Los Angeles is preparing to host the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, a massive international event that promises to draw global attention and significant local impact. At the center of the city’s management of the Games will be the person who wins the November 3 mayoral election, with candidates Mayor Karen Bass and City Council member Nithya Raman offering contrasting views on how the Olympics should be handled.

Raman, who has been an outspoken critic of how the Olympics were approved and organized, initially opposed bringing the Games to Los Angeles. She cited concerns about the rushed vetting process, lack of public input, and fiscal risks carried by the city’s residents. During her time on the City Council, Raman consistently voted against several key Olympic-related deals, including the primary agreement between the city and LA28—the nonprofit organizing the Games—and more recently, the contract guaranteeing reimbursement to the city for expanded policing, trash collection, and other services during the event. Raman has stated that while she accepts the inevitability of the Olympics, her priority is to ensure the city is financially protected and that Angelenos benefit directly from the event.

In contrast, Bass has been a steady supporter of the Olympics, emphasizing the opportunity to showcase Los Angeles internationally and provide economic benefits to the city’s families, workers, and small businesses. She argues that the contracts established with LA28 offer sufficient financial safeguards, including a $270 million protection fund for city reimbursements. Bass has also worked to promote local involvement in Olympic-related contracts and has highlighted efforts to prepare small businesses for participation in the event, including through procurement summits held downtown with high-profile local figures.

However, there is division within city leadership over the scope of local participation. Some council members have called for a significant portion of Olympic contract spending—up to 40%—to be allocated to Los Angeles-based companies, while LA28 representatives maintain that accessing firms across the broader region is necessary to secure competitive offerings.

The candidates’ disagreement extends beyond financial and economic matters. They differ on leadership of the Los Angeles Police Department heading into the Games, with Bass supporting Chief Jim McDonnell’s continued tenure to avoid disruption, while Raman has raised concerns about the department’s recent dealings involving federal immigration enforcement and has suggested McDonnell’s replacement may be necessary, though she deferred to other city officials on that decision.

The upcoming Olympics also coincide with a major $2.6 billion expansion and renovation of the Los Angeles Convention Center, which will host multiple Olympic sports. Bass endorses the project as a vital economic driver generating thousands of union jobs and boosting city revenues. Raman, on the other hand, regards the expansion as fiscally burdensome, warning that debt service payments could strain city resources and divert funds from other critical services.

Both candidates joined in calls for LA28 Chairman Casey Wasserman to step down following revelations about his past correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The LA28 board ultimately retained Wasserman, citing his leadership record and the timing of the emails, which occurred before Maxwell’s crimes became public.

As the mayoral race approaches, the candidates represent competing visions of how to manage the Olympics’ opportunities and risks. Raman’s supporters praise her willingness to challenge the status quo and demand greater accountability from LA28, while her detractors question her ability to navigate the complexities of city administration. Bass champions a more collaborative approach, emphasizing continuity and broad participation to maximize benefits for Los Angeles during this landmark event.