Former LAUSD Chief Austin Beutner Challenges Mayor Bass in 2026 Race: What It Means for Inglewood

Former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner officially announced his candidacy for Los Angeles mayor on Monday, setting up a high-profile challenge to incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the June 2026 election with implications for Inglewood’s education, development, and city services.

Beutner, 65, served as LAUSD Superintendent from 2018 to 2021, overseeing the district during the challenging early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. His tenure included direct collaboration with Inglewood institutions, notably partnering with the Los Angeles Rams and Hollywood Park to establish a mass vaccination site for school staff at Hollywood Park in Inglewood.

The investment banker and philanthropist says Los Angeles is a city “adrift” that needs to get “back on track,” according to statements made to LAist. His campaign is expected to focus heavily on Mayor Bass’s handling of the Palisades Fire, which he has characterized as a “failure of leadership.” The fire personally affected Beutner, damaging his house and destroying his mother-in-law’s home.

Beutner’s background includes serving as deputy mayor of Los Angeles from 2010 to 2013 under former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, giving him experience in city government beyond his education leadership role. Notably, he supported Bass in the 2022 mayoral race before deciding to challenge her this year.

For Inglewood residents, Beutner’s candidacy raises questions about regional priorities affecting the city. As LAUSD superintendent, he navigated contentious teacher strikes, budget pressures, and pandemic school closures—issues that also impacted neighboring Inglewood Unified School District. His approach to urban education policy could influence collaborative regional programs that serve South Los Angeles communities.

The Bass campaign pushed back against Beutner’s challenge. Doug Herman, spokesperson for Bass’s re-election campaign, said the mayor’s “administration has proven it can deliver” and that “Mayor Bass is committed to building on this historic momentum in her second term.”

Beutner’s LAUSD record remains mixed among educators and parents. While he implemented the nation’s most comprehensive school-based COVID testing and contact-tracing system, his hiring in 2018 was controversial due to his lack of classroom or district leadership experience. Less than a year into his tenure, LAUSD teachers went on strike for the first time since 1989 over class sizes, salaries, and staffing levels.

More recently, Beutner filed a lawsuit against LAUSD in 2025, alleging the district misused millions of dollars designated for arts education—a case that continues to generate debate about his legacy.

Developer Rick Caruso, who lost to Bass in 2022, is also a potential candidate in the 2026 race, which could create a crowded field and split opposition to the incumbent mayor.

For Inglewood, which borders Los Angeles and shares intertwined transit, economic, and public safety systems, the mayoral race carries regional significance. City services, LAX coordination, Metro transit expansion, and Olympic preparation for 2028 all depend on strong LA-Inglewood collaboration.

The June 2026 primary is eight months away, with candidates expected to present detailed platforms on homelessness, public safety, housing affordability, and economic development—all issues directly affecting Inglewood and Greater Los Angeles communities.

As the race develops, Inglewood residents will be watching to see how candidates address regional challenges that cross city boundaries and impact daily life throughout South Los Angeles.

This story draws on information from LAist, NBC Los Angeles, the Daily News, ABC7, FOX 11, and EdSource.