Bass was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Wilhelmina (née Duckett) and DeWitt Talmadge Bass.[10] Her father was a postal letter carrier and her mother was a homemaker.[11] She was raised in the Venice and Fairfax neighborhoods of Los Angeles and graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in 1971.[12]
Witnessing the civil rights movement on television with her father as a child sparked her interest in community activism. While in middle school, Bass began volunteering for Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign.[13] In the mid-1970s she was an organizer for the Venceremos Brigade, a pro-Cuban group that organized trips by Americans to Cuba.[14] She visited Cuba eight times in the 1970s.[14][15]
Speaker Fabian Núñez appointed Bass California State Assembly majority whip for the 2005–06 legislative session and majority floor leader for the 2007–08 legislative session.[1] During her term as majority whip, Bass was vice chair of the Legislative Black Caucus. As vice chair, she commissioned the first ever "State of Black California" report.[22][23]
Speakership
Núñez termed out of the Assembly at the end of the 2007–08 session, leaving Bass as the next-highest-ranking Democrat in the Assembly. After consolidating the support of a majority of legislators, including some who had previously been planning to run for the speakership themselves, Bass was elected speaker on February 28, 2008, and sworn in on May 13, 2008.[24]
As speaker, Bass promoted numerous laws to improve the state's child welfare system.[25] During her first year, she ushered through expansion of Healthy Families Insurance Coverage to prevent children from going without health insurance and worked to eliminate bureaucratic impediments to the certification of small businesses. She also secured more than $2.3 million to help revitalize the historic Vision Theater in Los Angeles and more than $600 million for Los Angeles Unified School District.[26] Bass worked with the governor and initiated the California Commission on the 21st-Century Economy to reform California's tax code. She also fought to repeal the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.[27]
California budget crisis (2008–2010)
Bass became speaker during a period of severe economic turmoil.[28] Negotiations over a spending plan to address a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall began the day Bass was sworn in.[28] She was part of the negotiations that resulted in a comprehensive deal to close most of a $42 billion shortfall.[29]
In June 2009, Bass drew criticism from conservative commentators for statements she made during an interview with Los Angeles Times reporter Patt Morrison in response to a question about how conservative talk radio affected the Assembly's efforts to pass a state budget.[30] Referencing the condemnation from conservative talk radio hosts that three Republicans experienced after they voted for a Democrat-sponsored plan to create revenue by raising taxes,[30] Bass described the pressures Republican lawmakers face:
The Republicans were essentially threatened and terrorized against voting for revenue. Now [some] are facing recalls. They operate under a terrorist threat: "You vote for revenue and your career is over." I don't know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist. I guess it's about free speech, but it's extremely unfair.[31]
Bass, Dave Cogdill, Darrell Steinberg, and Michael Villines received the 2010 Profile in Courage Award for their leadership in the budget negotiations and their efforts to address the severe financial crisis.[29]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2010
Karen Bass with Diane Watson on the day Bass announced she would run for Congress in 2010
In 2010, Representative Diane Watson retired from Congress and encouraged Bass to run for her seat. Bass was ineligible to run for reelection to the State Assembly in 2010 due to California's term limits, so on February 18, 2010, Bass confirmed her candidacy to represent California's 33rd congressional district.[32]
Bass raised $932,281.19 and spent $768,918.65. Her 2010 campaign contributions came from diverse groups, with none donating more than 15% of her total campaign funds. The five major donors to her campaign were labor unions, with $101,950; financial institutions, with $90,350; health professionals, with $87,900; the entertainment industry, with $52,400; and lawyers and law firms, with $48,650.[33]
Bass won the election with over 86% of the vote on November 2, 2010.[34]
In redistricting following the 2010 census, the district was renumbered from 33rd to 37th. In 2012 she had no primary opponent and won the general election with 86% of the vote.[11] She raised $692,988.53 and spent $803,966.15, leaving $52,384.92 on hand and a debt of $3,297.59.[33]
Bass was involved in President Barack Obama's reelection campaign. She played a leadership role in the California African Americans for Obama organization and served on Obama's national African American Leadership Council. Bass had also served as a co-chair of African Americans for Obama in California during the 2008 presidential campaign.[35]
Bass speaking in support of DREAMers in December 2017
