Hollywood stars rally behind Mayor Karen Bass in high-stakes LA election

Early voting in Los Angeles has kicked off as a slate of Hollywood figures, including Samuel L. Jackson, Jane Fonda, Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer, posted video endorsements for incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Their messages highlight Bass’s work on homelessness, the California film tax credit and her long-standing public-service career. The mayoral contest has escalated into a multimillion-dollar showdown, with the labor-backed group Estamos Con Nithya and hedge-fund manager Aaron Sosnick contributing more than $10 million to Raman’s effort, while Bass’s total fundraising stands at roughly $3.4 million.

Raman’s campaign reports about $1.4 million cash on hand, almost twice Bass’s available reserves. A recent poll shows a majority of Angelenos dissatisfied with the city’s direction, naming homelessness, cost of living and housing affordability as primary issues. Ballots can be returned before Election Day on November 3.