In a surprising turn of events, two democratic socialists have emerged victorious in their respective mayoral races in two of America's major cities.
Zohran Mamdani in New York City and the relatively inexperienced Katie Wilson in Seattle have both secured their positions. These cities, already grappling with the consequences of policies implemented by "progressive" politicians, are now left to wonder about the extent of their impending decline.
According to RedState, Los Angeles could potentially be the next city to surrender its reins to the radical left. The city has already experienced a taste of this with Mayor Karen Bass and their radical city council and county Board of Supervisors. However, the possibility of a further shift to the left is now on the horizon.
Rae Huang, a community organizer, has announced her intention to challenge Bass, a Democrat who was absent in Ghana during the catastrophic January fires that devastated large parts of the city. Bass's tenure has seen little progress in rebuilding since then.
Huang, in her announcement, stated, "I am excited and very humbled to announce that I am running for Mayor of Los Angeles, the second largest city in our nation." She further added, "After over 20 years of leaning into my call to serve God through social justice work and organizing, this path has led me in these uncertain times to take the unusual path to continue my calling by running for Mayor to finally see through the changes the LA social justice movement and I have been building for years."
The 43-year-old community organizer and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member has outlined her campaign's focus on universal housing, free transportation, climate resiliency, and affordability. These issues bear a striking resemblance to those championed by New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani during his campaign.
The Los Angeles Times has labeled Huang as a "long shot" to win, given her relative obscurity. However, the recent victories of socialist candidates in Seattle and New York City suggest that this might not be as far-fetched as it seems. Even if Huang does not secure a victory, her presence in the race could potentially disrupt Bass's reelection bid.
Huang's candidacy could draw away left-of-center voters, particularly in a year when Bass is facing criticism over her handling of the Palisades fire, a struggling city budget, and subpar public services. Bass already faces competition from former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner, who has criticized her record in each of these areas. The possibility of billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who lost to Bass in 2022, entering the race remains unclear.
Moreover, several DSA city council candidates have already secured office, and DSA-LA is actively working to increase their representation on future ballots. As the question posed in an article about Seattles Katie Wilson reads, What could go wrong?
A more pertinent question might be, "What could go right?" The answers to these questions will undoubtedly shape the future of Los Angeles and potentially other major American cities.
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