One year on, the Palisades fire has shaped LA Mayor Karen Bass’ first term, and her reelection hopes

One year after the Palisades fire, Mayor Karen Bass is still trying to shake the political image that took hold in the days after flames tore through the hillside neighborhood: a city in crisis — and a mayor not in town when a major disaster struck.

As Los Angeles moves from emergency response to rebuilding, and toward a 2026 election, Bass faces an unusually high-stakes test of leadership: proving the recovery is real, and persuading voters she’s the right person to finish it.

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