Is WeHo’s Lindsey Horvath Eyeing L.A.’s Top Job?

Her role in the Palisades fire response and a move into Los Angeles have fueled talk she may challenge Mayor Karen Bass — though Horvath says she has “no plans to run.”

The Los Angeles Times asked the question this morning — one that WEHOOnline first explored months ago — about whether Lindsey Horvath, the former West Hollywood mayor and current L.A. County Supervisor, might take a run at the Los Angeles mayor’s office.

Horvath — who twice served as West Hollywood’s mayor and now sits on the powerful Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors — hasn’t done much to quiet the speculation. She recently moved out of West Hollywood and into the city of Los Angeles, a shift that immediately set the political rumor mill spinning.

When asked directly, Horvath told the Times she has “no plans to run for mayor,” but acknowledged that “people I deeply respect” have encouraged her to consider it.

That’s all it took for longtime WeHo watchers to start wondering if one of their own could soon be making a serious move toward City Hall.

From WeHo to County Hall

Horvath’s political identity was forged right here in West Hollywood. First appointed to the City Council in 2009, she became known for pushing progressive policies that put the small city on national radar — including passing what was then the highest minimum wage in the country, expanding worker protections, and championing women’s and LGBTQ+ rights.

Her support base has always mixed progressive Democrats, labor allies, and city activists, with figures like former L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti among her early mentors. That blend of local activism and county-level pragmatism helped propel her from WeHo City Hall to the County Hall of Administration — a rare political leap in L.A. politics.

Now, as the youngest member of the Board of Supervisors, Horvath helped pass Measure G, which will expand the board and create a new elected county executive position. Supporters call it historic reform; critics see it as overreach after the measure inadvertently repealed parts of another voter-approved initiative tied to criminal justice reform.

A Rising Profile Amid Crisis

Horvath’s visibility has only grown in recent months. She’s played a leading role in the county’s response to the Palisades fires, appearing at community briefings, coordinating with state and federal officials, and amplifying recovery efforts. The exposure has given her a larger public platform — and a louder buzz about what’s next.

With L.A.’s 2026 election season already taking shape, every new headline adds fuel to the speculation.

The Union Factor: Unite Here’s influence looms large

One wild card in all this? The powerful Unite Here Local 11 — the union representing tens of thousands of hospitality workers across Los Angeles County.

Both Mayor Karen Bass and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath have been strong supporters of the proposed $30-an-hour minimum wage for L.A. City hotel workers, a policy long championed by Unite Here. But if Horvath decides to run, the union will eventually have to choose a side, and that endorsement could prove decisive.

Unite Here has shown it can mobilize voters and shape elections across the region — from WeHo to downtown L.A. Its decision on whether to back Bass’s administration or throw its weight behind Horvath could influence not just the mayoral race but the entire city’s labor and economic agenda.

A West Hollywood Perspective

Would West Hollywood residents support her if they could vote in a Los Angeles city election? That depends on who you ask.

To some, Horvath represents the best of WeHo’s political DNA — progressive ideals, sharp visibility, and relentless energy. To others, she’s a product of City Hall culture that sometimes moves faster than residents are comfortable with.

Either way, few question her impact. Horvath raised West Hollywood’s political profile statewide and built a record on social equity and economic fairness that now defines her county career. For many, she remains one of WeHo’s most recognizable exports — a blend of activism and ambition that keeps her name in every major political conversation.

For now, Horvath says she’s focused on her county reelection in 2026. But as history has shown, she’s not one to stay in one lane for long. Stay tuned — this story’s just getting started.