Los Angeles is set to host its first public mayoral debate of the 2026 election cycle, with housing, homelessness, infrastructure, and transportation taking center stage at a free event open to all Angelenos.
The Housing Action Coalition and Streets For All are co-hosting “Shaping Los Angeles: A Debate About the Future of LA” on Monday, March 23 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at LA Center Studios’ Beaudry Theater, located at 451 S. Beaudry Ave. in Downtown Los Angeles. The event is free and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with 300 general admission seats on offer. A livestream will also be available for those who can’t attend in person.
Three candidates have confirmed their participation: City Councilmember Nithya Raman, community organizer Rae Huang, and nonprofit founder and tech executive Adam Miller. Mayor Karen Bass and candidate Spencer Pratt had not confirmed attendance as of the organizers’ announcement.
The debate lands at a critical moment in the race. California election officials say every active registered voter will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the June 2, 2026 primary, with county offices beginning to mail ballots by May 4 — weeks before election day, when many voters have already made up their minds.
Housing Action Coalition Southern California Director Jesse Zwick said the city’s affordability crisis and visible street homelessness demand specifics from candidates, not just broad promises. According to the Westside Current, Zwick said, “Too many people are being priced out of housing or living without shelter, while at the same time housing construction lags far behind where it needs to be,” calling the debate a chance to hear what candidates would do to “make LA more affordable and reduce homelessness.”
Streets For All CEO Michael Schneider linked the debate to the next wave of street and mobility fights across the city. “The decisions made about transportation and infrastructure over the next four years will shape our city for decades,” Schneider said.
The event also arrives as Angelenos watch how Measure HLA — a streets safety measure that passed in March 2024 with about 65% support — gets implemented across the city. The measure was designed to force the rollout of street safety improvements tied to the city’s mobility plan.
Attendees can reach the venue by transit by exiting at 7th/Figueroa and walking roughly 13 minutes, or by ride-share dropping off directly at the address. Bike parking is available at 450 S. Bixel St., and paid car parking ($15) is available at 412 S. Boylston St. Tickets and media RSVPs are available through the debate’s event sign-up page, with livestream details to be announced.
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