Billionaire Rick Caruso and Congresswoman Karen Bass are facing off in the most expensive Los Angeles mayoral race in history. Our producer Meredith McCabe had the chance to talk to Caruso campaign intern Jennifer Alvarado. She’s been working on the campaign as a policy adviser since before the primary elections in June. Here’s the story.
Jennifer Alvarado’s early mentors were police officers - LAPD. That may be not so unusual, but she grew up in South LA - a community not typically known for its positive relationship with law enforcement. Today, she’s studying public health at USC. She believes in giving back to the community. And these days, Alvarado’s an intern on the Rick Caruso campaign.
JENNIFER ALVARADO: I learned that Rick Caruso was running for mayor from one of my LAPD mentors. And I saw the opportunity to support Rick and in some ways give back.
Many Angelenos see Caruso as a billionaire developer, Republican-turned-Democrat. And he is all that, but Alvarado, who has known him for nearly ten years, points out that he’s also a huge philanthropist. In fact, Alvarado says many of her educational opportunities came from a nonprofit Caruso donates to called Operation Progress. It helps underserved youth in South L.A. to reach their full potential.
Her personal connection led Alvarado to seek out the campaign opportunity, but she has since grown to admire his strategy.
ALVARADO: I think that Rick’s approaches are unconventional in the sense that, like, he is funding his own campaign, but guess what? He’s worked so hard for every dollar, and as a successful developer, I am confident that he’s going to be able to navigate through the housing policies and through all of that red tape because he’s familiar in that field.
While Alvarado admires Caruso’s unconventional approach, his opponents argue that his development background is not suited for public office. Bass, on the other hand has had three public service careers - in healthcare, community organizing and as a lawmaker in Sacramento and D.C. for over a decade.
Nonetheless, Alvarado finds his career path somewhat admirable.
ALVARADO: I feel like Rick can be relatable if you allow him to be. He was the first in his family to graduate from college and so am I. I feel like there’s a lot of similar struggles in our journeys.
The mayoral race is down to the single digits with Bass still narrowly in the lead. Bass supporters shared their reasons for voting for the congresswoman in an LA Times article citing civil rights and multiracial unity, the fight against a “pseudo-Trumpian developer,” and Bass’ identity as a woman in light of reproductive rights.
As for Alvarado, she’ll be out canvassing tomorrow for team Caruso.
ALVARADO: We’re probably going to spend the day in the field under the rain. We’re still going to go door to door and get people out to vote.
This, of course, marks just one intern’s experience, but it gives us a glimpse into one of the most significant and newsworthy campaigns in L.A. mayoral history.
No matter whether you’re team Caruso or team Bass, be sure to grab your umbrellas and brave the polls tomorrow between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
For Annenberg Media, I’m Meredith McCabe.