Obama Endorses Karen Bass For LA Mayor

LOS ANGELES, CA — Former President Barack Obama has publicly endorsed Karen Bass to become the next mayor of Los Angeles, according to her campaign.

Obama appeared in a campaign video released by Bass on Saturday to help her become the first woman and second Black mayor of the nation's second-largest city.

"I know Karen, she was with me in supporting my campaign from the beginning, and Karen Bass will deliver results. ... Karen has always been on the right side of the issues we care so deeply about," Obama said in the video. "She has devoted her life to serving her community, from working in the emergency room, to saving California from a budget crisis, to delivering relief during the COVID pandemic as a member of Congress."

Obama's support will further strengthen her position as against her opponent, Rick Caruso as his backing adds to a chain of other endorsements from Democratic leaders such as President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and more.

"I am humbled and honored to have the support of President Barack Obama," Bass said. "President Obama brought us faith in our government and hope for the future of our country. It is impossible to overstate the impact of his work leading this country for eight scandal-free years advancing social and economic justice had on the nation and the world. That impact became even more obvious when it was followed by four years of corruption and crime emanating from the Oval Office. But we as a country are fighting back.

"We as a city are fighting back. President Obama's support underscores the contrast in this race and inspires our campaign as we share our plans to solve homelessness and make LA safer and more affordable for everyone during the home stretch."

Obama's backing comes on the heels of a rally held by Bass and Sen. Bernie Sanders, which which drew 2,000 people on Thursday in Playa Vista.

“I am asking you in the next 12 days to work as hard as you can to elect Karen and other progressives,” he told the crowd, the LA Times reported.

Bass has served as a Democratic congresswoman since 2011 and was an early supporter of Obama's bid for president in 2007.

"This election is about fixing homelessness, preventing crime, and ending corruption at City Hall. Only one candidate had a track record of taking on the status quo and getting results," said Peter Ragone, a spokesman for Caruso.

Early this month, Bass apologized for accusing Caruso during a debate of paying to receive an endorsement from the Avance Democratic Club, a local Latino political group.

"Accountability and transparency starts with me, and when I make a mistake, I own it," Bass said in a statement to City News Service. "I shouldn't have said what I said. I sincerely apologize to Avance and its membership."

READ MORE: Bass Apologizes For Accusations Of Paid Endorsements From Latino Group

City News Service contributed to this report.