Los Angeles’ most powerful labor coalition has planted a very public flag in the 2026 mayor’s race, lining up behind Mayor Karen Bass and unloading on City Councilmember Nithya Raman for jumping into the contest late.
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, on Wednesday branded Raman a “political opportunist” after she launched a last-minute bid for mayor and vowed to “use every tool” to keep Bass in office. The federation, described as the region's largest labor coalition, represents roughly 800,000 workers across hundreds of unions, giving it serious organizing muscle in what is expected to be a crowded fight. The city’s primary is set for June 2, 2026, with a November runoff if no candidate secures a majority.
Union leadership’s rebuke
Yvonne Wheeler, president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, delivered the broadside and pledge in a statement that zeroed in on Raman’s sudden entry and the timing of her campaign. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, Wheeler labeled Raman an “opportunist” and said the federation would “use every tool” to elect Bass. The declaration signals an early consolidation of labor’s institutional power behind the incumbent at a moment when progressive challengers are trying to peel away votes.
Labor’s reach and recent endorsement
The federation says it represents more than 800,000 workers across about 300 affiliated unions and formally endorsed Bass last year, committing to mobilize its members for her reelection. According to a press release from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, that effort includes door-to-door outreach and workplace organizing designed to turn union backing into votes. That kind of ground game, paired with the ability to coordinate with building trades and public-sector unions, gives the federation practical leverage in citywide contests.
Why Raman drew union ire
Raman’s late move has particularly irked union leaders because she had recently appeared on Bass campaign materials as an endorser shortly before filing her own candidacy, according to the Los Angeles Times. She also clashed with many labor-backed officials last year by voting against the $2.6-billion expansion of the Los Angeles Convention Center and by drafting a last-minute proposal to tweak Measure ULA, the city’s transfer-tax measure. Union leaders say those moves undercut Raman’s progressive credentials and frayed ties with construction trades that favor Bass on the convention center project.
What this could mean for June
With the June 2 primary on the calendar, labor’s early alignment could influence which contenders make it out of the first round and who carries momentum into a possible November runoff. The federation has, in previous cycles, invested in campaign infrastructure and says it is ready to deploy members and resources to support Bass, according to the federation's statements. That support could prove crucial in neighborhoods where unions maintain deep relationships with voters and where construction jobs tied to the convention center remain a live political issue.
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