Bass was reelected to a fourth term with 81.1% of the vote.[36] She endorsed Hillary Clinton for president in 2015. On August 3, 2016, Bass launched a petition to have then-candidate Donald Trump psychologically evaluated, suggesting that he exhibited symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). The petition was signed by 37,218 supporters.[37] She did not attend President Trump's inauguration after conducting a poll on Twitter.[38]
Fueled by Trump's election and to channel Angelenos' political frustrations, Bass created the Sea Change Leadership PAC to activate, educate, and mobilize voters. She won her primary with 89.18% of the vote and was reelected to a fifth term with 88.2% of the vote.[36]
After the 2018 elections, Democrats regained the majority in the House of Representatives. Representative Seth Moulton and others who felt the current leadership was "too old" gathered signatures to replace Nancy Pelosi as the Democrats' leader. Bass was their first choice for leader,[39][40] but she rejected the offer, supporting Pelosi for speaker.[39] On November 28, 2018, Pelosi won the speakership on a 203-to-32 vote.[40]
Bass served as the second vice chair of the Congressional Black Caucus during the 115th Congress. She was elected chair of the Congressional Black Caucus on November 28, 2018,[49] and served in that capacity from 2019 to 2021.[42]
Vice presidential and Biden administration speculation
In July 2020, Bass was discussed as a potential running mate for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.[39][50][51] Biden reportedly narrowed the field of possible vice presidential selections to a few women, and Bass "gained real traction in the late stage of the search".[51]Politico called Bass "a bridge-building politician who can draw accolades and concessions from both sides of the aisle".[52]
During this time, a video emerged of Bass speaking at the 2010 opening of a Scientology establishment in Los Angeles outside her district. Bass gave a speech praising the Church of Scientology for what she described as fighting against inequality, singling out the words of founder L. Ron Hubbard "that all people of whatever race, color or creed are created with equal rights."[53][54] In 2020, Bass defended her past remarks, tweeting that she had addressed "a group of people with beliefs very different than my own" and "spoke briefly about things I think most of us agree with".[55][56] In addition, Bass tweeted that "[s]ince then, published first-hand accounts in books, interviews and documentaries have exposed [the Church of Scientology]."[56]
Bass was also criticized for a statement she had made in 2016 on the death of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, which she called a "great loss to the people of Cuba".[57] Bass said she had been trying to express her condolences to the Cuban population,[57] but added that "it's certainly something that I would not say again".[58]
When Biden chose Kamala Harris as his running mate, Bass tweeted, "@KamalaHarris is a great choice for Vice President. Her tenacious pursuit of justice and relentless advocacy for the people is what is needed right now."[59]
On September 27, 2021, Bass announced her candidacy for mayor of Los Angeles in the 2022 election.[42][62] Her campaign focused on addressing causes of Los Angeles's homelessness problem and ending homeless encampments around elementary schools and public parks and beaches. Former mayor Antonio Villaraigosa endorsed Bass.[63] Bass was the top vote earner in the June 7 primary and faced Rick Caruso in the November runoff,[64] On November 16, the Associated Press declared her the mayor-elect.[9] Caruso spent $100 million of his own money on his campaign.[65]
Tenure
Bass was officially sworn in by the Los Angeles City Clerk on December 10, 2022, succeeding Eric Garcetti. The following day, she was ceremonially sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris at a public inauguration event.[6] She officially assumed office on December 12.[6] Bass is the first woman and the second Black person, after Tom Bradley, to serve as mayor of Los Angeles.[8]
On Sunday morning, April 21, 2024, a person broke a window and entered Mayor Bass' residence, Getty House; the mayor and her family were unharmed. The suspect was apprehended.[66][67]
Actions on housing
Fulfilling a campaign promise, Bass declared a city state of emergency on homelessness as her first act as mayor.[68] By the end of her first year in office, the Bass Administration reported that over 21,000 homeless people had been moved indoors.[69]
During her mayoral campaign, Bass said that she supported more housing in Los Angeles, but opposed changing zoning regulations so that denser housing would be allowed in neighborhoods that mandate single-family housing. At the time, three-quarters of all residentially zoned land in Los Angeles was exclusively zoned for single-family housing.[70]
In June 2023, Bass signed an order to speed up processing for affordable housing developments in Los Angeles. Later that year, she introduced a change to the order that made affordable housing projects in single-family neighborhoods ineligible for fast-tracking. By one estimate, this reversal put 1,443 potential units of low-income housing in legal limbo.[71] In July 2024, she imposed further restrictions on affordable housing, making them ineligible for fast-tracking in "historic districts" and on lots that already have rent-controlled apartments.[72]
