Billionaire developer Rick Caruso announced on Friday that he will not run for California governor or Los Angeles mayor this year, ending speculation about his potential political ambitions.
Caruso, who previously lost the Los Angeles mayoral race to Karen Bass in 2022, cited personal reflection and discussions with his family as reasons for his decision. He expressed disappointment at stepping back from the election, which he described as critical to California’s future.
Caruso, a centrist Democrat, seemed poised to re-enter politics after wildfires devastated his Pacific Palisades neighborhood last year. However, despite his increased media presence and criticism of Bass’s leadership during the crisis, a rematch posed significant challenges. Los Angeles, an overwhelmingly Democratic city, leans further left than Caruso, who was previously registered as a Republican and an independent before joining the Democratic Party. He lost to Bass by nearly 10 points in their previous contest, a gap that would have been difficult to close.
A gubernatorial run might have been more feasible, given the more moderate statewide electorate, but Caruso remains largely unknown outside Los Angeles. Additionally, the polarized political climate and the Democratic focus on opposing President Donald Trump complicated his potential campaign strategy. Instead, Caruso will focus on fire recovery efforts through his nonprofit, Steadfast LA.
Politico reported that Caruso’s decision not to run aligns with his preference to build a coalition of moderates and independents, which seemed increasingly unlikely in the current political environment.
Recent Comments