Part 165: Rick Caruso vs. California - 2026 Election Hubris and Real Power Politics

Part 165: Rick Caruso vs. California – 2026 Election Hubris and Real Power Politics
Published April 10, 2025.

By Zachary Ellison, Independent Journalist

Since November 2022, former Los Angeles mayoral candidate and billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso has captivated the political class with questions of what would come next in his long-anticipated political career. Now, according to a new report from Los Angeles Times journalists David Zahniser and Julie Wick, if he were to challenge Mayor Karen Bass again, he would have to do so without the support of the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), which has preemptively endorsed the incumbent as Caruso reportedly continues to poll away his political future. The “will he or won’t he?” dynamic behind Rick Caruso’s political calculations has raised questions about his intentions toward both California’s 2024 senate race and also the 2026 governorship showdown currently being shadowed by Kamala Harris. So far, Harris hasn’t announced a run despite widespread speculation and with attacks already flying.

So far in 2025, as Caruso has made the podcast rounds and launched a new nonprofit focused on wildfire recovery in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, he’s repeatedly declined to confirm or deny his intention. This has left the Times at least openly speculating about the political ambitions of opposites such as Controller Kenneth Meija and Councilmember Traci Park, both of whom are seeking re-election and have ruled out challenges against Mayor Bass. The Times also floated names such as Councilmember Monica Rodriguez and even Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who are quite unlikely to occur. A run from Rodriguez would likely face a fate similar to the ill-fated 2022 campaign of Kevin de León that floundered in the primary. The LAPPL didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on their endorsement of Karen Bass. The influential labor union spent millions fervently attacking Bass before the June 2022 primary.

Link: https://zacharyellison.substack.com/p/part-165-rick-caruso-vs-california