All posts tagged: mayors

This is how the Los Angeles mayor’s race will end up. Trust me, I know

This is how the Los Angeles mayor’s race will end up. Trust me, I know

Published by Sam Flores

Faced with a big story, journalists like me love to offer our readers something we call “sweep.” It’s the insights about what might happen next and context that put the events in historical perspective that, we hope at least, you will share on social media, repeat with deep wisdom at weekend barbecues and compel you to hit that subscribe button. But my sweep has been no match for the 2026 L.A. mayor’s race, which repeatedly surprised and confounded me. It’s been a wild ride, and if the latest poll is to be believed, we approach election day with a tight race that could break for any of the three top contenders. Consider this a Season 1 recap in advance of Tuesday’s finale (and remember, Season 2 begins Wednesday). Mayor Karen Bass mingles at a day of community healing in 2025. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Episode 1: Who will take her on? A year ago, Karen Bass seemed badly hurt and perhaps even mortally wounded. The unprecedented destruction of the January firestorm, combined with …

French poll sees far-right Bardella winning, far-left Mélenchon surging in 2027 election – POLITICO

French poll sees far-right Bardella winning, far-left Mélenchon surging in 2027 election – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Mélenchon qualifying for the two-candidate runoff next year is seen as a nightmare scenario by most of France’s political center-right and center-left, because polling predicts he would lose heavily to the far right. The Odoxa poll showed the leader of France Unbowed winning 16 percent of the vote in the first round, up from 12 percent in a similar poll conducted last month. The poll placed him virtually level with Philippe, who slipped to 17 percent from 21 percent. Mélenchon was also the most popular left-wing politician among left-wing voters, ahead of rivals such as former President François Hollande and MEP Raphaël Glucksmann. Some 49 percent of left-wing voters supported Mélenchon, compared to 43 percent for Hollande and 36 percent for Glucksmann, the poll said. “For Édouard Philippe, this poll in May is sounding alarm bells, with a double hit … that shows him dropping behind Bardella in the second round and within range of Mélenchon,” wrote Odoxa head Gaël Sliman. An Odoxa poll published in November projected that the National Rally leader would beat …

Downtown L.A. businesses demand attention from the mayor’s race

Downtown L.A. businesses demand attention from the mayor’s race

Published by Sam Flores

Cemal Clik was rinsing some strawberries for lunch when he felt a gun on his temple. The 61-year-old was sitting near his gift shop in downtown Los Angeles this month when two men threatened to kill him if he didn’t give up the gold chain hanging from his neck. They grabbed the chain and disappeared down South Broadway. It took 45 minutes for the police to arrive, he said. He doubts they will ever catch the criminals or recover his chain. “This is what downtown is now,” Clik said. “Who would want to come here?” As the city’s mayoral elections approach, business owners are pleading with officials to address the area’s problems. They want a heightened police presence and better amenities, including easier parking options and public restrooms, to bring life back to downtown, Clik said. He opened the garage-sized store in 2001, offering a wide variety of goods including snacks, suitcases, sunglasses and stuffed toys to tourists, office workers and area residents. He has witnessed the once bustling corner of town turn into a …

Poland’s right-wing topples Kraków’s liberal mayor in fresh blow to Tusk – POLITICO

Poland’s right-wing topples Kraków’s liberal mayor in fresh blow to Tusk – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Nearly 30 percent of eligible voters took part in Sunday’s referendum, which had a 26.98 percent validity threshold. Of those who voted, 97.93 percent backed removing the mayor, while just under 2.1 percent opposed it. In a post on X, Miszalski accepted the results, emphasizing “local democracy is precisely about residents having the final say.” “Not everything was achieved as I had intended,” he added. “I also know that some decisions, and the emotions surrounding them, caused many residents to lose trust in me.” The referendum results represent a major victory for PiS and Confederation, who are casting the recall in Kraków as the first in a broader campaign to challenge liberal urban governments. Tusk’s Civic Coalition party controls the capital city Warsaw and the majority of regional capitals, and by taking aim at the local administrations, Poland’s right-wing sees a way of challenging the prime minister’s rule at the national level. In a rare post on X, PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński hailed the results in Kraków, which he said were “only the beginning.” “This government is destroying …

Reeves allies unleash on Miliband in battle for Britain’s Treasury – POLITICO

Reeves allies unleash on Miliband in battle for Britain’s Treasury – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The MP stressed that given both Burnham and the other main leadership contender, Wes Streeting, have signed up to Reeves’ fiscal rules it “doesn’t leave much margin for significant change anyway.” “The bond markets kind of make her bomb-proof,” another Labour MP argued, praising the incumbent chancellor’s record for steadying the economy in turbulent times. “The big clash between Rachel and Ed is over the North Sea,” this person added, referring to the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil and gas fields whose licenses have been stymied by legal challenges. Reeves is seen as being in favor of their expansion, while Miliband puts more emphasis on the climate trade-offs. “So there’s a big fault line there. No wonder he wants her out of the way.” Another backbencher said they believed Miliband — who has made no public comment on whether he would want the job and remains in Starmer’s cabinet — would prevent “any meaningful welfare reform.” “Reverting back to a 2010-15 economic policy hymn-sheet” — the years when Miliband led the Labour Party to electoral defeat …

