The Los Angeles mayoral election was still too close to call on Wednesday, with the majority of votes still uncounted.
According to DecisionDeskHQ, former Republican and billionaire developer Rick Caruso (D) had a little over 51% of the vote on Wednesday, and his opponent, far-left Congresswon Karen Bass (D-CA), had around 49% support. The New York Times reported that only 44% of the votes had been tallied as of Wednesday afternoon.
Bass was originally ahead, but by Wednesday morning, Caruso had garnered a slight lead.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk has said the next vote count update would be on Friday.
Last year, a law went into effect that mandates mail-in ballots be sent to every registered, active voter in California. The mail-in ballots could be received up to one week later and will be counted if they are postmarked on Election Day.
On Tuesday evening, Bass spoke to supporters at the Hollywood Palladium, saying, “We will win because we’re going to build a new Los Angeles!”
“Together, we want to have a City Hall that serves all the people,” Bass added. “We want a City Hall that’s not just the City Hall for the powerful, not just the City Hall for the wealthy, but a City Hall that is for everyone so that we can have the quality of life that I know that we deserve.”
Caruso addressed a crowd of more than 1,000 people at The Grove, which is an upscale Los Angeles shopping area he developed.
“We don’t know the outcome yet, but I’m happy to say that we’re starting out strong and we’re a couple thousand votes ahead,” Caruso said.
He said he felt as if his family had grown with all the people he had met along the way in the election season.
“They believe that life can be different, that it can be better. They believe that Los Angeles is where dreams come true, just like my grandparents when they came here,” he said. “We have dreams of a better life to make come true for so many. And I come here tonight in full anticipation and excitement about what is to come and what we can do together.”
Several celebrities endorsed Caruso in recent days, including Katy Perry, Chris Pratt, and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos. The crime and violence in Los Angeles have led people to seek a change in leadership. Although Caruso is a Democrat, his campaign has emphasized law and order.
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