In recent polling conducted by Pollster David Wolfson over January 19th-22nd of over 1,100 likely voters, LA City voters significantly disapprove of Mayor Karen Bass’ job performance on wildfire response.
In a simulated General Election 2026 Ballot of likely LA City voters of Rick Caruso vs. Karen Bass for Mayor, Caruso is now beating Bass by 7 points, 43% to 36%.
Amid calls for resignation or recall, most LA City voters disapprove of the job Mayor Bass is doing in handling the fires by a 17-point margin—with the majority, 54% disapproving. Governor Newsom is looked on more favorably, with LA County/City voters showing no appetite to recall him.
Across LA County, most voters say fire hydrants running dry should be cause for political leaders to lose their jobs. Voters also blamed the one-party rule for the lack of sufficient water storage.
“Rather than follow predictable partisan patterns, voters in LA are fed up with failure and are demanding more competence from their elected officials,” said Owen Brennan, President of Madison McQueen. “Clearly there is an opportunity for new leadership, new ideas, and new direction for Los Angeles.”
There is more evidence of a shift in the area’s political outlook. In the poll, 43% of likely voters would consider Republican leadership in Los Angeles County in the future, significantly outperforming Republican Party registration or predicted electoral turnout.
The polling was conducted across Los Angeles County, with a subset of responses within the City of Los Angeles. The survey had a 95% Confidence Level, 3% standard margin of error, and n=1134 completed responses in Los Angeles County. In the City of Los Angeles, the survey had 95% Confidence Level, 4% margin of error and n=431.
The poll was sponsored by Madison McQueen, a Los Angeles based media firm that has elected Assembly Members, State Senators and Members of Congress throughout California. David Wolfson is a Pollster and Faculty Lecturer at Columbia University’s Political Analytics Graduate Program.
Do you approve or disapprove of how Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is handling the wildfire in Los Angeles?
If the 2026 Election for Los Angeles City Mayor were held today, for whom would you most likely cast your vote? If you are still undecided on who to vote for, please select undecided.
