Austin Beutner Steps Back from LA Mayor Race
Former LA Schools Superintendent Austin Beutner Withdraws Mayoral Campaign
Former Los Angeles School District Superintendent Austin Beutner announced on Thursday that he is suspending his campaign for mayor of Los Angeles. The decision comes in the wake of deep personal loss, following the recent death of his daughter, Emily.
In a heartfelt statement posted on X, Beutner reflected on his family’s grief: "My family has experienced the unimaginable loss of our beloved daughter Emily. She was a magical person, the light of our lives. We are still mourning.”
Beutner emphasized the demands of the mayoral role, stating, "The job of mayor requires someone who is committed 24/7 to the job." He underscored his priorities, adding, "Family has always come first for me. That is where I need to be at this time."
Beutner’s extensive career includes roles as deputy mayor of Los Angeles, publisher of the Los Angeles Times, co-chair of the LA 2020 Commission, and leader of the L.A. Unified Advisory Task Force. He founded Vision To Learn, focused on improving access to eye care for students.
At 65, Beutner’s earlier career as an investment banker led him to become a jobs advisor to then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2010. He served briefly as deputy mayor before taking over as publisher of the LA Times in 2014. His tenure as superintendent of LAUSD began in 2018 and ended in 2021, marked by challenges such as the COVID pandemic, which necessitated campus closures and transitions to online learning, as well as a teachers’ strike in 2019.
Beutner holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College.
The race to succeed current Mayor Karen Bass is still in its early stages. Notably, real estate developer Rick Caruso, who faced Bass in the 2022 elections, has already stated that he will not pursue the position again in 2024.
