Karen Bass elected as Los Angeles' first Black woman mayor | USA TODAY

Rep. Karen Bass overcame more than $100 million in spending by opponent Rick Caruso to become Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor.

RELATED: Midterm election results make history in multiple states https://bit.ly/3GpzyvB

U.S. Rep. Karen Bass defeated developer Rick Caruso Wednesday to become the next mayor of Los Angeles, as voters elevated the first Black woman to hold the post as City Hall contends with multiple scandals that have shaken trust in government, an out-of-control homeless crisis and rising crime rates.

With 70% of the vote tallied, Bass had amassed an insurmountable lead of nearly 47,000 votes. She had 53.1%, with Caruso notching 46.9%. Bass was working in her congressional office in Los Angeles when she was informed by an aide she had won the race. Caruso’s campaign said he was calling the mayor-elect to offer his congratulations.

“We are in a fight for the soul of our city,” Bass said at an election night rally. “We are going to build a new Los Angeles.” Bass — a Democrat who was on President-elect Joe Biden’s shortlist for vice president — overcame more than $100 million in spending by the billionaire Caruso’s campaign while arguing that she would be a coalition builder who could heal a troubled city of nearly 4 million.

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