Bass Lost Citywide, But Found a Stronghold on the Westside
LOS ANGELES - Karen Bass faced sustained criticism in Pacific Palisades after the January 2025 wildfire. When voters chose between Bass and Nithya Raman for mayor, however, early returns showed the neighborhood overwhelmingly preferred to keep the incumbent. Bass received an estimated 76% of the early Palisades vote. In neighboring Brentwood, she took nearly 70%. Those early Bass strongholds contrasted with Raman's citywide advantage, which surpassed 100,000 votes by Sunday afternoon.The contrast complicates any simple reading of Bass' defeat as a verdict delivered by the Palisades. She faced criticism for being outside the country when the fire began, but ABC7's precinct analysis found substantial support for her there. The estimates indicate a preference between candidates, not whether voters approved of her fire response.The Los Angeles Times' precinct map offers an early view of the contest, using ballots counted through 3 a.m. Nov. 4.A separate Vibrant LA analysis of county returns estimates Bass received approximately 3,945 votes in Pacific Palisades against Raman's 1,249. Brentwood gave Bass an estimated advantage of 4,177 votes.Those comfortable margins were smaller farther south. In Venice, Bass led 53.9% to 46.1%, a difference of about 738 votes. Mar Vista was almost evenly divided, with Bass ahead by
