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Nadra Nittle, The 19th

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    Leadership

    Los Angeles has never elected a woman mayor. Karen Bass hopes to change that.

    Nadra Nittle, The 19th
    September 09, 2022
    Rep. Karen Bass, candidate for mayor of Los Angeles

    Los Angeles mayoral candidate Karen Bass speaks at the annual Labor Day Parade hosted by the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Labor Coalition on Sept. 5.

    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    Originally published by The 19th.

    LOS ANGELES — For 36 hours in September 1915, Los Angeles Councilmember Estelle Lawton Lindsey served as the city’s acting mayor when the sitting mayor and city council president left town — the first woman to ever do so. One hundred and seven years later, Los Angeles has yet to elect a woman mayor, a streak Rep. Karen Bass hopes to change in a November runoff election.

    The nation’s top Democrats — President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton — have endorsed her. With decades of experience in public service, community activism and cross-cultural coalitions, Bass has a double-digit lead in the polls over her challenger, Rick Caruso. Unlike Lindsey, whom male dignitaries snubbed during her mayoral stint, Bass’ gender is not a disadvantage in this race, political experts say. Having served nearly 12 years in Congress, her bid comes at a time when women of color are breaking barriers as city leaders.

    “I'm ahead ... because people appreciate my message and my understanding of the issues and experience,” Bass told The 19th. “Of course, anytime you break the glass ceiling, it is critically important. But I do not believe that voters are going to go to the polls because I'm a woman.”

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