In September 2023, Bass expressed support for tearing down the Marina Freeway and replacing it with housing.[73] In October 2023, she expressed opposition to tearing down the freeway.[74]
In February 2024, Bass sought to block the LA Dodgers from developing housing on the Dodger Stadium parking lots unless the team would commit to making 25% of the housing affordable housing.[75]
In July 2024, advocates for low-income housing sued the city of Los Angeles for blocking the construction of 140 units of affordable housing in Venice. The housing advocates faulted Bass for allowing local officials to block the housing rather than direct city officials to advance the project.[76] One of Bass's former staffers said that superiors directed them to stop advancing this project through the city's bureaucracy.[77] The Los Angeles Times editorial board criticized Bass for her role in blocking the housing development.[78]
January 2025 wildfires
At the start of the January 2025 Southern California wildfires, Bass was attending the inauguration of John Mahama as president in Ghana, despite promising not to travel abroad during her term as mayor.[79] She returned to Los Angeles by United States military transport.[80] Prior to Bass's departure for Ghana, the National Weather Service issued warnings of "extreme fire weather conditions" and an impending windstorm. When the Palisades Fire first began to erupt, Bass was attending a cocktail party at an embassy, where she posed for photos.[81][82] Bass's trip led to substantial criticism from across the political spectrum as a sign that she underestimated the risk of wildfires.[83][84][85] Developer and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, whose daughter lost her home to the Palisades Fire, made repeated television appearances condemning the lack of fire preparation by the city and stating that Pacific Palisades fire hydrants did not have enough water.[86][87]
Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong and Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley criticized Bass for cutting $17.6 million from the annual budget to the fire department. Soon-Shiong noted that severe fire hazard conditions had been known well in advance and that fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades lacked pressure. Crowley warned in December 2024 that the $17.6 million budget reduction approved by Bass had reduced the department's emergency response capabilities against events like wildfires, highlighting a reduction from the department's overtime budget. The $17.6 million budget cut came after Bass had initially proposed a $23 million cut from the fire department's budget.[88][89][90] After the cuts made in the annual budget from June 2024, $53 million was later approved by the city for pay raises for firefighters and another $58 million was approved for new firetrucks and equipment in November.[90][91] After initially declining to respond to criticism,[92] Bass stated on January 9 that "there were no reductions that were made that would have impacted the situation" before refusing to answer further questions about the topic.[93]
Bass has advocated preventing and ending famine in Africa. In 2017, she helped secure nearly $1 billion in funds to combat famine in Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan. She has also introduced more than 50 bills and resolutions pertaining to democracy protection, expanding economic opportunity, and other issues in Africa. Bass continues to engage the African diaspora with regular popular policy breakfasts, which are open to the public.[94]
Armenia and Artsakh
During the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, Bass supported H.Res.1203 and H. Res. 1165, condemning the military offensive launched by Azerbaijani and Turkish-backed forces on Artsakh.[95]
Providing direct U.S. humanitarian assistance to Artsakh, including food and medical supplies
Making clear to Putin and Aliyev that the United States demands and will act to ensure the safe passage of flights into Artsakh to provide aid
Assertive U.S. diplomatic engagement to facilitate negotiations between Baku and Stepanakert to guarantee the rights and security of the Armenian population of Artsakh
Upon arriving in Congress, Bass founded the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth (CCFY), a bipartisan group of members of Congress that develops policy recommendations to strengthen the child welfare system. One of the group's most significant achievements was the passage of the Family First Prevention Services Act, also known as Family First, which was signed into law as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act on February 9, 2018. This reform aims to change child welfare systems across the country by addressing the top reasons children are removed from their homes and placed in foster care.[99]
Starting in May 2012, the Caucus began hosting an annual Foster Youth Shadow Day, during which foster youth come to Washington, DC, for a week to learn about advocating for reforms to the child welfare system. The week culminates in Shadow Day, when participants spend a day following their members of Congress through their daily routine.[100] Bass serves on the organization's board of directors.
