Democratic Rep. Karen Bass is running for mayor of Los Angeles
 
 
Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) is ready for a new challenge, officially kicking off her campaign for Los Angeles mayor on Monday.
Bass, 67, now represents California's 37th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Los Angeles, and previously served as speaker of the California state Assembly. She is the co-founder of the nonprofit Community Coalition, which focuses on social and economic issues in South L.A.
In a statement, Bass made it clear that one of her top issues is homelessness. "Our city is facing a public health, safety, and economic crisis in homelessness that has evolved into a humanitarian emergency," she said. "I've spent my entire life bringing groups of people together in coalitions to solve complex problems and produce concrete change — especially in times of crisis."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
 
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
There are already several other candidates in the running to replace Mayor Eric Garcetti, including City Councilman Kevin de Léon, City Councilman Joe Buscaino, City Attorney Mike Feuer, real estate broker Mel Wilson, and business leader Jessica Lall.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
- 
 The week’s best photos The week’s best photosIn Pictures A monstrous parade, a hungry tortoise, and more 
- 
 The Week Unwrapped: Should we be eating less fat – or more? The Week Unwrapped: Should we be eating less fat – or more?Podcast Plus who will benefit from the surprise Dutch election result? And how can art improve our health? 
- 
 AI models may be developing a ‘survival drive’ AI models may be developing a ‘survival drive’Under the radar Chatbots are refusing to shut down 
- 
 Is Mike Johnson rendering the House ‘irrelevant’? Is Mike Johnson rendering the House ‘irrelevant’?Talking Points Speaker has put the House on indefinite hiatus 
- 
 Senate votes to kill Trump’s Brazil tariff Senate votes to kill Trump’s Brazil tariffSpeed Read Five Senate Republicans joined the Democrats in rebuking Trump’s import tax 
- 
 Border Patrol gets scrutiny in court, gains power in ICE Border Patrol gets scrutiny in court, gains power in ICESpeed Read Half of the new ICE directors are reportedly from DHS’s more aggressive Customs and Border Protection branch 
- 
 Shutdown stalemate nears key pain points Shutdown stalemate nears key pain pointsSpeed Read A federal employee union called for the Democrats to to stand down four weeks into the government standoff 
- 
 Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan ad Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan adspeed read The ad that offended the president has Ronald Reagan explaining why import taxes hurt the economy 
- 
 NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footage NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges 
- 
 Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East Wing Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction 
- 
 Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 more Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters 
