LA Voters' Mayoral Conundrum
Southern California News Group Endorses Adam Miller for LA Mayor, Highlighting Voter Challenges
Los Angeles voters face a November runoff between incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman — a matchup that leaves centrist reformers with no one to vote for. The Southern California News Group editorial board, which backed tech entrepreneur Adam Miller for mayor, called the outcome a "lose-lose" for voters seeking practical change. Southern California News Group Miller finished with just 3.5% to 3.7% of the primary vote.
The primary result cements a leftward direction for America's second-largest city. Bass led with 34.3% of the vote. Raman came in second with 28.6%, narrowly edging out Republican Spencer Pratt, who finished at 25.8%, according to The Guardian.
Why the Endorsed Candidate Got Just 3.5%
Adam Miller is the founder of Cornerstone OnDemand and the nonprofit Better Angels. He ran on a simple pitch: fund police and fire departments like real priorities, use technology to cut government waste, and hold city contractors accountable. Beverly Press reported he positioned himself as the only candidate with private-sector executive experience. The Southern California News Group endorsed him enthusiastically.
But endorsements did not translate to votes. Internal polling showed Miller's support could "shoot up to 27%" once voters learned his background, according to Press Enterprise. He never raised enough money to get there. Critics argued that "executive talk" reads as "losing talk" in a city where voters respond more to social justice messages or known political brands.
The "Mahan Model" That Los Angeles Rejected
The SCNG editorial board also endorsed San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan for California governor. It held Mahan up as the kind of results-driven Democrat L.A. needs — someone who pursues private-sector partnerships and hard housing targets. Critics note that San Jose uses a "weak mayor" system, meaning Mahan holds less direct power than the title suggests, according to OC Register.
Mahan's statewide campaign is struggling too. He polls between 4% and 8% in the governor's race, per Politico. The back-to-back failures of Miller in L.A. and Mahan statewide suggest the "centrist iconoclast" brand is not finding traction with California voters right now.
Bass vs. Raman: A Democratic Party Civil War in November
The November runoff is not a Democrat-versus-Republican fight. It is a battle inside the Democratic Party. Bass is the establishment candidate — the first Black woman to lead Los Angeles. She is running on her "Inside Safe" homeless program and "steady leadership." Her campaign says she "looks forward to winning" against Raman, whom they paint as someone who "allows encampments near schools," according to NBC Los Angeles.
Raman, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, frames the race differently. "City Hall has prioritized giving political advantage to powerful interests," she said, per PBS News. She champions tenant protections and has supported taxes on high-end property sales. Real estate and business groups, which bankrolled Bass and centrist candidates in the primary, now face an uncomfortable choice between the two.
How Raman Survived the "Blue Shift" to Reach the Runoff
On primary night, June 2, Spencer Pratt held a narrow second-place lead over Raman in early returns, according to the Associated Press. That lead flipped over the next week as mail-in ballots were counted. By June 8, Raman had officially overtaken Pratt. CalMatters analysts noted this is a standard feature of California elections — younger, more progressive voters tend to mail in ballots, which are counted last.
The AP and CBS News projected the Bass-Raman runoff on June 9. For the SCNG editorial board and the broader centrist movement, the result confirms their fear: the candidate they believe L.A. needs most is already out of the race, and November offers no path back in.
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