Karen Bass news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Karen Bass and Nithya Raman face off in first LA mayoral runoff debate Wednesday. The debate follows a fake poll scandal that Bass touted.
Background
The Los Angeles mayoral race has moved to a runoff between incumbent Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman after neither secured a majority in the June primary. The campaign has been marked by controversy, including a fake poll that showed Bass with a wide lead, which was later revealed to be a 'social experiment' by a group calling itself Median Strategies. Bass had touted the poll on social media before it was deleted.
How it unfolded
- Jun 2026Primary election held; Bass and Raman advance to runoff after no majority.
- Aug 13, 2026Fake poll circulated by Median Strategies showing Bass leading by double digits; reported by some outlets.
- Aug 17, 2026Median Strategies admits poll was fake, calling it a 'social experiment'; Bass campaign demands prosecution.
- Aug 19, 2026First debate between Bass and Raman scheduled for 7 p.m. at Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center.
Who’s saying what
- Bass Campaign
- Any bad faith attempts to influence elections should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
- Raman Campaign
- Criticized Bass for failing to vet the company before sharing the poll results.
- Kenneth Mejia
- Called the poll a 'push poll' and noted that such polls had predicted his own loss, but he won by a landslide.
Still unverified
The fake poll was initially reported by some outlets before being debunked; the exact origin and intent of the 'social experiment' remain unclear.