Overview
- Caruso announced the decision Friday on X, saying “public service does not require a title” and that his work will continue outside elected office.
- The move ends months of speculation about bids for Los Angeles mayor or California governor and, according to the Los Angeles Times, clarifies the 2026 field against Mayor Karen Bass.
- He says he will concentrate on Steadfast LA’s recovery efforts for communities affected by the 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires, alongside initiatives through his company and family foundations.
- Caruso previously spent about $100 million on his 2022 mayoral bid before losing to Bass, and as recently as Jan. 7 he had suggested a campaign this cycle was likely.
- A person described as close to Caruso told the New York Post he wants to prioritize family and called the current political climate “extremely toxic.”