindsey Horvath

A Los Angeles County Supervisor representing 2 million people on the Westside and in the San Fernando Valley, and a vocal critic of Mayor Karen Bass's record on homelessness and the Palisades fire.

Karen Bass

The incumbent mayor of Los Angeles, who is running for reelection and has faced criticism from Horvath and other challengers.

Spencer Pratt

A Republican reality TV star who is running for mayor and has focused heavily on the city's handling of the Palisades fire, which destroyed his home.

Rae Huang

A democratic socialist candidate for mayor who is calling for more public housing and a reduction in the number of police officers.

Adam Miller

A Brentwood tech entrepreneur and lifelong Democrat running for mayor, who says the city is on a downward trajectory and needs stronger management.

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What they’re saying

“Over these past few months, you have shown me all the reason you love Los Angeles —and why it's worth fighting for. I am grateful to the many leaders, organizations, and every single Angeleno who urged me to run for Mayor of Los Angeles.”

— Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles County Supervisor (Los Angeles Times)

“I'm a leader. She's a manager. That's the difference.”

— Asaad Alnajjar, Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The filing period for mayoral candidates in the June 2 primary closes at noon on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

The takeaway

Horvath's decision not to run for mayor leaves Bass facing a crowded field of challengers, but also removes a high-profile critic from the race. The mayoral contest will now focus on the city's handling of issues like homelessness, public safety, and development, with Bass seeking to defend her record against a diverse group of opponents.