Juanita Lopez, a political scientist, has officially jumped into the 2026 race for Los Angeles mayor, centering her bid on cleaner streets, tighter budget oversight and a lower sales tax. Lopez has been listed on municipal filing rolls since February and is now on the certified ballot for the June primary, with her campaign pitching those priorities as no-nonsense fixes for everyday frustrations Angelenos say they want addressed.
According to the certified candidate roster from the Los Angeles City Clerk, Lopez is listed with the ballot designation “Political Scientist” and is one of several names cleared for the June 2 primary. The document also lays out the full slate of candidates and the official election date.
What Lopez Is Proposing
On her campaign website, Lopez lays out a “Clean City” initiative that would run sanitation services 24/7 and decentralize operations by council district. She also calls for quarterly budget transparency and a cut to the city’s sales tax to 8%. The site says her campaign backs reinstating the city’s no-littering law and increasing enforcement around parks and school grounds. Juanita Lopez's campaign website also includes her full platform, contact details and a sign-up portal for volunteers.
Where She Fits In
Lopez is stepping into an already crowded field that includes incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, City Councilmember Nithya Raman and reality-TV figure Spencer Pratt. In a contest packed with high-profile names, lesser-known hopefuls like Lopez will need to lean on grassroots organizing, neighborhood endorsements and small-dollar fundraising to get noticed. The Los Angeles Times has been tracking the broader mayoral lineup and its major contenders.
On Local TV
Lopez has already taken her pitch to local television. In a short video posted April 23, she outlined her vision for running the city and walked through her campaign priorities for viewers. The segment serves as a quick introduction for voters who are more likely to catch a local newscast than scroll through campaign social feeds. FOX 11 Los Angeles has the clip on its site.
What To Watch Next
To be competitive before the June 2 primary, Lopez will need to turn her bullet-point agenda into endorsements, volunteers and donations. The certified roster from the City Clerk outlines the ballot and the deadlines every contender must hit, while her campaign website lists upcoming events and contact options for supporters. Early endorsements and ground-level organizing are likely to shape which candidates survive the first round and move toward a potential November runoff.
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