Airbnb-Backed Candidates Lose in LA, a Setback in Push to Loosen Rental Rules

Photo Credit: Hollywood Hills with view of the Hollywood Sign Wikimedia Commons / Mundanemetal City Councilwoman Nithya Raman is projected to be Los Angeles’ next mayor after a tight race with incumbent Karen Bass, a likely setback for Airbnb’s push to loosen the city’s short-term rental rules before the 2028 Olympics. Skift previously reported that Airbnb and its nonprofit spent more than $12 million on Los Angeles politics, including committees that backed Bass and a handful of other local candidates. The company’s spending comes amid a push to roll back the city’s short-term rental rules, which since 2018 have allowed only primary residences to list on short-term rental platforms. Bass had proposed allowing vacati