Criminal justice
Bass believes that the criminal justice system is broken in part due to the disproportionate incarceration rates of poor people of color. Bass has long called for criminal justice reform and to pay special attention to the way the criminal justice system treats women: how they originally entered the system, how they are treated in prison, and what happens to them after they are released. Bass previously served as Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.[101]
In 2018, she voted in favor of the First Step Act, which focused on rehabilitating people in prison by incentivizing them with the possibility of an earlier release. Her contribution to the bill was a section addressing what she considers the inhumane practice of shackling women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.[102]
Impeachment of Donald Trump
Bass voted for the proposed articles of impeachment against Trump.[103] Of the vote, she tweeted, "He abused the power of his office. He obstructed Congress. No one is above the law."[104]
Israel
In 2020 Bass was one of more than 115 House Democrats to sign a letter criticizing Israel's plan to annex parts of Palestinian territory in the occupied West Bank.[105] She co-sponsored House Resolution 729, which expressed support for defense aid to Israel.[106] She voiced support for Israel during the Israel–Hamas war.[107]
Jobs
Bass has fought to give tax reductions for small businesses to hire new employees, increase the flow of credit to small businesses so they can grow and create jobs, and extend the research and development tax credit that encourages innovation and job creation. She also introduced the Local Hire Act, allowing cities and counties to prioritize hiring local residents for infrastructure projects. The rule resulted in new jobs in Los Angeles. In May 2018, Bass and members of the Congressional Black Caucus introduced the Jobs and Justice Act of 2018, omnibus legislation that would increase Black families' upward social mobility and help ensure equal protection under the law.[108]
LGBTQ rights
In 2018, the Los Angeles Stonewall Democratic Club named Bass its Public Official of the Year.[109] In 2019, she voted in favor of the Equality Act, which would ban discrimination against LGBTQ people in housing, employment, education, credit and financing, and more.[10]
Student loan debt
In 2019, Bass introduced two pieces of legislation to address student loan debt. The Student Loan Fairness Act of 2019 addresses this crisis in three major ways: creating a new "10-10" standard, capping the interest rate, and accounting for the cost of living. With Danny Davis, she also introduced the Financial Aid Fairness for Students (FAFSA) Act,[110] which would repeal a law that makes it all but impossible for people with a drug conviction to receive federal financial aid for higher education.
