Villaraigosa and Bass, both Democrats, have known each other for 52 years and often crossed paths while working on advocacy issues in Los Angeles before either held elected office. The longtime allies have a history of endorsing each other when running for office. Calling Villaraigosa her brother from another mother, Bass on Tuesday, Sept. 9, said she decided to endorse him the minute Antonio Villaraigosa decided to step in the race for governor in July 2024.
The endorsement is the latest of a series of labor groups backing Mamdani after his surprise primary win, indicating that traditional Democratic power brokers seem to be coalescing around the Queens Assembly member.