Wave Staff and Wire Reports
LOS ANGELES — Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the basketball great who has become a business mogul injected himself into the Loa angeles mayoral race May 10 when he endorsed Mayor Karen Bass for reelection in the June 2 mayor’s race.
In a video Bass shared on social media, Johnson said he has known the mayor for three decades and touted her work to reduce homelessness and violent crime and build more affordable housing.
“She’s doing a tremendous job,” Johnson said. “Mayor Bass has to have a second term and I’m excited to say that. “You took on a tough job here and you’ve done a fabulous job and all of us appreciate your effort and what you’re doing and we look forward to helping you continue your mission and the things that you have in store — your vision for the city.”
Bass respon ded to Johnson’s endorsement on X.
“Magic Johnson has been my friend for over 30 years,” she said. “His belief in how I’m changing Los Angeles means everything to me. Magic has poured his heart into this city long before anyone asked him to — through investment, through community, through showing up. I am deeply honored to have his endorsement.”
In a video she released, Bass joined Johnson on camera, hugging him and thanking him for the support. Johnson, a longtime Democrat who backed former Vice President Kamala Harris in her 2024 presidential bid, then told Bass that “all of us appreciate” her work in City Hall.
Bass was elected mayor in November 2022 after a career in the state Legislature and Congress. She is seeking a second term against a large group of challengers who include Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman and reality TV star Spencer Pratt, a Republican who has sharply criticized Bass for her response to wildfires in the area last year.
Johnson’s longtime friend, Lakers’ governor Jeanie Buss, is supporting Pratt and has donated $1,800 to his campaign.
In other news related to the mayor’s race, a mayoral forum planned May 13 at Cal State Los Angeles was canceled May 10 when Bass withdrew from the event, saying her schedule called for her to be in Sacramento that day. Pratt had earlier announced he would not be attending, also citing a scheduling conflict.
The forum was expected to include Raman, businessman Adam Miller and community advocate Rae Huang.
Bass’ campaign released a statement that said in part: “The people of L.A. saw twice last week that Nithya Raman and Spencer Pratt are not up to the job as mayor. That goes beyond performance — the ineffectiveness and contradictions in their campaign promises were clearly revealed.”
Bass indicated she might be done with such appearances altogether, with her campaign saying “it’s time to move past debates.”
The Bass campaign did not respond to an email asking whether the mayor was flatly ruling out any further participation in debates before the June 2 primary.
