Exclusive | U-Haul spotted outside LA Mayor Karen Bass mansion as Nithya Raman widens election lead

A U-Haul moving truck was spotted outside Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ official residence Friday, just a day after she conceded defeat to challenger Nithya Raman.The truck’s appearance outside the Getty House in Windsor Square came as Bass prepared to leave office after one four-year term, becoming the first LA mayor in more than two decades to lose a reelection bid.The Getty House, a historic 19-room Tudor-style mansion built in 1921, has served as the mayor’s official residence since 1977.It has hosted visiting dignitaries, political leaders and civic events, serving as both a private residence and a symbol of the city’s highest office.Bass, 73, was spotted leaving the residence Friday wearing a bright red suit, but she otherwise kept a low profile with no public appearances scheduled for the day.She wasn’t entirely off duty, directing firefighters to prepare for dangerous Santa Ana winds as she winds down her final weeks in office.At City Hall, the mayor’s wing was locked and closed to the public despite normally being accessible.Bass’ successor was also conspicuously absent from the halls of government.

Raman skipped Friday’s regularly scheduled City Council meeting, which included a farewell tribute to outgoing Councilmember Curren Price, just one day after celebrating her historic victory and making her first public appearance as mayor-elect.Bass conceded Thursday morning after Raman’s lead surged to 34,654 votes, with the 45-year-old capturing 52.1% of the vote compared with the incumbent’s 47.9%.The Associated Press called the race for Raman that morning.By Friday evening, Raman had widened her lead to nearly 68,500 votes, capturing 53.56% of the vote compared to Bass’ 46.44%.More than 961,000 votes had been counted in the race.Bass’s defeat marked a dramatic political reversal for the mayor, who made history in 2022 as the city’s first female and first Black mayor.

But she failed to overcome mounting voter frustration over homel...