Venice election turns into test of Meloni’s right-wing cultural revolution – POLITICO

Venice election turns into test of Meloni’s right-wing cultural revolution – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Promoted by sections of the right as the symbol of a new generation ready to challenge Italy’s progressive cultural establishment, Venezi instead became a lightning rod in a broader debate over whether the government’s cultural agenda relied too heavily on political symbolism. Andrea Martella, the center-left candidate for mayor and currently an MP for the Democratic Party, argued the controversies surrounding both La Fenice and the Biennale had damaged the city’s standing. “With both, there was a short circuit between Rome and Venice which ended up humiliating the institutions,” Martella said. “In a city like Venice, this carries enormous weight, because culture is not only part of the past but also the present and future of this extraordinary community: its identity, work, prestige and capacity to attract talent.” Simone Venturini, now the center-right’s candidate for mayor, talks to the press outside Santa Lucia train station in April 2024. | Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images) While Venice has become symbolically important in national politics, the center-right’s candidate for mayor and current councilor for tourism, Simone Venturini, …

Even insiders don’t know what Burnham has planned for Britain – POLITICO

Even insiders don’t know what Burnham has planned for Britain – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

A fourth person who has worked with Burnham said that might be a plus when it comes to winning the next general election against the insurgent Reform Party. “I know it’s a banal thing, but we’ve not had a northern prime minister for a really long time, unless you count Rishi Sunak,” this person said. (Sunak represented a leafy Yorkshire constituency but is from the south of England.) “It does matter, because every weekend conversation … will be migration, housing, cost of living, dirty high streets, antisocial behaviour. Great — we win on those, we win the country.” The first person who has worked with Burnham said it is deeper than raw electoral politics. This person said Burnham sees many policy issues through two main lenses — rewiring the economy and bringing communities together. As such, he is not totally off the world stage. As mayor, he has carved out time in his diary to see diplomats — in part because Manchester has the most consulates of any English city apart from London. And he …

High-stakes Makerfield by-election set for June 18 – POLITICO

High-stakes Makerfield by-election set for June 18 – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

LONDON — A by-election in which Keir Starmer’s rival Andy Burnham could win a parliamentary seat will be held on June 18. Greater Manchester Mayor Burnham needs to become an MP if he is to challenge Starmer for the leadership of Britain’s ruling Labour Party. He said in a weekend interview he wants to “campaign to change Labour” in Makerfield. The by-election was triggered after former minister Josh Simons stood down as a Labour MP to create a path for Burnham to return to Westminster. Wigan Council published the notice of election confirming the date on Wednesday. Burnham has already been confirmed as Labour’s candidate after no other candidates were shortlisted for the seat. His main rival will be Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, a local plumber who stood in the seat at the last general election. Leader Nigel Farage has promised to pump in resources to try and upset the race. Source link

French presidential candidate Philippe faces embezzlement probe – POLITICO

French presidential candidate Philippe faces embezzlement probe – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

He “takes note” of the opening of the inquiry against him, said the official for Le Havre regional authority, who was granted anonymity in line with protocol rules. “He will, of course, answer all the questions that the [magistrates] will ask him in a very serene fashion, as he always has done,” said the official. An AFP news wire states that the investigation was triggered by a whistleblower who reported the alleged misconduct in September 2023. The alleged conflict of interest concerns a public contract worth over €2 million that Le Havre’s regional authority signed with a charity called LH French Tech in July 2020. LH French Tech was run by local councilor Stéphanie de Bazelaire. The inquiry comes at a sensitive moment for Philippe. Earlier this month, he launched his campaign for next year’s presidential election, putting an end to speculation over when the former prime minister would make his move for the Elysée. Early polling suggests Philippe is one of the best-placed candidates to beat far-right leaders Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen, …

City Council progressives snub Raman, endorse Bass in L.A. mayor’s race

City Council progressives snub Raman, endorse Bass in L.A. mayor’s race

Published by Sam Flores

Three members of the Los Angeles City Council’s progressive bloc are throwing their support to Mayor Karen Bass in her bid for reelection, dealing a blow to challenger Nithya Raman, their progressive ally on the council. The council members endorsing Bass — Eunisses Hernandez, Ysabel Jurado and Hugo Soto-Martínez — are all members of the Democratic Socialists of America, as is Raman. The four routinely cast dissenting council votes on increased police spending and creation of new anti-encampment zones in the city. Hernandez and Jurado planned to announce their endorsements of Bass on Tuesday, with each citing Bass’ handling of the Trump administration’s immigration raids over the summer and her work to reduce homelessness as significant reasons for their support of the mayor. “When immigrant communities across our city came under attack, Karen Bass stood up and spoke out. She showed real leadership and conviction,” Hernandez, who represents a district running from Pico-Union to Highland Park, said in a statement. Soto-Martínez, who endorsed Bass earlier this year, joined his DSA colleagues with a statement saying …