Staff Reports
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass recently told a national podcast that the California governor’s race is “over” and that “you don’t need an election on November 3.” Those words didn’t come from a late-night comedian or a campaign ad — they came from an elected official who should know better. The remark exposes a dangerous complacency that flourishes where one party thinks it owns the scoreboard.
What Mayor Bass actually said on the Flagrant and Funny podcast
On the Flagrant and Funny podcast with hosts Jemele Hill and Cari Champion, Mayor Bass declared that “the governor’s race right now is over” and named Xavier Becerra as if he were already sworn in. The hosts laughed. No pushback. No “of course the voters decide.” Just a cozy chuckle and an assumption that California’s outcome is preordained. That’s not confidence — it’s entitlement dressed up as certainty.
Republican response and the awkward accent jab
Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate for governor, rightly fired back. He called Bass’s comment insulting to immigrants and said she should focus on the problems in her own city. Hilton also pointed out the obvious hypocrisy: the same people who warn that democracy is fragile turn around and treat voters like an afterthought. If a GOP mayor had said the same thing, the media uproar would last a week. Here, the clip went viral on conservative feeds and raised a fair question: do politicians who face no real competition start believing elections are ceremonial?
Why this matters beyond one offhand line
This isn’t just theater. Xavier Becerra is the Democratic frontrunner and polls favor him, but margins can change and campaigns matter. Mayor Bass herself is in a tough re‑election fight and is under fire over wildfires, homelessness, and public safety. When elected leaders dismiss elections, voters lose leverage. One-party rule should not mean one-party arrogance. Voters deserve leaders who earn their support, not take it for granted.
Make them earn your vote
Democracy isn’t a foregone conclusion because a map looks blue. It’s a habit — and habits come from competition, accountability, and voters who refuse to be ignored. If politicians want our votes, make them earn them. Laughing about an “unnecessary” election is not leadership; it’s entitlement. Conservatives should relish the chance to remind every California voter that elections matter — and remind Democrats that applause and podcasts don’t replace ballots.