The bill passed the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on a mostly party-line vote of 220–212,[114] but not the evenly divided Senate amid opposition from Republicans.[115][116] Negotiations between Republican and Democratic senators on a reform bill collapsed in September 2021.[116]
Personal life
From 1980 to 1986, Bass was married to Jesus Lechuga. Following their divorce, Bass and Lechuga jointly raised their daughter and her siblings, Bass's four stepchildren, Scythia, Omar, Yvette, and Ollin.[117] Her daughter, Emilia Bass-Lechuga, and son-in-law, Michael Wright, were killed in a car crash in 2006.[118] Bass worships at a Baptist church.[55][119][54]
September 2022 burglary
On September 9, 2022, Bass's Los Angeles home was burglarized and two firearms were stolen. In a public statement, Bass called the incident "unnerving" and "something that far too many Angelenos have faced." According to Bass, the firearms had been securely stored, and no other valuables were taken from her home.[120] As of September 14, two suspects in the criminal investigation were detained at the LAPD Valley Jail awaiting trial on residential burglary charges.[121] In an interview, Bass said the incident "shattered" her sense of safety within Los Angeles.[122]
^Samad, Anthony Asadullah (February 8, 2007). "Between the lines". The Black Commentator. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
^Bass, Karen (February 2007). "The State of Black California"(PDF). California Democratic Caucus. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 5, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
^ abcThomas, Ken; Wise, Lindsay (July 31, 2020). "Biden Considers Karen Bass, Lawmaker Known as Team Player, in Running-Mate Search". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 1, 2020. In the days after the 2018 midterm elections, a small group of dissatisfied House Democrats searched for a challenger to the party's leader, Nancy Pelosi. They were seeking someone to run for speaker who was well-regarded by the Congressional Black Caucus, among centrists, and within progressive circles, according to people familiar with the effort. Their first choice was a legislator from Mrs. Pelosi's home state: Rep. Karen Bass.
^ abDeBonis, Mike; Costa, Rober (December 13, 2018). "'Her skills are real': How Pelosi put down a Democratic rebellion in bid for speaker". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 1, 2020. Rep. Nancy Pelosi's opponents knew they had an opportunity. But what they really needed was an alternative. This past summer, they thought they had identified the perfect candidate to replace Pelosi (D-Calif.) as the party's House leader: Rep. Karen Bass, a respected Californian who once served as speaker of the state Assembly.
^"Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
^Ronayne, Kathleen (July 31, 2020). "'Building bridges': How Bass became a leading VP contender". Associated Press. Retrieved August 1, 2020. After George Floyd's killing by police, she led Democratic efforts on legislation to overhaul law enforcement, a push that prompted Biden's team to take her more seriously as a potential running mate.
^ abEgan, Lauren (August 1, 2020). "Rep. Karen Bass, potential VP pick, addresses her past praise of Scientology". NBC News. Retrieved October 16, 2020. Ten years ago, I attended a new building opening in my district and spoke to what I think all of us believe in — respect for one another's views, to treat all people with respect, and to fight against oppression wherever we find it.
^ abSemones, Evan (August 1, 2020). "Bass addresses past remarks praising Scientology". Politico. Retrieved October 16, 2020. Rep. Karen Bass, a top-tier contender to be Joe Biden's running mate, on Saturday sought to clarify remarks she made in 2010 praising the Church of Scientology...Bass's record has increasingly come under scrutiny as she has moved toward the top of presumptive Democratic nominee Biden's vice presidential shortlist after lobbying by fellow House Democrats.
^ abMunoz, Anabel (June 24, 2020). "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act". KABC-TV. Retrieved August 1, 2020. Congresswoman Karen Bass is pushing for law enforcement accountability at a federal level, and she credits demonstrators for prompting lawmakers to take action... The Congressional Black Caucus chair co-introduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Among other things, it would ban chokeholds, carotid holds, and no-knock warrants at a federal level. The bipartisan vote was 236–181 to approve the measure, the most sweeping federal intervention into law enforcement in years.
^Edmondson, Catie (June 25, 2020). "House Passes Sweeping Policing Bill Targeting Racial Bias and Use of Force". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2020. Democrats' legislation, spearheaded by Representative Karen Bass of California, the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, included several measures that civil rights activists have been pushing for decades, such as amending the federal criminal code to make it easier to prosecute police officers for misconduct by lowering the standard that prosecutors must meet.
^Edmondson, Catie (June 8, 2020). "Democrats Unveil Sweeping Bill Targeting Police Misconduct and Racial Bias". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2020. 'The Justice in Policing Act establishes a bold, transformative vision of policing in America,' said Representative Karen Bass of California, the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. 'Never again should the world be subjected to witnessing what we saw on the streets in Minneapolis, the slow murder of an individual by a uniformed police officer.'
"Is This Democracy?"(PDF). Loudmouth. No. 6. Women's Resource Center CSU Los Angeles. Summer 2004. pp. 15–17. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
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