Meet Your Mayor: Take This Quiz To Find Out Which LA Mayoral Candidate You Align With Most

You've got a choice to make, L.A.: Who's going to be your next mayor?

You've probably been flooded with advertisements and news coverage about the candidates vying to replace L.A.'s outgoing mayor, Eric Garcetti. That doesn't necessarily mean it's any easier to make your choice.

That's why we're bringing you Meet Your Mayor, our quiz that asks you and the candidates the same questions so that we can "match" you with the candidate who's closest to you on key issues. It's kind of like one of those matchmaking apps where you answer a bunch of questions and then you get matched with someone who shares your interests and values.

Who votes for L.A. mayor?

You must live in the city of Los Angeles to vote in this race. Not sure? Use our Voter's Edge tool to see all the races on your ballot based on your home address.

OK, but what does the mayor even do?

Think of L.A.'s mayor as a CEO: they can appoint commissioners and boot city officials.

They also handle the money; mayors must propose a budget and report on how that money is spent to the City Council every year. (The 15-member City Council is basically Los Angeles' legislature.)

And as the head of the second-largest city in the country, L.A.'s mayor has the ability to lead on social issues at the heart of national conversations. Their power over the budget allows them to carve out funding to pilot new programs that push ideas into the realm of political possibility.

In short, choosing a mayor is kind of a big deal. You can learn more about the position of L.A. mayor in our voter guide.

How it works

We asked you what questions you wanted to ask the candidates before you voted in this primary election. You sent us almost 200.
As you take the quiz, you'll be shown which candidates gave the same answer as you to each question. And at the end of the quiz, you'll find out which candidate or candidates you agree with the most often.
Why can't I match Rick Caruso on some questions? Rick Caruso's campaign participated in our primary quiz, but after weeks of emails and calls, they have failed to provide responses to our follow-up General Election questionnaire. Where possible, we have supplied Caruso's original answers from the Primary Election (see his full, unedited responses to that questionnaire). Note, however, that this only includes six questions. Check out Caruso's profile page to find all six. Really want to see Caruso's answers to the other questions? Contact his campaign and ask them to participate.

Climate Emergency

Answered X of 4

View topic guide

Climate change is contributing to longer and more severe droughts in California. What do you think is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to protect Angelenos' water supply?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

No candidates selected this answer

Bass

Karen Bass

What is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to keep Angelenos safe amid extreme heat?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

No candidates selected this answer

Bass

Karen Bass

No candidates selected this answer

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Los Angeles. Where do you see the biggest opportunity to lower those emissions?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Bass

Karen Bass

No candidates selected this answer

Fires in the city and its surroundings are growing more frequent and more severe as a result of the climate crisis. What is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to tackle this problem?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

No candidates selected this answer

Bass

Karen Bass

No candidates selected this answer

Housing and Homelessness

Answered X of 4

View topic guide

Los Angeles Municipal Code 41.18, better known as the “anti-camping law,” bans people who are unhoused from camping on public property close to locations such as schools, parks, libraries, and underpasses. Should 41.18 be kept as is, repealed, or changed?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

No candidates selected this answer

Bass

Karen Bass

I support the intent of 41.18 – it is unacceptable for encampments to exist near schools and child care centers. I have a problem with 41.18’s district by district, encampment by encampment approach. We need coordinated, citywide leadership to solve this problem, and we need to ensure that housing and services are available for homeless individuals because what I will never accept is simply moving an encampment from one neighborhood to another. That’s not a solution – that’s whack a mole.
Caruso

Rick Caruso

I will build 30,000 shelter beds in 300 days with supported services to get people off our streets and provide them with the help they need to get back on their feet. I will also enforce 41.18 to keep people from turning our parks, sidewalks, and bus shelters into encampments.

No candidates selected this answer

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “We need to stop allowing homeless encampments and shelters near residences.”

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Bass

Karen Bass

No candidates selected this answer

Do you agree with Angelenos who say that the large number of people living outside makes neighborhoods less safe?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Bass

Karen Bass

Caruso

Rick Caruso

I think a significant percentage of our homeless crisis is driven by those who are mentally ill and suffer from substance abuse. Whether they directly make our city less safe is debatable, but they do make people feel less safe outside, at our parks, or walking down the street. We need to get people housed, we need to get them services, and for those who can not make rational decisions for themselves due to mental illness we need a Cares Court now.

What is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to address the homelessness crisis in the near-term?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

No candidates selected this answer

Bass

Karen Bass

I will immediately address the homelessness crisis by building more interim and permanent housing, rebuilding the mental health and substance abuse systems, and providing unhoused Angelenos with job training and employment assistance.

Equitable Economics and Housing

Answered X of 5

View topic guide

Traffic violence is considered a public health crisis by many state and local officials. City programs and plans aimed at making streets safer, including Vision Zero and Mobility Plan 2035, have not been effective, especially for low-income Angelenos and in Black and Brown communities. What is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to make the streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Bass

Karen Bass

No candidates selected this answer

Due to the city's emergency decree, rent increases are currently not allowed for tenants living in the city’s rent-controlled housing. But before the pandemic, Los Angeles generally allowed annual rent increases between 3% and 8%, depending on inflation. Should the city alter its rent control limits, eliminate them, or keep them?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Bass

Karen Bass

We must protect our rent-controlled housing stock, and expand just cause eviction protections to non-rent controlled multifamily properties.

