Black Endorses Bass Over Raman in LA Mayor Race
The Oscar-winning playwright backed Karen Bass after a reported no-show at a campaign event for Nithya Raman.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections
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Playwright Dustin Lance Black endorsed Karen Bass over Nithya Raman in the Los Angeles mayoral race, after posting that Raman's staff gave false reasons for her absence from a campaign event he hosted for her. Bass and Raman are tied at 40 percent each in a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and LA Times poll.
Why it matters
The endorsement comes from a high-profile figure with a large social media audience as the November 3 run-off between the two candidates approaches. With the race tied in a recent poll, public endorsements and questions about candidate reliability may influence how Los Angeles voters view the choice.
The most recent UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and LA Times poll shows the candidates tied at 40 percent each, down from Raman's 11-point lead over Bass in a September LA Times poll. Whether Raman's reported no-show at the October 16 event affected voter support has not been measured.
The players
Dustin Lance Black
An Oscar-winning playwright and screenwriter who won best original screenplay in 2009 for Milk and is now using his large Instagram following to back a mayoral candidate.
Karen Bass
The Los Angeles mayoral candidate who is in a run-off with Nithya Raman and who warned that Raman would bring chaos if elected.
Nithya Raman
The Los Angeles mayoral candidate who launched her campaign in February, defeated Spencer Pratt in the June primary, and is in a tied run-off race with Karen Bass.
UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies
The University of California, Berkeley research institute that conducted a poll with the LA Times showing Bass and Raman tied in the mayoral race.
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles newspaper that co-sponsored the recent poll showing a tie between Bass and Raman and an earlier September poll showing Raman ahead.
The details
Lance Black, a 52-year-old playwright and 2009 Oscar winner for Milk, posted on Instagram that Raman's staff gave false reasons for her absence from a reception billed as 'A Reception with Nithya Raman.' He also shared a clip endorsing Bass with his 500,000 Instagram followers. Bass warned on Sunday that Raman would bring chaos if elected.
Timeline
February 2026: Raman launched her candidacy hours before the filing deadline.
June 2026: Raman defeated Spencer Pratt in the primary and advanced to a run-off with Bass.
October 16, 2026: Date listed on the campaign event flyer Raman allegedly did not attend.
November 3, 2026: Los Angeles mayoral election day.
Political Context
Bass, who was elected in 2022 as the first female mayor of Los Angeles, now faces a run-off against Raman, who led her by 11 points in a September LA Times poll before the two became tied. The shift from Raman's lead to a tie frames the endorsement fight as a contest over whether voters will reward or reject Bass's record.
Los Angeles residents who vote in the November 3 run-off will choose the city's next mayor between two candidates who are tied in the most recent poll. Voters evaluating the endorsements and reported campaign conduct should compare the candidates' records and public statements directly before casting a ballot.
The takeaway
With the race tied in the latest poll, the endorsements and questions about candidate reliability may matter more than usual. Voters can check each candidate's public record and campaign appearances before November 3.
What happens next
The Los Angeles mayoral run-off between Karen Bass and Nithya Raman takes place on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the mayoral contest, see Elections coverage of the Los Angeles race.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mail Online.
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