No candidates selected this answer

Landlords say they’ve been struggling amid rising costs, inflation over 7%, and pandemic-era restrictions such as temporary bans on rent increases and evictions. Should we lift the city’s eviction protections now, let them expire in January, or extend them past January?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

No candidates selected this answer

Bass

Karen Bass

I am concerned that if the eviction moratorium is lifted too soon, it will cause more Angelenos to fall into homelessness. At the same time, I believe that we must protect our mom and pop landlords, many of whom face unique challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. The city should help ensure these apartment owners receive the financial support they need to stay afloat and continue to house Angelenos.

What statement best reflects your position on the minimum wage of $16.04 that went into effect on July 1, 2022?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

No candidates selected this answer

Bass

Karen Bass

No candidates selected this answer

Do you agree with Mayor Garcetti’s decision to pilot a universal basic income program in Los Angeles?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Bass

Karen Bass
Caruso

Rick Caruso

I am always interested in innovative solutions to solving inequality. I am open to seeing the results of the City’s and County’s programs and seeing if there are real tangible results.

No candidates selected this answer

Policing

Answered X of 6

View topic guide

The Los Angeles Police Department currently has fewer than 9,400 sworn officers but is authorized to have about 9,700. As mayor, what would you do?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Bass

Karen Bass

Caruso

Rick Caruso

The LAPD is the smallest big city police force per capita in the US and that must change. I will add 1,500 officers to our force before the end of his first term. My administration will apply for every federal and state grant there is and even demand more direct funding from the Biden administration and Governor Newsom to expand and strengthen our police force and ensure they are trained properly and engaged with the communities they serve.

No candidates selected this answer

The current LAPD operating budget of $1.9 billion represents about 16% of the overall city budget. Should LAPD funding stay the same, increase or decrease?

Editor’s note: The total cost associated with the LAPD, according to the most recent city budget, is nearly $3.2 billion, which includes $597 million for pensions, $367 million for benefits, and other expenses. The $1.9 billion represents the operational costs that a mayor has the most discretion to adjust.

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Bass

Karen Bass

Caruso

Rick Caruso

I will restore the LAPD’s budget and expand the number of patrol officers with more hiring, civilianization of non-essential sworn positions, and a commitment to more training and diversified recruitment.

No candidates selected this answer

What do you think is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to ensure that officers responding to a 911 call can recognize a mental health crisis and avoid using lethal force?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Bass

Karen Bass

I will immediately increase co-response and alternative response teams that include mental health, homeless outreach and other specialists who can respond to people in distress, freeing officers to focus on crime.

No candidates selected this answer

Would you be willing to meet with groups that have been sharply critical of the police, such as Black Lives Matter and Reform L.A. Jails?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Bass

Karen Bass
Caruso

Rick Caruso

I am willing to meet with anyone and listen to their concerns and solutions.

No candidates selected this answer

District Attorney George Gascón came to office on a progressive agenda that includes fewer prosecutions for low-level crimes. What statement best reflects your opinion of his agenda?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

No candidates selected this answer

Bass

Karen Bass

No candidates selected this answer

What do you think is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to repair the frayed relationships between the LAPD and many of the communities it serves?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

No candidates selected this answer

Bass

Karen Bass

Accountability starts at the top. I will be a hands-on Mayor who looks for leaders who embrace accountability, are committed to preventing and reducing crime, and increasing mutual trust between officers and communities. I will lay out clear goals and expectations for the Police Chief and Police Commission – and I will expect them to meet those goals. As Mayor, I will invest in Senior Lead Officers and proven programs like the Community Safety Partnership to build trust between officers and the communities they serve – and I will double down on investments in crime prevention programs that address the root causes of crime.

No candidates selected this answer

Your Top Matches

Print results

Who votes for L.A. mayor?

OK, but what does the mayor even do?

How it works

Climate Emergency

Climate change is contributing to longer and more severe droughts in California. What do you think is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to protect Angelenos' water supply?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

What is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to keep Angelenos safe amid extreme heat?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Los Angeles. Where do you see the biggest opportunity to lower those emissions?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Fires in the city and its surroundings are growing more frequent and more severe as a result of the climate crisis. What is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to tackle this problem?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Housing and Homelessness

Los Angeles Municipal Code 41.18, better known as the “anti-camping law,” bans people who are unhoused from camping on public property close to locations such as schools, parks, libraries, and underpasses. Should 41.18 be kept as is, repealed, or changed?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “We need to stop allowing homeless encampments and shelters near residences.”

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Do you agree with Angelenos who say that the large number of people living outside makes neighborhoods less safe?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

What is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to address the homelessness crisis in the near-term?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Equitable Economics and Housing

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Landlords say they’ve been struggling amid rising costs, inflation over 7%, and pandemic-era restrictions such as temporary bans on rent increases and evictions. Should we lift the city’s eviction protections now, let them expire in January, or extend them past January?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

What statement best reflects your position on the minimum wage of $16.04 that went into effect on July 1, 2022?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Do you agree with Mayor Garcetti’s decision to pilot a universal basic income program in Los Angeles?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Policing

The Los Angeles Police Department currently has fewer than 9,400 sworn officers but is authorized to have about 9,700. As mayor, what would you do?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

The current LAPD operating budget of $1.9 billion represents about 16% of the overall city budget. Should LAPD funding stay the same, increase or decrease?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

What do you think is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to ensure that officers responding to a 911 call can recognize a mental health crisis and avoid using lethal force?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Would you be willing to meet with groups that have been sharply critical of the police, such as Black Lives Matter and Reform L.A. Jails?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

District Attorney George Gascón came to office on a progressive agenda that includes fewer prosecutions for low-level crimes. What statement best reflects your opinion of his agenda?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

What do you think is the most important and impactful step the city can take as part of a strategy to repair the frayed relationships between the LAPD and many of the communities it serves?

Candidates who agree with youCollapse answersExpand answers

Answer questions to see your matches appear below

Your Top Matches

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